after surgery please read

[jennylynch]

Ok the Ns told me i will be in there one day and sent home.. i need to know what i should expect after surgery.. like what will and how should i feel.. Please tell me about your decompression surgerys i would like to to know what others have been through

[Rylanesmom]

Yikes most of us spent a day in the ICU before moving to a room...cathader didn't even come out till day 2.  that sounds awful fast and pain is hard o ontrol hat quickly.

[JESSICAH1230]

One day ya right, they are crazy for saying that. two Weekss ago today I had my surgery. I was there for five days. It depends on you how u will feel and the hospital on how everything will be managed. I had it at kaiser in Portland Oregon. Woke up and was on some heavy drugs. The pain wasnt as bad as I thought it would be but I am a tough cookie. Very sore from the halo, and my head felt like 600 pounds. The parts that ***** ia they had to move me every few hours which hurt like hell!!! they also madr me get up and sit in a chair 12 hrs after surgery which brought me to tears. After about 24 hours they made me walk which was horrible but by day two getting up and walking was easier and easier. My problem was some headaches. They figured it was from the zofran. Didnt eat the whole time I was in the hospital.two Weeks later im doin pretty good. There is still soreness, tiredness and lots of rest but im doing way bettet than I thought I woukd be.

[selmaS]

  Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

Not everyone has the issue ur sis had...I had the surgery 3 yrs ago and am doing so much better.

Some have set backs and sometime it is due to related conditions that may not have been dx'd or addressed b4 the first surgery.

Having a NS that is a true chiari specialist helps.

I hope ur sis feels better soon.

[actressmouse]

I had my surgery on 6/20...stayed in ICU that night and most of the next day (6/21).  Then moved to a regular room.  I had a problem staying awake to press the pain pump, too.  Also, my oxygen levels dropped in ICU, so they had to monitor me....seems when I fell asleep, I'd forget to breathe.  That made me a wreck with anxiety, because I was afraid to fall asleep!!! So the addition of a valium plus the monitoring fixed that problem.  

Once in a regular room, I couldn't find the dang pain pump thingy, so they thought "oh, you don't need it" Ha!!! I made myself very clear that you have to be able TO FIND THE DARNED THING to press it!!!  Once on oral meds, I had to request to be woken up when due for meds as they were ordered PRN (as needed).  Well, when you're asleep, (and haven't slept well in over 2 years) you're not gonna wake up to ask for a pill!!  

I ended up in the hospital a total of 7 days.  I was ready to go on day 7.  I felt better and was able to get around well with supervision.  Make sure your pain is managed well before you leave the hospital....that will make a lot of difference.  

[Bwoolard]

My is currently at riverside in Columbus oh 4wks later from original surgery now completed the 2nd one to put in a shunt to relieve fluid on the brain caused by the surgery the last 4wks have been a living hell she has said multiple times she would rather be dead still having severe headaches and uncontroled vomiting which they believe was caused by messing with that section on the 1st surgery
  Still wanting answers. It is 7-13-2012
If your symptoms are not bad I would think twice hers were bad and she said she would not of done it if she would have known the pain she would be

[jennylynch]

they gave me nothing for heartburn. i have my first visiting nurses appointment today..

[*Stormy*]

Glad to hear that you made it through ok!!! Sounds like you have had a pretty good experience... For the hearing issue, I found it really helpful to tape cotton baton in my ears for the first few days. It would muffle the sound a little and make it more tolerable. The shakiness and dizziness could be the pills but it may take a few days to settle down from the surgery too. Just make sure that you are doing absolutely nothing but resting!!! Very important at this stage!

The heartburn could be the meds too, have they given you anything for it?

Continue to let us know how you are doing!

