I Woke Up From Brain Surgery With Intense, Intense Gratitude

By Cynthia Tieche, CEO and Co-Founder of Recharge Clinic
Part 3 of my pituitary tumor story

The last thing I remember before anesthesia was telling the people in the operating room that I was going to sleep praying for every one of them. They cheered!

There were residents and medical students in the room with my surgical team. Bella couldn’t be there, but seeing those students was unexpectedly comforting. It felt like a room full of Bellas. Our daughter is in medical school, and somehow being surrounded by those students made her feel closer.

So I went to sleep praying. And the first thing I remember when I woke up was praying, too.

I felt His presence

In Part 2, I shared the reassurance I believe God sent me the day before surgery. I held on to it as I went into the hospital. When I woke up, I was thanking God.

I looked to my right and felt Jesus’s presence. What I felt Him saying was that He had told me He would be there with me and that it would be okay. And I was okay! Psalm 16:8 is a verse I pray in the mornings. It speaks of keeping the Lord before me and not being shaken because He is at my right hand. That moment meant everything to me.

After all the appointments, the fear, the planning, and the prayers, I was awake. The gratitude was intense.

They removed a tumor THROUGH MY NOSE

Can we talk about how amazing this is for a minute? My neurosurgeon and ENT surgeon reached my pituitary gland and removed the tumor through my nose!

The procedure is called transsphenoidal surgery. They go through the nose and the sphenoid sinus behind it, making an opening in the bone over the gland to reach the tumor. So yes, they still had to make an opening in bone. But they could reach mine using that route because of its location and anatomy.

I knew the plan before surgery, but I still find it incredible. The knowledge, skill, and precision involved in reaching that little gland are hard for me to wrap my head around. I am so grateful for the people who know how to do this.

Sofia brought my blanket. And lip gloss.

After surgery, I went to the ICU, where I saw Steve and Sofia. Sofia brought my super-soft blanket from home and put it over me. Then she put lip gloss on me. Of course she did! LOL.

She was already helping run things at home. My sister was there to help, and Lucia was taken care of. Now here was my daughter taking care of me, right down to my lips.

I had a headache and a very sore throat after surgery, but my pain was controlled with a low dose of Tylenol. I wasn’t allowed to get up for at least the first twenty-four hours, and my team watched my labs and urine closely. My nurses were wonderful, and friends came to visit and check on me that day.

By the second afternoon, I was begging to get up. If you know me, that won’t surprise you.

Once they let me walk, I kept going

The team helped me stand and made sure I was steady. I took a lap, then kept going! Being able to move felt wonderful. Walking around the ICU also made me deeply aware of how fortunate I was. I was there, I was walking, and I was recovering. I felt so thankful and joyful.

My results were looking good, and the doctors said that if things continued that way, I might be able to leave on day three. I had prepared myself for a longer stay, so going home that soon sounded wonderful.

On the third morning, I wanted to get up again. I actually kind of got in trouble for getting up on my own. If you know me, that won’t surprise you. My labs looked good. The physicians, physical therapy, occupational therapy, the endocrinologist, and what felt like every other person with initials came through.

I was cleared to leave and home before noon!

I was so happy to be home that I probably overdid it

I came home tired, with a headache, and very happy to see my kids. So, naturally, I stayed up laughing with them and probably did a little too much.

The next day, I slept a lot. I hadn’t slept well in the hospital, and the exhaustion caught up with me. My headache wasn’t horrible, but I wanted things quiet and dim. Around day five, I went outside for some fresh air. That felt so good.

On day six, I prayed for the headache to go away. That day felt like a turning point. A friend drove me to Recharge Clinic that morning for my first set of bloodwork after surgery. I was beginning to feel more like myself, and the days that followed kept getting better.

Those day-six labs showed that my growth hormone had already returned to the normal range! My IGF-1 had dropped significantly, although it wasn’t normal yet. Those results were encouraging, and my medical team would continue following them.

