Guest guest Posted February 18, 2003 Report Share Posted February 18, 2003 Hi Marsha. I had surgery Aug 19th (6 months ago tomorrow!!!). My herniation is 11mm. My symptoms were similar to yours, only mine were progressing quickly. Before surgery I had to scrub my head/neck at home twice a day for two days with these betadine scrubs the hospital gave me. Then when I got there they started hooking up all the IV's, and a catheter (not fun since I had also just started my period!). I was intubated, but they waited til I was knocked out to do that. I ended up with 6 lines in me. One in each wrist, one in each elbow, and two in my neck. When I woke up the lines in my neck were already out, but I could still feel the bump. They waited to shave my head until after I was knocked out. I had to leave the catheter in for about a day/ day and a half. I was trying to sit up by that evening. I could not really sit up on my own for quite a few days. (I also had problems with low-pressure headaches following surgery). I was not allowed to wash my hair until after I got the staples out. Even then, the first time I did it, it was torture! I was able to eat solid foods the morning after surgery. Not that I had much of an appetite! I was given something for the nausea. Not really because of the anesthesia, but because of the percocet they gave me for pain. After I got home, I had my husband here with me for almost 2 weeks. (His school vacation happened to fall at the same time). I wasn't allowed to drive for almost 2 weeks. I slept a lot during the first week I was home. Day and night. Before surgery, I made sure my house was cleaned (kept me busy before the big day, but also kept me from stressing over a messy house when family came to check on me) made sure there was fresh batteries in the TV remote in my room, my cousin brought me a lot of magazines to read, my husband's aunt bought me a journal to write in (that was the neatest thing.I wrote a lot in it & am now saving it for my kids when they are older), moved my cell phone & charger in the bedroom (I used that to call my husband when I needed something.kept me from having to yell for him), also had a disposable camera (my nsg even took a couple pics for me after he took my bandages off (he came in to change them and I asked if he would mind taking a couple pictures for me, and he said " no problem " ). I also had all my important numbers and list of medications written out for my husband.just in case (turns out I did end up needing that one night when I had to go to the ER and I was in so much pain I couldn't talk & my husband was so stressed he couldn't remember everything. the ER docs even thanked me for being so prepared! But that's another story!) Well, that's all I can think of right now. Good luck and if you have any other questions I will try to answer as best as I can. a in WA Preparing for surgery > I am scheduled for a decompression(no shunt or syrinx) on March 10. > So, what can I expect? > > A little history--I have 12-13 mm herniation. My symptoms--daily > headaches for 10+ years, numbness in one hand for 6 months, fatigue > for 4 years, tinnitus for(ever LOL), nausea(for 6 months), back pain > (10+years). I have been working full time as a teacher, so things are > not too bad, just want to alleviate the symptoms. I was diagnosed > 10/02. > > I want to know what happens before the surgery(catheter?tube down > throat?anesthesia? medications?) Please tell all. > > and after surgery(when do these things get taken out? can you control > what they give you i.e. medication?) > > Also, how long til I can wash my hair? go to the bathroom? eat solid > food? sit up? > > Should I talk to the dr. about anything in particular before surgery? > Anything you wish you'd talk to him about? I hear a lot of people > talk about nausea from anesthesia--should I ask about this? > > When I come home, what do I need? How long will I need someone to > stay with me? Should I start physical activity right away? When did > you first drive? > > Any help you can give me would be great! Thanks, Marsha > > > Help section: http://www.yahoogroups.com/help/ > > NOTE: NCC refers to posts with No Chiari Content > > To Unsubscribe Yourself: > chiari-unsubscribe > > WACMA Home: Http://www.wacma.com > > WACMA Online Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/chiari/ > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 18, 2003 Report Share Posted February 18, 2003 Hi Marsha. I had surgery Aug 19th (6 months ago tomorrow!!!). My herniation is 11mm. My symptoms were similar to yours, only mine were progressing quickly. Before surgery I had to scrub my head/neck at home twice a day for two days with these betadine scrubs the hospital gave me. Then when I got there they started hooking up all the IV's, and a catheter (not fun since I had also just started my period!). I was intubated, but they waited til I was knocked out to do that. I ended up with 6 lines in me. One in each wrist, one in each elbow, and two in my neck. When I woke up the lines in my neck were already out, but I could still feel the bump. They waited to shave my head until after I was knocked out. I had to leave the catheter in for about a day/ day and a half. I was trying to sit up by that evening. I could not really sit up on my own for quite a few days. (I also had problems with low-pressure headaches following surgery). I was not allowed to wash my hair until after I got the staples out. Even then, the first time I did it, it was torture! I was able to eat solid foods the morning after surgery. Not that I had much of an appetite! I was given something for the nausea. Not really because of the anesthesia, but because of the percocet they gave me for pain. After I got home, I had my husband here with me for almost 2 weeks. (His school vacation happened to fall at the same time). I wasn't allowed to drive for almost 2 weeks. I slept a lot during the first week I was home. Day and night. Before surgery, I made sure my house was cleaned (kept me busy before the big day, but also kept me from stressing over a messy house when family came to check on me) made sure there was fresh batteries in the TV remote in my room, my cousin brought me a lot of magazines to read, my husband's aunt bought me a journal to write in (that was the neatest thing.I wrote a lot in it & am now saving it for my kids when they are older), moved my cell phone & charger in the bedroom (I used that to call my husband when I needed something.kept me from having to yell for him), also had a disposable camera (my nsg even took