Post-Surgery

[Soon2bZipperhead]

So I had my surgery on March 12th.  Took about 5 or 6 hours.  Had to stay in ICU for 2 days because I had a bad reaction to the morphine they were giving me.  Once they switched me to vicodin, I was doing ok.

First night in ICU was unbearable, luckily, I don't remember much of it at all.  2nd day wasn't much better.  3rd day was ok, and 4th day I was up walking around and eating solid foods.

I've had some ok days and some pretty terrible ones.  My NS says everything should be good and fine, and that pain and stuff is normal for the first few weeks.  I've forced myself to get to my classes and stuff and can slug through them, but it's not much fun.

The tough days are so bad.  Right now, I've had a mind splitting headache for almost over two days straight now.  None of the pain meds are helping anymore it seems.

Anyone else take a long time to get over the headaches?  They are so debilitating, I can barely do anything while they are happening.

Anyway, thanks for the support and stuff in my previous thread, it does mean a lot.  I hope you're all doing well and are pain free.

[*Stormy*]

I understand how you feel..you really summed it up..all any of us want is to feel fully healthy again. I am also in the process of seeing several different specialists to try and figure things out.

I really sorry to hear that things got so bad for you but I am glad to hear that you are out of the hospital. Take care of yourself, rest and most of all try and have patience..believe me, I know it's hard but we just have to try and take one day at a time :)

Carolyn

[Soon2bZipperhead]

Hey again; been a while, as I had a similar story to Michelle.  I started vomiting a lot along with really bad HA's, and ended up in the ICU for 8 days.  Then the meds they gave me there were messing with my heart, so they had to monitor that; and now that I've been out for almost 2 weeks, my vision is starting to go blurry, and I'm told I need to see a neuropthomologist.  Also, perhaps a reaction to the steroids they gave me (a tapered does pack thing), I have bad acne all over my face and back now, and it's kinda painful to shave.

I hate not being at full health.  It's so very very frustrating.  And scary as hell.  :(

Hope you're all fairing well.

[selmaS]

Thank u for reminding us all to go slowly and to listen to our bodies...as well as an update on u....

I am so sorry u had to go thru the procedure 2x's....and that u r going slowly this time.....

We all want to get back to a "normal" life, but that ship sailed and we can get to a better life if we listen to what our body is saying....many have additional issues that may cause us to have a slower recovery and to have more symptoms after surgery.....and all of us will have a dr that gives us diff guidelines....the guidelines r too general, so again, we have to trust our instincts and our bodies.

I pray u have a better result of this last surgery

"selma"

[tmk83]

I had my first surgery in 2007 I was driving after a week and I went back to work after 4 weeks using the bus. At the 6 week point I had a leak - I couldn't get out of bed, couldn't stop vomiting and my mum had to call an ambulance - DO NOT PUSH YOURSELF.

I recently had my second surgery to take away some of the brain tonsils as the 1st decompression did not work well enough. Tomorrow will be the 4 week mark and I am happy to say that I have learnt from my previous mistakes, I didn't drive until 2 weeks (my dr said 7-10 days) and I still am not driving properly, I am still home from work and resting all I can as I want it to work this time.  I do get really bad headaches getting up in the morning but I believe that is my need to break a habit of sleeping on my stomach!

All I can say is that your body is telling you something - you are still healing and if you push yourself to far it can have bad affects - take the time now and it will only help for your future - talk to your doctor - some headaches are normal but you should not be out of the house that much - even if the class is easy - if you find it hard to move around the house it is too much to go out!

Take care - your health is the most important thing.

[*Stormy*]

Wow..at class already...that is really early!! I had terrible headaches for the first 4 weeks or so too...and I still get them daily now to a lesser severity (3mos post op). One thing I know for sure is that the headaches got much worse when I pushed myself and did things too early. I am thinking that might be the case with you. Is there any way that you can pull back a bit and give your body a chance to heal? I really didn't feel close to recovered until almost two months after.

I understand what you mean with the laying down...I would feel so bad that I would feel like I needed to lay down..but when I did it just throbbed even worse but my only reprieve was to try and fall asleep. What did help a little is to lay down in a raised postition..either in a recliner or prop the head of your mattress up. You probably still have a lot of inflammation which is causing there still to be pressure...and you feel the high pressure more when laying down.

I know it's hard to hear that you should give it time..but it is time that heals so we just have to struggle through it :) I pray you will feel better soon!

Carolyn

[meeches]

Hi there,

1 week after being home from the hospital, my headaches was so severe, that couldn't stop vomiting. I called my mom to come over cause I was alone with a 2 year old and couldn't take the pain anymore. After coming over to find me crawling towards the bathroom and puking, she took me to the hospital where i was admitted to ICU for a spinal leak and brain swelling. I was there for a week. The Spinal leak HA was the worst pain I have ever had... After being released again, It took 6 days to get the HA under control. I was diligent in taking pain / nausea meds. I took pain meds every 3 hours...

You will know if somethings not right...Oh one other thing, the day i was admitted into ICU, my guy had taken me to the ER that morning cause of my HA. They did an MRI then sent me home.. I knew something was wrong.. Trust your instincts..

I hope things get better for you, quickly..

Michelle

[selmaS]

I am close to my 1 yr annv post op and I am still having difficulties.....even 3 hrs may be too much,.....it is added stress as u need to focus which is diff right after surgery....

If u have pain lying down, I am not sure what u mean...more pressure?

U may want to call ur dr and ask about that....

Yes, we all need to learn to be patient with this...and we all heal at diff rates....like I said listen to ur body.

I pray u feel the benefits soon : )

"selma"

[Soon2bZipperhead]

Thanks Selma :)

I suppose I should clarify, I only have one acting class, and it's a voiceover thing once a week, so it's just sitting there for 3 hours and occasionally talking.

The other stuff is just trying to walk around the house (very slowly) and survive the throbbing pain.  My body literally wracks with the head pulses.  Laying down is horrible, but not laying down is horrible too.  Rock and a hard place I guess.

Ugh.  I guess it just takes time.  

[selmaS]

Hi and welcome back !!

Well, I think u may be rushing things a bit...y did u go back to school already? This is not one of those surgeries u can rush...it takes time  to heal....some say u can still see benefits up to 2 yrs after the surgery....but if u just had ur surgery and u r back at school, I would say that is y u r having the HA's.

Just walking around a store for 30 mins after my surgery put me down the next day.....give urself time to heal......listen to ur body.

"selma"