...only without so much "hyrgo." We are so glad to have discovered the root of Katie’s facial
pain. It is a large cyst, which has evidently been there, undetected, for at least over a year, probably two. Previous images from last year show it plainly, but no doctors saw it because they were focused more on bone issues, and overlooked the soft tissue problems. Thankfully, an ENT (Dr. Grimmer) that the infectious disease guy asked to look at her, immediately saw the problem. He is used to working with soft facial tissue and it jumped right out at him. Two days ago, on Friday, they successfully completed the scan with contrast. I guess the cyst in her cheek is larger, more
cavernous, than expected, so it took a whole lot of fluid. But they think they have a pretty good feel
now for what needs to be done. This
weekend, we have fasted to understand which of our three choices to take:
1.
Do nothing, and let her live with the pain,
controlling it with Gabapentin, amitriptyline, and, if necessary, Oxycodone;
2.
Do a radical facial excision of the cyst, which
would require that they basically peel the right side of her face back and
CAREFULLY cut it out so as not to damage any of the five facial nerves; or,
3.
Do at least one and possibly three injections of
bleomycin, and first-line cancer drug, which would hopefully cause the cyst to
collapse on itself and thus heal. This procedure is called "sclerotherapy."
#2 has been proven to be the most successful means of
dealing with such a “cystic hygroma,” but contains serious dangers that we don’t
want to have to deal with if there is another way. We’ve researched this 3rd option,
and though it, too, has some potentially bad outcomes, if done correctly
(meaning the right dilutions and hitting exactly the right spot), has been
shown to be very effective. The
medications she’s been taking have given her some relief, but I can’t imagine
having to deal with that pain for the rest of her life. So, our decision, with which we went to the Lord
in prayer and fasting this weekend, was to pursue Option 3 as quickly as
possible. It won’t require a hospital
stay, so she’ll be able to participate in the holiday cheer, and can happen
within the next two weeks. We’re
awaiting confirmation that we’ve made, or not, the right decision. Please pray with us. Katie is so anxious to get rid of the thing
that she seems almost willing to just submit to the radical surgery and get it
over with. But we feel pretty strongly
about trying the less invasive alternative first.
