What to expect

[Marybuzz27]

Hello everyone! I'm so glad I found this forum. I am scheduled for decompression surgery next Wednesday October 23. I am looking for any insight on what to expect before and after the surgery in the hospital as well as at home for recovery. Also if anyone has any suggestions as to what to bring to the hospital it would be much appreciated. Thank you in advance for any insight. - Mary

[selmaS]

  Yes, I did have the drain in as a result of the tissue that was harvested....I also have a DX of Ehlers-Danlos and I am sure that played a role in why my Drs felt the drain was something they wanted to use.....

[mmccoy67]

I just read this and have to ask, did you have a "Drain In" because they used harvested tissue from your scalp for your patch? Just want to make sure I read that right. And if yes, is that normal procedure? I also had harvested tissue, but no drain, which is why I ask.

[Marybuzz27]

Thank you both so much for the responses. It is nice to know to what to kind of expect. My surgery is on 10/23/2013 and any prayers are much appreciated :)

[selmaS]

  Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum,

We all will have a different experience so it is hard to say what u can expect but many of us do have a journal with our Chiari experience in our profile page.....

We also have a list of items for the hospital stay...this can be found in the Health Pages.....and we also have a thread for surgery dates, if u post ur date there we will post a Prayer Thread for u.....http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/list?cid=186

I had surgery 4.5 yrs ago, I woke in recovery, and moved to ICU where I was for 2.5 days I  did not get out of bed until the last day as I was hooked to monitors and oxygen....I had a reaction to morphine so could be part of my issue, plus I also had tissue harvested from my scalp for my dura patch so I also had a drain in, so I had a cath, and my legs had these moving leg warmers to keep circulation going....as I said we are all different and it will depend on how ur body responds.....

Once the meds were changed I did well....and am so glad I was able to have the surgery.

[desertstorm2009]

Hi Mary...
Glad you found this place too :-) My daughter had the surgery with Dr Oro nine years ago. She was scared going in, not certain her Chiari was the problem, afraid of the surgery... She woke in the ICU and walked to the bathroom. Her pressure headache was gone. The neck and shoulder pain was gone. She was in different pain from the surgery. She said the pain is alot at first but not unbearable, and is mainly muscle pain in the neck that gets better each day. She went to a regular room the next day, home the next. Was on narcotic and muscle relaxer for a week or so. Back in college week 3. Well every since that was nine years ago. She had suffered immensely for years. She said she doesn't regret having the surgery and would gladly do it again. Now I am facing the same but am not as young or brave as her so I understand your fear, but you will be fine. Remember, even though this is called brain surgery, it's mostly a surgery on your bone. They only touch a small portion of the lining to the brain and do not disturb the brain itself. Although painful from cutting the neck muscle, this is not considered a major brain surgery as far as brain surgeries go.... Most people do well and so will you! Have faith :-) You are not alone. I will say a prayer for you... Lisa