After Surgery

Question

Hi everyone,
I wanted to give everyone an update. I had my decompression surgery on October 24th. I came home on the 26th. Has anyone struggled with nausea after surgery? I can't hardly put my head on anything and sitting up hurts my head. I had a synthetic patch put in and I am also worried about csf leaks. My incision site has been swollen the last few days. I have always been a worry wart. Any advice would be appreciated. My principal is expecting me back to work on November 14 but I honestly don't think I'm ready. I won't see my neurosurgeon until December 6th to get my restrictions lifted.

selmaS · Answer

Thanks for my 8 yrs comment....and sorry for being on hit and miss, my daughter just had her first baby and I am helping out.....

 I did get temple pain post op.....and some can be the nerves "waking" back up...they get over stimulated and we feel more pain sometimes in areas we did not have b4 surgery....but it does tend to go away.

 I got the shakes as well.....mostly in my arms.....can be overwhelming....but it too dissipated after time.Post op is so very emotional....a emotional roller coaster to be exact. Just know it is "normal" and try not to read too much into it....this surgery is a trauma to our entire body and our entire body responds in ways we do not expect.....as long as it is not something that continues for hours on end and you can control with your activities.....don't worry.....

 I use a tortoise as my avitar to remind those in this forum to take it slow but steady....pre and especially post op. Rushing back to anything can cause set backs.....listen to your body as to what it can and can not do....slowly add things you can not do now a little later....just because you have issues now with some things does not mean you may never be able to do them with out symptoms.

 Slow and steady.

selmaS · Answer

So your employers are not large enough to offer FMLA then?

 I know it is not fun...I use to work in HR that is why I asked was curious as to how it was being handled.

selmaS · Answer

I know just how you feel....hang in there...and just tell your employer that until your Dr releases you that you will not be returning....if you are on a FMLA leave....they can not allow you back without the release.

selmaS · Answer

Hi and welcome back and welcome to the Zipperhead club !

 First, you will not be ready to go back to work that soon....OMG! Did your Dr give an indication of that timeline?

 Recovery from this can go slowly....so that is just way too soon....if you rush you could cause yourself set backs...so it is not worth it at all.

It is possible you have a leak....but you will need to see your Dr....when do you get stitches out?
I will add you went home rather early too...not that others haven't but I was in ICU for 2.5 days....and my incision site would have random oozing as I called it due to small openings of the incision for up to 9 months post op.

 How long recovery lasts depends on you and what other medical issues/conditions you may have.....and how you treat recovery....taking time or rushing.

 BTW- Dec 6th is too soon to go back to a full time job too if that is your case....we are all different and maybe you will do well...but not worth risking set backs...wait and listen to your body.