thecainfoundation

Hey All!

Well, after what seems like an eternity of discussions and even more waiting our date for surgery is finally around the corner! Finn is scheduled to have one of his branchial cleft cysts removed on Monday and some impacted wax removed from his ears. I'm already starting to feel very nervous about the surgery and wondered if anyone has first hand experience, I'm not sure what to expect recovery or scar wise.

On the positive side, about 3 weeks ago he started banging his ears whilst in the shower and when we got out our dog started barking downstairs - Finn ran and jumped into my arms, something he's not done due to noise before and since then he is trying to repeat nearly every sound he hears!!!! I'm sooooooo excited I'm trying to keep a level head but I'm convinced that when we go in for his ABR on Sept 30th, his hearing will have improved and fingers crossed he won't need hearing aids His speech is coming on in leaps and bounds - we had been getting about 1 new word a week with the help of his therapist, but now he's even trying to do the ABC song!

Hope all is well with you all and look forward to any info on the surgery - many thanks
Lou

Hi Lou,

Yes Harri had his branchial cysts removed at 6 months. It was day surgery and they healed brilliantly and very fast! There is no scar on one side and only the tiniest of scars on the other side. Other than a separate issue all together which was unrelated Harrison's surgery was fine. No dramas and YES i very much recommend having it done.

I am very happy to hear that Finns hearing is improving. Hoepfully day by day it gets a little better.

Please let me know how you go on Monday. Take a crossword and a gossip mag - the surgery was not long at all about an hour I think I remember if that. Enough time to grab yourself a coffee.

Stay positive all will be fine and next week you will be saying now that that is one less thing to have to worry about.

Thinking of you all.

xoxoxox
Fiona

Thanks Fiona - that's just what I needed to hear!
I'll keep you informed.

Lou
xxxx

Hope Finn is doing much better since his surgery. I bet your now saying it's the best thing you ever did????? One less worry right.

Hope all is well.

Fiona xo

Yep totally. Apparently his cyst was very deep set and the tracts went all the way back to his esophagus so the ENT put in a drain to make sure that there were no issues and so as a result we had to stay in overnight. But it hardly drained at all so the ENT came by about 7 a.m. removed the drain, discharged us and we were back home by 8.15 a.m. and by 8.30 a.m. Finn was climbing on the coffee table - I'd say he felt okay!!!

His wound healed brilliantly and he did not bother with it at all. He also had wax taken out of his ears at the same time as the surgery and I'd say that that caused him more discomfort than anything else. I really feel that Finn is happier since he's had the cyst removed and am sure that the wound was less uncomfortable than having a permanently infected cyst - a comment that the ENT seems shocked by!?!

We went back to the ENT for our follow up appt last week and he was very pleased with the wound site and made mention of BOR several times, so I feel like he is now actually taking an interest and has done some homework! I pointed him in the direction of the website!!

Hmm I wonder what his name is? I did have a Dr contact me in regards to questions about hearing. His Surname started with B. Is this him???

Fiona

Our ENT is Dr Gootee of Midwest Hearing Centre.

Hi All!

Well, I'm having kind of a crappy day! Sorry to burden you guys with it, but you're here, so you get it!
Finn has been doing sooo well since his cyst was removed, he's been doing great in speech therapy, we got a firm diagnosis on his hearing loss, he's been eating much better and has even put on 2 lbs since the surgery - major achievement!! Then last night out of no where his other cyst, which has always been very small and hard - a bit like a pea under the skin, must have burst because I turned around to see him covered in very dark blood / mucus. Once my heart had settled back down, I cleaned him up to find it oozing from his fistula. Whilst we are quite used to drainage, I never seen this much blood colored drainage. I did take photo's later in the evening as it kept just draining and have put a call into his ENT. Whilst I know that there is little to be done, expect the normal 'keep it clean' & maybe antibiotics I am so bummed that this has happened so soon after getting the other removed, I thought we were in for a few symptom free months, now I feel like we have another surgery to plan for. I just wish my little guy could have a break.

Anyway, that's all, moan over - thanks for listening!

Lou x