a couple pics for me after he took my bandages off (he came in to change them and I asked if he would mind taking a couple pictures for me, and he said " no problem " ). I also had all my important numbers and list of medications written out for my husband.just in case (turns out I did end up needing that one night when I had to go to the ER and I was in so much pain I couldn't talk & my husband was so stressed he couldn't remember everything. the ER docs even thanked me for being so prepared! But that's another story!) Well, that's all I can think of right now. Good luck and if you have any other questions I will try to answer as best as I can. a in WA Preparing for surgery > I am scheduled for a decompression(no shunt or syrinx) on March 10. > So, what can I expect? > > A little history--I have 12-13 mm herniation. My symptoms--daily > headaches for 10+ years, numbness in one hand for 6 months, fatigue > for 4 years, tinnitus for(ever LOL), nausea(for 6 months), back pain > (10+years). I have been working full time as a teacher, so things are > not too bad, just want to alleviate the symptoms. I was diagnosed > 10/02. > > I want to know what happens before the surgery(catheter?tube down > throat?anesthesia? medications?) Please tell all. > > and after surgery(when do these things get taken out? can you control > what they give you i.e. medication?) > > Also, how long til I can wash my hair? go to the bathroom? eat solid > food? sit up? > > Should I talk to the dr. about anything in particular before surgery? > Anything you wish you'd talk to him about? I hear a lot of people > talk about nausea from anesthesia--should I ask about this? > > When I come home, what do I need? How long will I need someone to > stay with me? Should I start physical activity right away? When did > you first drive? > > Any help you can give me would be great! Thanks, Marsha > > > Help section: http://www.yahoogroups.com/help/ > > NOTE: NCC refers to posts with No Chiari Content > > To Unsubscribe Yourself: > chiari-unsubscribe > > WACMA Home: Http://www.wacma.com > > WACMA Online Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/chiari/ > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 18, 2003 Report Share Posted February 18, 2003 Hi Marsha. I had surgery Aug 19th (6 months ago tomorrow!!!). My herniation is 11mm. My symptoms were similar to yours, only mine were progressing quickly. Before surgery I had to scrub my head/neck at home twice a day for two days with these betadine scrubs the hospital gave me. Then when I got there they started hooking up all the IV's, and a catheter (not fun since I had also just started my period!). I was intubated, but they waited til I was knocked out to do that. I ended up with 6 lines in me. One in each wrist, one in each elbow, and two in my neck. When I woke up the lines in my neck were already out, but I could still feel the bump. They waited to shave my head until after I was knocked out. I had to leave the catheter in for about a day/ day and a half. I was trying to sit up by that evening. I could not really sit up on my own for quite a few days. (I also had problems with low-pressure headaches following surgery). I was not allowed to wash my hair until after I got the staples out. Even then, the first time I did it, it was torture! I was able to eat solid foods the morning after surgery. Not that I had much of an appetite! I was given something for the nausea. Not really because of the anesthesia, but because of the percocet they gave me for pain. After I got home, I had my husband here with me for almost 2 weeks. (His school vacation happened to fall at the same time). I wasn't allowed to drive for almost 2 weeks. I slept a lot during the first week I was home. Day and night. Before surgery, I made sure my house was cleaned (kept me busy before the big day, but also kept me from stressing over a messy house when family came to check on me) made sure there was fresh batteries in the TV remote in my room, my cousin brought me a lot of magazines to read, my husband's aunt bought me a journal to write in (that was the neatest thing.I wrote a lot in it & am now saving it for my kids when they are older), moved my cell phone & charger in the bedroom (I used that to call my husband when I needed something.kept me from having to yell for him), also had a disposable camera (my nsg even took a couple pics for me after he took my bandages off (he came in to change them and I asked if he would mind taking a couple pictures for me, and he said " no problem " ). I also had all my important numbers and list of medications written out for my husband.just in case (turns out I did end up needing that one night when I had to go to the ER and I was in so much pain I couldn't talk & my husband was so stressed he couldn't remember everything. the ER docs even thanked me for being so prepared! But that's another story!) Well, that's all I can think of right now. Good luck and if you have any other questions I will try to answer as best as I can. a in WA Preparing for surgery > I am scheduled for a decompression(no shunt or syrinx) on March 10. > So, what can I expect? > > A little history--I have 12-13 mm herniation. My symptoms--daily > headaches for 10+ years, numbness in one hand for 6 months, fatigue > for 4 years, tinnitus for(ever LOL), nausea(for 6 months), back pain > (10+years). I have been working full time as a teacher, so things are > not too bad, just want to alleviate the symptoms. I was diagnosed > 10/02. > > I want to know what happens before the surgery(catheter?tube down > throat?anesthesia? medications?) Please tell all. > > and after surgery(when do these things get taken out? can you control > what they give you i.e. medication?) > > Also, how long til I can wash my hair? go to the bathroom? eat solid > food? sit up? > > Should I talk to the dr. about anything in particular before surgery? > Anything you wish you'd talk to him about? I hear a lot of people > talk about nausea from anesthesia--should I ask about this? > > When I come home, what do I need? How long will I need someone to > stay with me? Should I start physical activity right away? When did > you first drive? > > Any help you can give me would be great! Thanks, Marsha > > > Help section: http://www.yahoogroups.com/help/ > > NOTE: NCC refers to posts with No Chiari Content > > To Unsubscribe Yourself: > chiari-unsubscribe > > WACMA Home: Http://www.wacma.com > > WACMA Online Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/chiari/ > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.