Carolyn

[jennylynch]

I actually spent no time in the icu.. was there at 6am got back to nite nite time at 745 and was out by 930. very fast. when he go it he said he was amazed at how tight it was but yet so simple to get the flow to start going again. my incision is rather small but still got lots of stapeles.. Im feeling pretty good the first day was really rough. I came home today adn am doign well excpet when then kids yell or the mini shcnuzer barks she has a high pitch bark.. been sleeping with and ice pack today and seems to help with the swelling and it feels preety good. he up'd the amount of pain pills and gave me a pill to help me pee that seems to be working. Im excited the only things still going on are numbnes and tingling in face and shoulders.. I HAVE NASTY heartburn.. and very shaky and dizzy yet. he said hopefully its jsut teh pills that are making me shaky and dizzy yet. he hopes when i come off the pain meds it will help.. sorry my writing is so bad but i jsut wanted to let you know how well mine went... thanks for all the support. I put up my zipperhead pic in my profile

[tashua1986]

my surgery experience was great.. my NS said i had the fastest and easiest recpvery he had ever seen. i spent 3days in the hospital. day 1 had surgery went into ICU, i dont remember much of it but i do remember once i woke in recovery they took me for a CT and banged my head against the head rest and my nurse that accompanied me there yelled at the techs right along with me(i found it amusing).they kept pushing pain meds when i woke so the rest of the day was a fog.day 2 i woke early starving and i was on a clear liq diet, chicken broth and iceys dont really fill you up, i was able to get up in the chair and sit. PT came to evaluate me and i got my catheter removed after lunch and was able to walk to and from bathroom and in the hall for 10min at a time. by dinner time i was begging for real food, so they called my doc and got the ok to give me a little bit of substance with the chicken broth. i was suppose to go to the step down unit that day but they didnt have any beds and the nurses liked me so i stayed in the ICU. by day 3 i was ready to go home i was so board and couldnt go off the floor and i dont sleep much, i even tried goin and sitting with the nurses at night just to have people to talk to. i work 3rd shift in a nursing home so i know they have alot of down time. i got discharged to home on day 3. i had an almost 3hr car ride home, with a neck pillow it was fine they gave me an extra dose of pain med before i left. day2 at home i thought i was doing good and wasnt really taking pain med so i decided to take a 10min car ride to visit a friend, big mistake becausse on day 3 at home i thought i was dying from the intense HA no amt of pain med would touch it. so for the next week i sast around and didnt do much tv, internet, books and sudoku became my best friend. i think i was back to work on restrictons after 5-6wks and full duty after 5mths. good luck and well wishes.. oh and a recliner was the best way i fund to sleep because it was painful to try to get my head all the way up from a lying position.

[jennylynch]

I agree selma.. I am really concerned also

[selmaS]

  I am concerned ur dr is saying only 1 day....when is this scheduled for?...please read my journal on my surgery experience...I have not heard of neone only being in for 1 day....

http://www.medhelp.org/user_journals/show/96682/My-PFD-surgery-experience-?personal_page_id=197028

  "selma"

[pamk5]

Well that is good news that you have help and you are close.  I agree with everyone else that that is way too soon!  I was thinking having this coversation before surgery may make things a bit less stressful.  I always hate the unknown.  

Good luck!

Pam

[jennylynch]

i have three people at home to help... but im going to argue that my pain is too bad and i very uncomfortable going home.. but i live less then 5 mins from the hospital too

[thieb9]

aparently my hands type different words than I mean to type. I stayed Friday to monday, not sunday to monday..
I would really talk to your dr about that.. I didnt even thing that the sat you up until the 2nd day or so. I cant imagine going home.. Also on day three they had to give me some insulin shot because I guess the medicine made my sugar all out of wack!

[pamk5]

I dont think you can leave the next day from everything I have read.  I would discuss this with him before hand.  Do you have someone who can stay with you at home when you do return?  Are you going to have to travel?  Not having someone to stay with you at home and distance are 2 good reasons to argue against this.  The insurance company doesnt have a choice but to pay if it is medically necessary that you are inpatient.  Even though they may not authorize many days at first they can be dealt with later.  

Pam

[*Stormy*]

Seriously..if you are in pain..tell him that your pain isn't managed and you need to stay in. I'd be highly surprised if you are going to be able to get on your feet and stay there after only one day. They can't say that you should be able to leave if you can't even get out of bed!!

