I shouldn't have just assumed he would use my own tissue like he did the first time. Maybe the higher dose of steroids will help. I will see him on the 5th. Thats all they would do in the hospital. Steroids and pain meds and tell me to follow up with Dr Kim. I just hope he doesn't brush this off as normal.
Rejection is one of the main post op issues we can have.....this is why I stress ruling out EDS as it can be a reason we reject a dura patch made of anything but our own tissue.
We have had quite a few that had a rejection of this sort....
I know exactly how you feel. I had to have 3 surgeries due to rejection and the only thing that worked for me was the Dr. using Muslin for the lining and it excepted. It was a rough road and I know how you are feeling. The only suggestions I can give you that helped me enormously is a heavy heat sack that I warm up and go into my dark bedroom and lay it on top of the head. For some reason it puts pressure yet relief on the brain. Also elevate your head so your not laying flat. If you have a blockage the only place the fluid will go is in your surgery spot. Please try to relax even though I know it isn't easy when your getting sick. Hope this helps you a bit and gives you relief until you can see your Dr. again. Best of luck.
Linda :)
My neurosurgeon didn't call. It was the ER attending neurosurgeon that called and told me I shouldn't be discharged. We should have turned around. But just riding in the car hurts. All I wanted was to lay down. I can take steroids at home. One of dr kims residents did finally call the next morning and told me to go back to steroids twice a day. I'm a wuss about asking for pain meds. So just ice and not moving as much as possible.
I am keeping some fluids down. I'm trying to make them count (Gatorade) I'm losing about a pound a day. The only thing I can't so at home is give myself fluids. I have one of his nurses cell phone numbers. I will text and ask her if anyone will be in clinic next week. Or what I should do next.
My neurosurgeon removed the rest of my cerebral tonsils (there was just a sliver left since he removed a lot back in 2013) and put a bovine patch. I have a pseudomeningocele and communicating hydrocephalus for which I'm shunted. My last LP (earlier this month) showed elevated protein which is inflammation -- that's when they started me on steroids. And with my blood work pointing to inflammation too. I don't know. Is that a sign of rejection? Or just sterile meningitis?
I am so sorry to hear you are going through all of this. If your neurosurgeon called and said you shouldn't have been discharged I'm curious as to why he didn't have you come back and be readmitted?
I have read stories about people who rejected the synthetic patch and needed a second surgery to replace the patch with one harvested from their own tissue.
Are you able to drink water without vomiting? If you feel this bad you can't wait till the 5th to see your doctor.
You are having a difficult time. Will the neurosurgeon admit you to the hospital since he thought you shouldn't have been discharged? Sorry, I have little knowledge on the dura patch. What is your diagnosis?