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Surgery Date/Questions
Hello All,
I have finally set my surgery date. October 8th with Dr.Won at Kaiser in Fontana, Ca. My surgery is at 9am and check in is at 6am. My pre-op consult is September 30th....After all my headaches and other symptoms I finally realized I have the answer I have been looking for since I was old enough to have my own medical insurance at 18 and dealing with headaches since I was 9. I realized that it's not what you know, but what you use of what you know that counts. I am finally tired of all the muscle weakness and headaches/dizziness ( I can barely walk in a straight line now) and neck pain and pressure in the head and back pain and anything else I may have forgotten to mention and I see the impact it has on my job and relationships and my business. Everything suffers because of this disease and mine is what they call "mild" haha... in my opinion it's not but to other people who have it worse than me you have all my respect in the world for being fighters. I decided to do this for myself because I realized how its impacting my quallity of life and others who need me.I have watched myself slowly get worse since march alone and want it to stop or at least maintain here.... so with that said....here are my questions.
What can I expect when I check in to the hospital?
Before they put me under anesthesia will they at least give me something to calm my nerves?
Will I be in pain when I wake up?
Will they put me through physical therapy after since they will be cutting my neck muscles?
Will I be in a neck brace for a bit?
Of all the people who have had this done what symptom have you noticed has gone away the most?
What can I bring with me to keep me happy in the hospital?
Did your Doctor put you off work before the surgery or the day of for medical leave?
Anyone who can help with answers to these questions would be greatly appreciated!
I have finally set my surgery date. October 8th with Dr.Won at Kaiser in Fontana, Ca. My surgery is at 9am and check in is at 6am. My pre-op consult is September 30th....After all my headaches and other symptoms I finally realized I have the answer I have been looking for since I was old enough to have my own medical insurance at 18 and dealing with headaches since I was 9. I realized that it's not what you know, but what you use of what you know that counts. I am finally tired of all the muscle weakness and headaches/dizziness ( I can barely walk in a straight line now) and neck pain and pressure in the head and back pain and anything else I may have forgotten to mention and I see the impact it has on my job and relationships and my business. Everything suffers because of this disease and mine is what they call "mild" haha... in my opinion it's not but to other people who have it worse than me you have all my respect in the world for being fighters. I decided to do this for myself because I realized how its impacting my quallity of life and others who need me.I have watched myself slowly get worse since march alone and want it to stop or at least maintain here.... so with that said....here are my questions.
What can I expect when I check in to the hospital?
Before they put me under anesthesia will they at least give me something to calm my nerves?
Will I be in pain when I wake up?
Will they put me through physical therapy after since they will be cutting my neck muscles?
Will I be in a neck brace for a bit?
Of all the people who have had this done what symptom have you noticed has gone away the most?
What can I bring with me to keep me happy in the hospital?
Did your Doctor put you off work before the surgery or the day of for medical leave?
Anyone who can help with answers to these questions would be greatly appreciated!
If anyone else could leave any more suggestions or give some feedback I would really appreciate it
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi...Rebecca gave u some very good advice and suggestions.
Another member, who hasn't been on the forum in quite some time has had the surgery from this very dr....Redkim....she would be a good person to talk to , so do try and PM her.
As for questions at pre op...ask about all the people that will be in the OR and if they ALL participate in ur insurance and ask ur insurance how many of them in the OR r covered by ur insurance....something I did not have ne idea to ask,, and now wish I had.
Type of surgery...there r diff types of decompression...cutting the dura, not cutting the dura and endoscopy.
If they cut the dura, what type of patch?......do u have a condition which could cause u to reject the patch.
Try to get ur PT set up b4 surgery also....u will not be up to it afterward.
Look around for a PT location where they r familiar with chiari.
Make sure u inform ur dr if u have had ne reactions to meds.......if u get sick after being moved from the recovery room to ICU, ask for the pain meds to be changed.
Know how long ur dr expects u to be in ICU......after having major surgery u want to be in at least overnight.
Good luck and congratulations!
Please add ur name to out surgery list thread...and when u r in the hospital have a friend or family member update us on ur progress.
"selma"
Another member, who hasn't been on the forum in quite some time has had the surgery from this very dr....Redkim....she would be a good person to talk to , so do try and PM her.
As for questions at pre op...ask about all the people that will be in the OR and if they ALL participate in ur insurance and ask ur insurance how many of them in the OR r covered by ur insurance....something I did not have ne idea to ask,, and now wish I had.
Type of surgery...there r diff types of decompression...cutting the dura, not cutting the dura and endoscopy.
