pre-op

[Rahe28]

HI all. I have pre-op tomorrow morning, and I was just wondering if there is anything I should be askind about or any info that I should be requesticng...etc..
ty all for your help

[selmaS]

  Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.

Ur family is right, u should have a 2nd opinion and sometimes a 3rd and 4th as this is major surgery and u want a Dr that is well experienced with Chiari and ALL related conditions.

The Dr u choose should do testing to rule out ALL possible conditions related and non related to Chiari as many of them can affect how u feel and heal post op.

As for what to expect u will have to ask ur Dr and the hospital staff as they all tend to handle things differently....That goes for how they will bill u- I did not opt to have a phone or TV hooked up in my room as they are all added costs....but do talk to those at ur Hospital and ur Drs office for insight to where u will be.

PJ-s  lightweight pull on pants and a deep Vneck shirt  or button down as u will not want to pull something tighter over ur head....light weight as it was very warm in the hospital...but do take something warmer just in case....and the hospital does offer gowns and pants for u to wear and u will have to wear them for the time b4 surgery and while in ICU...not until u are moved to a reg room will u be able to have ne of ur personal items with u.

[audrey00115]

I was recently diagnosed with chiari malformation.  I am having decompression surgery in a month.  With my insurance changing and the holidays this is the best time.  However I would prefer sooner as my neck and shoulder pain continue as well as the tinnitus.  My family has encouraged me to have a second opinion, which I am in a week.  This other neurosurgeon is too busy to meet with me until then.  I liked the neurosurgeon that is scheduled to do the surgery.  We meet five days before the surgery to go over everything.  Is there anything you can recommend I do at this point?  I do have a really dumb question.  What clothing will I be wearing while in the hospital?  I would think PJs.  I am short and all my PJs are too long.  I want to know if I should spend the money to get new ones.  Also, what should I expect on the pre-op day?  Does insurance typically charge for each service or just per day?  I ended up getting the diagnosis after having an MRI.  My ENT referred me to have an MRI because of my symptoms.  All of this has happened in about 2 ½ months.  I have just started taking norco for pain at night and tramadol during the day.  I am trying not to rely on that.  Thanks.  

[linnielou232]

I'm so happy to hear everything is a go for you.  Just think of better day's head of you.  I will have you in my prayers for tomorrow and always remember your not alone.  We are all  there holding your hand.  After sugery you will start feeling better.  One day at a time.
Linda :)

[DechenDolkar]

My thoughts are with you and I wish you a speedy recovery!

[Rahe28]

Selma ~ LOL...that shampoo is AWFUL !!! And no oconditioner...my hair is like a horses tail that hasn't been brushed in a year !!!

~ Viva...I know how hard it is to get out and about. I am forced to on a daily basis with my children, but as much as it stinks...It can be theraputic if done in small increments.

~aielcaracarn... it is no problem. I remember when I first came to the forum and how welcoming everyone was...and no matter what they had going on they all found time to welcome me and to answer any question I had...I am just returning the favor :) Thank you so much for your well wishes. I do appreciate them ! Being able to post here is bery theraputic for a nervous soul...lol...and trust that my nerves are shot :)

[aielcaracarn]

Rahe, thanks for taking the time to post to my thread. I see that your big day is coming up, yet you still take the time to consider others. Thank you. I will have you in my prayers, and I'm eagerly waiting for the time when I get to read a post from you about how good you are feeling.

[Viva001]

You know you're sick when you can't even figure out how to make your life easier!  I've been becoming more & more home bound, but sometimes you just have to go out; like today, I had to take my cat to the vet, so that's what made me think of the sticker.  Your surgeon or even your PCP can get you one-- I don't know if there's paperwork or any delay involved.

Thank you for your prayers.  :)

[selmaS]

  Why does the shampoo stink? .lol....

I knew about the NSAIDS....as they can act as a blood thinner, if I recall correctly...I know asprin is one u want to stop 12 days b4 surgery....

But yes, u can not just stop those meds u would have to slowly taper off them.

Oh so ur PCP did not communicate with ur NS on the issue either...sigh

[Rahe28]

You know I wanted to check into that. The other day was a really bad day and I had to run into walgreens. They had three available handicapped spaces...I was only iun there for about 7 minutes and this lady chewed me out for parking in a handicapped space without a sticker. I jsut busted into tears. I told her...I couldn't walk that far and was ill....she looked at me and said...well you LOOK fine...I jsut got in my car and drove away. She looked fine  too....but I know that it is possible for someone to look fine and not to be. It isn't like she couldn;'t park in a handicapped space..and I made sure to park the farthest away. A Dr. can give you one? If so...I do need to check into that..there are so many days that I just don;t go to the store because I know I can;t make the walk from the parking lot. I am so sorry to hear that you haven't been feeling well. I will continue to keep you in my prayers for healing :)

[Viva001]