Carolyn

[jennylynch]

my insurance i think is the problem.. they dont allow staying unless you are dang near dying

[pamk5]

I am waiting on a surgery date now.  I have been told surgery will be on a Tues and I will be discharged on Fri or Sat but he would want me to stay local a few extra days since he is 2 1/2 hours away.  I dont think I would let him discharge me the day after too much can go wrong.  I have never heard of brain surgery being discharged the next day unless it endoscopic but that doesnt sound like the case with 15 staples in your head.  

Years ago when I had to have a hysterectomy for endometriosis.  My insurance company approved the procedure outpatient.  My doc said I would go home only when he and I decided I was ready.  He would deal with the insurance company later.  I stayed 4 days.  The reason I mention this is I think you have some negotiation power here.  Tell him you arent comfortable with that plan.  See what his reply is.  

Pam

[jennylynch]

thanks.. im hoping mine goes smooth.. im kind of uncomfortable coming home one day after though

[KiaSister1]

I was in ICU Tuesday and most of Weds.

[KiaSister1]

I just got home from mine.  I spent the night in ICU and then had to wait till they found a room on the recovery floor for me the next day.  He came in at like 8 and released me from ICU, then it was after 5 before I left.  Pain management has been awful me.  The stupid happy morphine button was great unless I fell asleep, which was all the flipping time, they finally started giving me oral pain meds to supplement because they wanted me to have the meds and sleep.  They were always giving me zofran in the hospital and that seemed to control the nausea there.  My pain stayed under control mostly as long as nothing was done to agitate it.  The CT scans we horrible we would just have my pain controlled, then they would take me down and move me around.  

Once I was on the regular floor life was good, except they kept nagging me about having a BM and I wasn't allowed to bear down.  I told them that that is all it would take, so I knew eventually it would happen.  They made me drink this nasty stuff, that was supposed to loosen everything up, and then I had to have a suppository.  I am glad to be home where they aren't nagging me about that anymore.  I was in the hospital from Tuesday through Friday.  Saturday evening I vomited so the on call doctor told me to stop the narcotics, I am just using OTC tylenol and Advil nowthat seems to be working ok.  The problem now is the only way to get comfortable is to lay on my bed.  I am not as tired now but still sleep a lot as a result.  This also helps with the nasusea but I continue to feel better and improve more.

I just wish I could wash my hair, that is making me crazy.

[LisaM46]

Wow!  I can't imagine only one day.  I was in the hospital for six days.  I was so nauseated and dizzy in trying to sit up, it took until the fourth day to actually get me on my feet for the first time.  

Lisa

[jennylynch]

my Ns is a specialist..... He said 15 staples in the back of my head and as long as no complications and my pain is managed i can come home after a day..

[*Stormy*]

I am wondering about that too, I have never heard of anyone being discharged after just one day! In fact, for the first 24hrs I was not even allowed to sit up or get out of bed. There is no way I could even have thought about going home at that point. The first two nights were the worst for me.

I stayed in the hospital for four days, there were no complications except for the fact that I had an allergic reaction to one of the pain meds they gave me. After my 24hrs of bed rest were up, they got me up briefly that evening but only for about 5 mins b/c I was extremely dizzy and found it very painful. The 3rd day, I had more success on getting out of bed and was able to sit on a chair in the bathroom and brush my teeth. Day 4, I was able to walk out of the hospital but I was still very weak and dizzy. I would say that continued for about the first 2 weeks post op and then I started to feel a little stronger. After that point, I could do some of my daily routines but I exhausted very easily and still had to take naps frequently. I would honestly say that I didn't feel like myself until about the 2 month mark. I suffered with high pressure headaches still up to that point and then they started to come less frequently. I saw some big improvements in some of my symptoms and others have still yet to leave at over 1 year post op. I strongly believe that after the 6 month mark you have to start some rehabilitation with a informed PT to keep seeing improvements. However, it depends what your symptoms were to begin with, my gait was affected and so I had to find a way to retrain myself. After starting the rehab I have seen more improvements in leaps and bounds. I think it is quite important to realize that when the NS says that it could take up to two years to see improvements, that that statement is really quite true.

I am sure there are specific questions you may want to ask so feel free to post them here or send me a PM.

Carolyn