Post surgery headaches

[jorlex137]

Hi Guys!

It's been 4 weeks since surgery for the malformation.  Did pretty good and was seeing improvements.  
However this past week I've been having pressure headaches.  A pulsing sort of headaches that radiates to my forehead and even face.  I get a shooting odd pain when I turn my neck.  Also lower head to past my neck burns at times.  

I've tried to eliminate other things, caffeine headache..no  I also took sudafed thinking maybe a sinus headache...nope!  

So now what?  I see surgeon again on Jan 7th, but I worry he may just tell me, surgery has been done so you should be fine.  

Anyone else have this sort of headache after surgery?

[pdxmomof3boys]

Please be good to yourself! I still get horrible pain and am so tired that my kids run wild all morning since I can't even keep my eyes open, let alone stand up. The coffee helps a lot -- I don't even drink water anymore, just coffee and I truly believe that has prevented a leak. If I had a choice about work, I would stay home, but my kids are so little that it's more work! The day I had the stomach virus I laid flat as much as I could and the day after. My husband had to work, so I still had to push through, plus sick kids...just take it easy and the small leak should go away. Hard times, but we will get through. My swelling and pain is mostly on the right. I have a bad head cold now that is complicating things. Lots of pain in the incision and pimply things from my hair growing back in after being shaved that is so uncomfortable! NO ENERGY! Coughing hurts my neck muscles, but at least no chiari spasm headaches like before!

Sorry your girls are going to get a stinky vacation, but I'm sure they'd rather have a healthy mommy! Take good care and rest up!

Rosemarie

[Alex265]

Wow sounds like we're having the same problem, I can't imagine how you can work I can't stay up for long periods of time the hammer people as I call the pounding headaches come banging on my head, I spend most of my time on the couch. I did call the NS yesterday and they agree with me that I must have a small leak going on based on my symptoms, swelling on back of head is not bad, but there is some on the left side, plus the pounding only happens when I'm up, within minutes of laying down it goes away. They're having me lay down this weekend get up only when necessary and I am to call them on Monday to see if it healed itself, otherwise have to go back in and probably get a drain, this mega stinks. My husband is finally going back to work on Monday and won't be back until Thursday and the kids are on school vacation.
Feel bad for my girls, what a stinky vacation they're going to get.
Alex

[pdxmomof3boys]

I still have lots of ear pain -- my post-op ear pain is now a full blow cold! Lots of sinus pressure and a sore throat. If I were still pre-op, I'd be in bed from the head pain like last time, so thank God for that! Antibiotics should help a ton.

I am finding the leg numbness thing too! But just my left leg, really. It was so bad, especially when we all had stomach flu last week! I spent lots of time at the toilet! Hopefully it will resolve itself.  Try leaning back and putting your feet up on a small stool (my kids have a step stool in our BR) -- helped me a bit :)

I know what you mean about falling -- 2 weeks post-op (just like you) I went to the fridge to get a drink of water and got dizzy and lightheaded and thought I was going to pass out...I thought to myself, I should slide to the floor before I just fall and hurt myself. As I started to slide down, I hit my head on the ledge of the shelf that was behind me and then plopped down. The ledge got me RIGHT on my incision and I thought I'd faint! I cursed so much my hubby was laughing. Just be careful.

I'm back at work and SO TIRED! I can hardly talk or walk or MOVE. Took pain meds and muscle relaxers last night and it helped LAST NIGHT but can't take those when I'm at work and tylenol isn't cutting it! We'll see...almost the end of the week!

Take it easy and heal,
Rosemarie

[Alex265]

Thank God I come here alot and listen to the advise here. Today makes 2 weeks 1 day post surgery and boy it was the most painful day ever.
Not sure if I have a small leak, I have the head rush and mega pounding whenever I stand up or bend down, it is the most horrible pain. So remembering what Jortex went through I took my meds, continued with the caffeine and just went to bed with an ice pack, once I lay down I'm fine, still have pain but the kind I can handle. I ended up falling asleep for six hours straight, that's a first for me. I also have an ear infection going on, I had my stitches out on Thursday and had them look at my ear because it hurts, they said no infection yet but that I did have alot of fluid was told to start a decongestant, that helps a little, last night the other ear started hurting so now I'm 99% sure it's turned into an infection, the doctor called in an antibiotic. Tuesday I see my PCP, having another problem, not related to surgery I am told, but only when I sit on the toilet my whole left leg goes numb, somehow something about that position must be pinching something, it's weird, it's numb from hip to toes, I actually fell when getting off the toilet right into my bathtub, I can laugh now cause i didn't get hurt, but I really could have, my ribs hit the side of the tub making the fall slow down, thank god i didn't hit my head.
Enough about me, how is everybody doing?
Take care,
Ales

[pdxmomof3boys]

Thanks Shannon :)

I remembered this thread, and that's why I called this morning, but my NS says that since I had a stomach virus with my kids it's tough to tell. I don't have a fever and the swelling (because of what he saw at my last visit) is probably my lymph nodes still reacting from surgery. The ones in my throat and the back of my head are all swollen. No more vomiting (isolated to the virus I had past two days I think). Also, he says depending on how much I am doing, I will either feel really good or really bad. I have been doing a lot this past week because the kids and hubby and myself have been sick, so it could just be not resting enough. If it doesn't get better or anything changes I am to call and they will see me right away. They don't want to put me through another CT without real cause.

I also realize that since I started feeling sick to my stomach I stopped drinking coffee. Haven't had any for the past 5 days -- I was drinking TONS of it before, thinking I'd be proactive and stave off a leak. I am making a pot now and will force it down :) Usually I can't make it through the day without it, but that nausea was awful.

I trust the NS and his PAs because they have already called me back twice today to check on me and see if I've worsened. If they aren't worried, then I won't worry and maybe it will get better if I don't stress :)

Thanks again Shannon -- how are YOU feeling by the way?

Rosemarie

[shanmomof3]

bumping up for rosemarie