I hope you have a speedy recovery!
I've not been well, but am following comments.  I have learned a lot here.
I did ask my NS, among many questions, what I might expect for recovery; he said typically 6 wk--at least.  He said if I wanted to drive a little, he'd give me a handicapped sticker.  I don't Know if you've considered that.
Vivian

[Rahe28]

Yes Selma...the  vomitting was/is a withdrawl symptom. I just was not aware of it.  The nurse went toget the anestisiologist...and wen he asked about all of the meds and I told them I was informed to stop...he asked me if I had them  with me, when I said yes he went to get me a glass of water so I could take them. He said they should have never told me to stop them, because morphine and lortab and elavil are things you are not supposed to just stop (a) and (b) there was no need as he said that he will be mroe than capable of controling my pain. He said to just avoid NSaids which I havent taken in a month. I do already have two ofmy bracelets....that way all they have to do in the morning on thurs. is scan me in...and star my IV. Got my special shampoo today too...lol..it stinks ! At least the vomitting has stopped. :)My Ns had me get my meds this month from my PCP instead of Pain management so that he could have control of what was given and info  on them as well making sure that I was not written an entire months of meds...because he said meds will be different after surgery. So, I just assumed that he told them to have me stop them....and apparently that was not the case..at least I can sleep the next two nights.

[selmaS]

   Aww....sorry u were mis informed on the meds, I did not question it as I was also told to stop some meds, but I was not on the type of meds u r on, and I also was not aware u got that info from ur PCP.....

Was the vomiting a form of withdrawal?

  Wow really u have the bracelets on....I did not get mine until check in that AM.....

[Rahe28]

So weird...I already have my hospital bands on...like  I wasn't going to have to have them on long enough already. AGH !

[Rahe28]

Ty all ! Everything is a go f or thursday morning She said I should be there around 5am. and then as soon as I get all IV"d and drugged it's a go ! Gesh....it was all so real today. At one point, I stood up and told the nurse that this wasn't necessary and I was fine...and then  vomitted on the floor. COme to find out .,..I was NOT supposed to stop my meds at all. Thanks for the bad info PCP..lol. Only hours now~ :

[SilentSong101]

How'd it go?

[linnielou232]

I just wanted to let you know I'll be thinking of you.  Best of luck.  
Just think of the better day's ahead.
Linda :)

[selmaS]

  Good Luck : )

[Rahe28]

TY so much for the info ! Glad to have something to go on. I  am about to leave for the hospital to start pre-op. At least now, I have an idea of what I need to adress. Thanks again...for pushing me to find the right NS. I am so glad  that I went ahead amd saw DR. Walsh. If I would have went ahead with the surgery with the other  Dr...I know that I would have  been very sorry in the ling run. Take care.

[selmaS]

  I was on morphine pain pump I barely recall them placing it in my hand, and went off to sleep and they kept coming in telling me to press it, y r u not pressing it, I remember thinking  what r u talking about I forgot I had it and had no idea how much time had passed , I did not have a clock, I was still drugged up and I was asleep...lol...I did not like having the pump, as it was confusing for me, many like having it, but it is hard to know when to press for more meds, as it was the nurses came in and pressed it and then I had a reaction to the meds...so it took a while until they changed the meds to dilaudid ...so I was in ICU for 2 days as a result.

I do not recall them taking the tube out, but I do remember in recovery, b4 going to ICU that they said they were having a hard time waking me....for those of us that do not sleep, being put under feels wonderful and I did not want to wake...lol...

As for how u feel now  a little depressed, yeah I can related to that as u know things will be different for some time post op...and u have to face this completely where b4 surgery is scheduled when u have a good day u can deny it and pretend it may not come back....but u can not deny it this  close to surgery, it makes it all the more real and it is hard to accept this is me!

[Rahe28]

Thanks Selma...I talk to the anestiseiologist tomorrow as well as have blood work and chest x-ray and all that good stuff. I will make sure and mention the pain pump, because  I am worried that they will have trouble controllingmy pain since I have been on narcotic pain meds as well as morphine for the last year and a half. I stopped taking the morphine and the elavil and everything except the Lortabs  and I am seriously struggling...makin gme know that my decision for surgery is the right one. We painted one of the shirts yesterday :) We will do one tonight and then one tomorrow night :)  We are also making fiendship purple bracelets. They are getting nervous and asking ALOT of questions. Sigh...I think between the med withdrawl, full blowwn stymptoms and my nerves it is going to be a long three days. IS it normal to be depressed a little right before surgery? I am worried about the Vent, just because my mother and grandmother both had problems coming off of them. I think I am more worried about that than anything. What type of pain med were you given after surgery ?

[selmaS]

  Hi....not sure if u spoke with ur anesthesiologist yet, but u may  want to talk to them just to see what they plan on doing, I had an issue with being intubated once b4, and I got to speak with mine in the OR but it is  not always  easy to do depending on timing.....

But if u asked about the pain pump and all that u should be good to go, that is the only other issue I had that if u have  also had in the past u would want to do.

Did u get all the shirts done?