Three weeks post op

[Krystinamarie]

It has been about three weeks since my decompression surgery. C1 laminectomy and cerebellar tonsillectomy. After one day in icu and a couple days in the hospital I was sent home. A day or so after being home I was rushing to the emergency room because of severe vomiting and pain as I was not able to keep the meds down. After getting my pain and vomiting under control I was sent home to await my post op appointment which is in a week. I am experiencing some symptoms and I am curious if others who have gone through this surgery experienced the same things?

1.My balance is worse than it was going into surgery

2. I have trouble doing things with my hands (typing this is extremely difficult and time consuming) cutting things, tying shoes. Simple every day tasks are hard.

3. My memory is terrible. I have trouble with what day it is, trouble with conversations, trouble remembering what I was doing.

4. Difficulty swallowing. I have limited my diet to soft foods that I can easily swallow because things will get stuck. Even the medicine gives me trouble sometimes.

5. I have difficulty finding the right words. I will be in the middle of speaking and have to stop and think really hard to find the right word.

6. I have trouble focusing and tend to get confused very easily.

These are the symptoms that are causing me the most worry. I am not typically very emotional but all of this struggle is taking a toll on me. Prior to surgery I was mentally preparing myself for physical pain during recovery not these kind of symptoms. I'm just wondering if anyone else has gone through any of this.

Thanks,

Krystina

[desertstorm2009]

Hi hon, I'm 4 weeks post op. I had a c1 laminectomy, posterior fossa decompression with dura plasty (my own tissue). I do not have the symptoms you described post op but did have many of them pre -op. I don't know what technique was used for you or where you had it done. I do believe technique matters greatly. My daughter also had this surgery ten years ago.

I know it's hard not to get discouraged, but try not to. You made it through this and things will get better. It takes time. One thing I would recommend is that you call your NS and make him aware of your new symptoms. Ask for a CT scan at this point. It will quickly check on things and ease your mind a bit. Secondly, if you can try to get off any narcotics and muscle relaxers as these cause side effects that can mimic some of what you are describing. You can try Lidocaine patches instead of muscle relaxers. Works great for me. Also you can try Motrin 800mg followed by Tylenol 1000mg 4 hours later. I find that helpful. Also, if your Dr says it's ok (please check first), start walking. Even if you don't feel good, it will help and you can do it. Sometimes I think I can't or I'm scared, but it does help.

Try not to be scared. Do what you can, take steps to make sure you are ok and believe that this will get better, because it will. You are not alone. There are many of us post op. Life can be and IS good :-) Lisa

[Krystinamarie]

Jas0803 thank you for your kind words. I hope you have an easy recovery.

Swatkind and mfusion THANK YOU this helps me feel a little less alone. I guess I had very high hopes. I was determined to be like those people you read about who are fine within a couple weeks and are off their pain meds. I appreciate you sharing your experiences.

[selmaS]

  Posted to ur 2nd thread of the same topic

[MFusion]

Sorry you are having such a hard time.  When I had my surgery my doc told me it would take 6 months to fully recover.  Make sure you follow recovery orders by the doc.  Lot of rest, not bending, no lifting and don't raise your arms over your shoulders.  Most definitely don't drive until your doc releases you.  Hopefully you have someone helping you out during this time.  Make sure and tell your doc when you go for your follow up about all you are experiencing..  I had lots of symptoms a few months after surgery and it took 6 months for most of them to go away. Take care!

[swatkind]

Had decompression in late October with C1 laminectomy and duraplasty.

Of your listed symptoms, 3, 5, and 6 ring very true to me.  For about 3 months after my surgery I felt like I was in a fog.  People would tell me how great I looked and how they were so happy I got through surgery with  no problems, but I was so depressed because I felt terrible.  It took so much energy focusing on day-to-day tasks, and I was a social hermit for a long time because it was so hard being around people, trying to follow conversation, etc.  It does get better, though, and for me it felt like one day I woke up and a switch had been turned and things seemed normal again.

I think everyone's recovery is a little different.  I had horrendous headaches long after the "normal" post-op period (the heaviest dose of oral dilaudid did NOTHING for the pain....), but those too subsided eventually.  Unfortunately, I think a lot of surgeons will keep saying things are "normal," and they very well might be right.  But if you feel they aren't, don't hesitate to speak up! So many of us got diagnosed simply by being persistent and refusing to have our issues brushed off.

[Jas0803]

Sorry I wish I could give you answers, however I am 11 days from my decompression surgery. I wish you the best, and try to hang on there