an update

[northernstarmn]

Hello everyone, I just thought I would give y'all an update. Since my surgery (10/5) and the shunt surgery (10/24) after many hospital visits (last discharge 11/23) they finally got me set at the right number since then I have been doing really well no more headaches,tremors,dizziness. I still have some ringing in my ears occasionally through out the day.
What I have noticed is
*I still feel kind of mentally slow not all the time but occasionally and the oddest thing I cant blow my nose anymore I mean i can but its not the same like i dont have the blow power  i know its weird but i dont know how else to explain it. Has anyone else had this?
*I am not sure if its because of the chiari surgery or the shunt surgery or if it could even be from either the high fluid build up or the low fluid. I also noticed that if i do not sleep on a slight incline I have a headache and neck pain in the morning, So right now I am sleeping on a boat load of pillows but tomorrow iam going to go to bed bath and beyond and buy a wedge, So I can get rid of most of the pillows on the bed and maybe sleep more comfortably
*the only other thing that i have noticed is that my neck still feels kind of stiff on the left side of the inscision and i have an indent at the base of the skull it wasnt there after surgery(s) i noticed it about 2 weeks ago and it was like all of a sudden, No it doesnt hurt or anything just a really weird feeling when i slide my hand down the back of my neck/head.
Other then those things I have been feeling well I am able to do things again! I am able to actually have a conversation and understand what is being said.And I am getting back to crafting again. so all in all things are looking good..

Take care all
Lisa

[northernstarmn]

Ok ladies, this is the deal- the wedge good investment for me- after i bought new pillows, the new pillows made all the difference in the world!!.(i went to target got 2 medium fluffness (or what ever its called) for $7.00 each) and I tell you I haven't slept so good...what a major difference and help!               Maybe worth a try for some if you are having trouble sleeping.~Lisa

[shanmomof3]

Yeah thanks lisa! I told you that you were the guinea pig on this one lol so we'll wait and see how it goes for you ;~) Shannon

[selmaS]

Thanks Lisa !!

[northernstarmn]

dont rush out too quickly to buy a wedge iam not sure but i woke up with a stiff neck (stiffer then usual). I will give it a good week and see whats what. then i will let ya know for sure.

[selmaS]

Lisa,

Thanks for teh update on teh wedge and the price and location as well !! : ) I just may ask DH to go get one for me...I side off the mound of pillows I have piled on my bed and sometimes I wake up sore form the position I fall into.....

"selma"

[northernstarmn]

I wish i could put a finger on it, I dont know where its coming from if its a side effect from chiari or if it is something to do with the shunt and pressure....ergh i wish i knew  I was told it could be from the pressure, ahh but who knows.....I know its not PMS cuz iam not in that mode right now. So I will say its from the weather. here in Minnesota its been quite cold for quite awhile so its liekly the cause just wish winter would go away already!  

Oh wow Shannon it is cold for Mississippi, I guess all the lower portion of the country is rather cold for them. Hang in there i know when my 3 older boys were home from school Id be like oh lovely-- lets have more noise! LOL, our place (Back in Pa) always seemed like the gathering place for kids when they were off or out of school. Stay warm!!

One thing i forgot to mention about the wedge is the small part of the wedge that your back rests on did not bother me at all once i laid on it it kind of disappeared. I got it at bed bath and beyond paid 29.99 for it.

[shanmomof3]

I know the feeling! I think its the weather! At least for me ... We got snow and ice today and its down in the teens. I live in mississippi its not suppose to be THIS COLD! So i feel like **** today and all of my kids are home so its gonna be fun today ... NOT! Anyway enough gripping from me. Sounds like the wedge might work pretty well may have to get one myself :) Take care! --Shannon

[northernstarmn]

Alrighty I dont mind being a guinea pig for this expirment,

I bought it yesterday and slept with it lastnight, didnt seem too bad and seemed to be the right height for me. Most of my upper body was on the wedge, and I have 2 pillows on top of that, I woke up this morning still sleeping on it so I dont think I minded it,

being i feel really crabby lately its hard to say if i feel better or worse LOL but I will let ya know for sure when I stop feeling like i wanna rip into someone. LOL..

[shanmomof3]

ok i could have sworn i already posted something here lol anyway ... Welcome back Lisa! Glad they finally got your shunt set right and that your healing well! I wanna know how that wedge works too! I cant do the risers either because of the bed but had thought about the wedge so let up know how it works. Guess you have to be the guinea pig lol :) --Shannon

[selmaS]

Lisa, no worries, we have been missing u : )

Well then u r stuck trying the wedge...let me know if it is like a sliding board.....I feel it will be like my Mt of pillows...I keep sliding off them.......

If ur DH doesn't mind the incline he may be able to rig something for that center leg ....it has to be shorter than the other ones as it is not inline with the ones on the outside which r also at the head of the bed......let me know what u end up doing  : )

"selma"

[northernstarmn]

Hi Selma
Happy New Year to you also, No I havent been to PT, I mentioned it to docs but they seem to feel its not necessary and will only make the neck hurt even more for now its all being managed by medicine.

I'd do those risers under the bed but i also have a queen bed the frame is metal with the funky center bracing, so i dont think that will work to well besides i dont think my husband would be to happy sleeping on an incline LOL...

thanks for the nice return welcome

Lisa

[selmaS]

Hi Lisa ! Happy New Year !! : )

While at BB and B u may want to look at the bed risers.....if u only use them on the head of the bed it will give u a better incline than pillows or the wedge....the wedge still cuts u in the mid section......

I too have a bed full of pillows and if my bed was able to be placed on the risers I would do it in a shot.....mine is queen size and has odd middle supports and not in the correct area to keep the alignment.....one day DH may set it up, but then he has to sleep on the incline too      : )

Have u been to PT?

SO happy to hear u r moving forward with ur recovery...glad to see u back here too : )

"selma"