My shoes started fitting again

At about two weeks, most of my shoes fit. Steve was amazed. Some of my rings fit again, too, and gradually more of them did. Even my bracelets felt looser, and my facial swelling went down noticeably. After years of things slowly changing, seeing improvements felt amazing.

Recovery had some uncomfortable parts. My nose was full of blood and clots before my follow-up cleaning, and I couldn’t smell or taste properly. Those senses started coming back gradually after that visit. As I write this, a little over two months after surgery, they still haven’t completely returned.

I was back at work at Recharge Clinic one week after surgery. At my two-week follow-up, my surgical team cleared me to resume exercise. I went home and got on my spin bike, of course! That was HUGE for me mentally.

My recovery moved quickly, and I’m grateful. Your surgical team needs to guide your return to exercise, work, driving, and travel. My timeline is my experience, not a schedule for anyone else to follow.

Taking care of myself had mattered after all

When I was diagnosed, I felt offended that my body had done this after all the effort I put into being healthy. During recovery, I started seeing that effort differently. I felt strong and able to get through what my body had just experienced. I believe the years I spent taking care of myself helped me feel prepared for recovery. I was glad I had done that work, even though it hadn’t prevented the tumor.

I also had a tumor in a favorable position, experienced surgeons, and tremendous support. I know how much went into my recovery. Someone whose recovery is harder hasn’t failed at being healthy or having faith.

Some of the physical changes may stay with me. I don’t know whether my voice will return to what it was. My cheekbones changed, too, but I guess I won’t be needing filler there! Honestly, those changes don’t bother me the way you might expect. I am so thankful to be doing well.

Feeling better doesn’t mean I’m finished with follow-up

My specialists are encouraged, and they’re continuing to monitor my hormones. My IGF-1 is improving, and follow-up will tell us more. My team has discussed annual MRIs for at least ten years, along with bloodwork. I intend to follow their plan.

I’m going to be a good patient, and I’m going to pray. I’m also going to enjoy my life while I do what I need to do.

Being the patient made me appreciate Steve and our Recharge team in a different way. They investigated those first abnormal results, kept things moving, and helped get me connected with specialists. I knew that work mattered. Now I had experienced what it meant for my own family.

It strengthened my desire to make care accessible to more people. Since this experience, we have launched Recharge At Work for employers interested in offering Recharge care as an employee benefit. This became personal in a whole new way.

What I keep coming back to

I thank God and Steve for finding this when they did. I’m grateful to our nurse practitioner and Recharge team, my surgeons and nurses, my family and friends, and the women whose stories reached me when I needed them.

I learned to ask for prayer, accept help, and let people see me scared. And I learned that when I pray for peace, I should remember to pray for laughter, too.

I will never forget those fifteen minutes laughing in bed with my husband. Or Sofia putting lip gloss on me in the ICU. Or walking through my own front door. And I will never forget waking up thankful.

Intense, intense gratitude. That is what I feel.

Frequently asked questions

How long does recovery from pituitary surgery take?

My recovery was relatively quick, but recovery varies. Follow your surgical team’s instructions about returning to work, exercise, and other activities.

Does surgery mean acromegaly is definitely cured?

No. Hormone testing and specialist follow-up help determine whether the disease remains active. Some people need additional treatment. I’m continuing my monitoring.

Will every physical change reverse?

Some soft-tissue changes can improve, while established bone enlargement generally does not reverse. I’ve seen improvements, but I’m still learning what will change for me.

Why keep primary care involved after specialist treatment?

I value having someone who knows my broader health history. I want my ongoing care and my specialists’ recommendations to stay connected.

Where can I discuss primary care or Recharge At Work?

Contact Recharge Clinic about primary care in Ocala, Lady Lake near The Villages, or Clermont. Employers can also ask our team about Recharge At Work.

Follow through on your own health

If something has been bothering you, bring it up. If you’re overdue for care, make the appointment. If an abnormal result needs follow-up, take that next step. Call Recharge Clinic at 352-512-9996 or visit our primary care page.

I know what it feels like to become the patient. And I know how much it means to have people paying attention.

References

• Mayo Clinic: Acromegaly—Diagnosis and treatment
• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Acromegaly