If they cut the dura, what type of patch?......do u have a condition which could cause u to reject the patch.
Try to get ur PT set up b4 surgery also....u will not be up to it afterward.
Look around for a PT location where they r familiar with chiari.
Make sure u inform ur dr if u have had ne reactions to meds.......if u get sick after being moved from the recovery room to ICU, ask for the pain meds to be changed.
Know how long ur dr expects u to be in ICU......after having major surgery u want to be in at least overnight.
Good luck and congratulations!
Please add ur name to out surgery list thread...and when u r in the hospital have a friend or family member update us on ur progress.
"selma"
My daughter is 15, and had her surgery two years ago. I would imagine that each hospital and doctor will do things a bit different, but I will share our experience with you.
What can I expect when I check in to the hospital?
**Usually, they just ask a ton of questions, have you sign a ton of papers, collect your copay or deductible, and gather insurance cards and for your file. They usually then place an arm band on you, and take you to the next spot for you to wait at.**
Before they put me under anesthesia will they at least give me something to calm my nerves?
**Yes, if you ask for something, they can AFTER they have had you sign all of the consent forms and had a visit with the anesthesiologist.**
Will I be in pain when I wake up?
**Ummm, yes. You will be in pain, but you should be able to receive pain meds to help control the pain. My daughter's first words to me after she came back from recovery were, "Dear Jesus!". So, don't go into it expecting it not to hurt. It is going to be the worst headache you've ever had. BUT, it does get better, eventually.**
Will they put me through physical therapy after since they will be cutting my neck muscles?
**Rachael had a physical therapist come and see her, and give her a few exercises to do. She did them in the hospital while the pt was there, but never again. She had so much going on that her neck muscles were the least of her worries.**
Will I be in a neck brace for a bit?
**Rachael did not have a neck brace.**
Of all the people who have had this done what symptom have you noticed has gone away the most?
**For Rachael, she had many changes. She improved greatly, and by three months post op, she could climb a tree! But, after a chiro adjustment, her symptoms returned and have continued. She is not as bad as before her surgery, but she is not able to be active.**
What can I bring with me to keep me happy in the hospital?
**Rachael was not, and could not be happy while she was in the hospital. It was at least 10 days after her surgery before we got to see her smile. She didn't watch much TV because it hurt her head. She mostly slept.**
Did your Doctor put you off work before the surgery or the day of for medical leave?
**Since Rachael was only 13, she didn't have to deal with this issue. But, had she been older and had a job, she would NOT have been able to continue working. She had reached the point that she could not shower alone, or sometimes even walk straight. So, for her, surgery was not really an option.**
What can I expect when I check in to the hospital?
**Usually, they just ask a ton of questions, have you sign a ton of papers, collect your copay or deductible, and gather insurance cards and for your file. They usually then place an arm band on you, and take you to the next spot for you to wait at.**
Before they put me under anesthesia will they at least give me something to calm my nerves?
**Yes, if you ask for something, they can AFTER they have had you sign all of the consent forms and had a visit with the anesthesiologist.**
Will I be in pain when I wake up?
**Ummm, yes. You will be in pain, but you should be able to receive pain meds to help control the pain. My daughter's first words to me after she came back from recovery were, "Dear Jesus!". So, don't go into it expecting it not to hurt. It is going to be the worst headache you've ever had. BUT, it does get better, eventually.**
Will they put me through physical therapy after since they will be cutting my neck muscles?
**Rachael had a physical therapist come and see her, and give her a few exercises to do. She did them in the hospital while the pt was there, but never again. She had so much going on that her neck muscles were the least of her worries.**
Will I be in a neck brace for a bit?
**Rachael did not have a neck brace.**
Of all the people who have had this done what symptom have you noticed has gone away the most?
**For Rachael, she had many changes. She improved greatly, and by three months post op, she could climb a tree! But, after a chiro adjustment, her symptoms returned and have continued. She is not as bad as before her surgery, but she is not able to be active.**
What can I bring with me to keep me happy in the hospital?
**Rachael was not, and could not be happy while she was in the hospital. It was at least 10 days after her surgery before we got to see her smile. She didn't watch much TV because it hurt her head. She mostly slept.**
Did your Doctor put you off work before the surgery or the day of for medical leave?
**Since Rachael was only 13, she didn't have to deal with this issue. But, had she been older and had a job, she would NOT have been able to continue working. She had reached the point that she could not shower alone, or sometimes even walk straight. So, for her, surgery was not really an option.**
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