Post-op and doing well!

One day post-op and I'm thrilled to report a smooth and complication-free surgery! Thanks so much for all your thoughts and prayers. You people rock. Here's a little update courtesy of my most fabulous husband, David:

Hey folks -

As most of you know, Sarah went into surgery first thing this morning. Well, that's done, and she is doing well, recovering in her hospital room. Here's the surgery story:

Dr. McCutcheon found and removed tumor tissue on the right side of the pituitary gland, with the characteristics he associates with Cushing's tumors (white, soft tissue vs. darker, rubbery normal pituitary tissue). The tumor was not touching the sinus wall (which is very good!) and the sinus wall was clear of tumor on inspection. He also found and shaved off a small area of suspicious tissue on the left side of the gland (though it did not have those Cushing's tumor characteristics). He estimates that a little over 60% of her pituitary gland remains intact; chances are good that she'll have full pituitary function. There was no CSF leak detected.

While he was at it, the surgeon also cleared out a pocket of gnarly infected goop in her sphenoid sinus, which was trapped behind some scar tissue left from the prior surgeries, and very likely the root of her nasty recurring sinus infections. Goodbye gnarly goop!

This is all great news. Sarah is quite happy at the outcome, and hopeful of being cured. She got what she was wishing for: a careful inspection of the whole gland, removal of anything suspicious, a thorough sinus cleaning, and (very likely) no long-term impact on her pituitary function. Looks like her big gamble might pay off!

Physical recovery from the surgery will take at least a few weeks. We'll be here in Texas until late next week, then recovering back at the rancheroo. We won't know for several months whether Sarah is cured of Cushing's (be patient and hopeful!)

Take care,
David Lowe