how long is surgery recovery?

[stephham88]

hi my name is steph and i am 22 years old. I have recently been diagnosed with a brain tumor and chiari 1 malformation. after reseaching the internet to find info about chiari, i still havnt found any clear answers to my questions. i am really really worried about surgery and wanted to know if i will be awake during surgery. I also wanted to know how long will I roughly be in hospital for?, how long is recovery? and what sort of affects do u get after surgery eg: movement/speech problems and pain? thanks for reading my qustion. steph

[n40066]

opps!  you're right!  we missed that one!  you are most def. out like a light for all of it with the chiari surgery.  since you have a tumor as well, idk....i would say to ask your ns, but it would depend largely on what type it is, location and what he plans to do with it.

[LisaM46]

Hi Steph,  I sent you a response to your pm... one thing unanswered:  They do put you under general anesthesia for the surgery.  I know they do some types of brain surgeries while you are awake, but from what I've read on this site, we've all been put under!

Lisa

[n40066]

hi steph and welcome to our family!  like selma said, we're glad you are here, but so very sorry for the reason.
again, as selma says, we are all different and there are so many variables like she mentioned, that there really isn't a "set recovery time".  most drs will tell you to do little to nothing for the first 6-8 wks if you had no complications for a standard pfd.  after that, it's what your body allows for the most part, but it can take up to a year or more to see the full benefits of the surgery.
for me, what got better from the surgery, did so right from the get go and didn't change.  until i got rear ended in an mva anyway...
but you really can't judge much by what happens to others, because there are just so many differentials with every person and every surgery.  the 6-8 weeks and 1 yrs are basic guidlines and nothing more.  hope it helps just a little.
elizabeth

[selmaS]

Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

Everyone is different...so if u get 10 answers they may all be drastically diff.
First and foremost, be sure u have a true chiari specialist...and that u r checked for related issues and conditions...CSF blockage, overcrowding, tethered cord, Ehlers-Danlos.....

Most members do have a journal with their experience with their surgery......

The surgery itself  will play a part...do u know if u r having a endoscopy PFD?....does ur dr plan on doing more....?? will he/she open ur dura , if so what type of patch will be used?

U know  u...how do u heal normally?...I tend to heal slowly...I found out I have ehlers-danlos and that is y.....
How u respond to meds is another....how u do with pain....we r all diff as I said....

Affects again depends on u....how u were b4 surgery....and how u respond to to the overall  surgery.....

I hate to say it like this but it is the truth.....there is no way to know until u go thru it.

I invite u to read my journal, click on my name, it will take u to my profile page...u will be able to see my pics of my scar and read my journey with my surgery and healing.

We r always glad to have someone join us, but we r never happy for the reasons that bring u...I hope u stay for the support we can offer : )

"selma"