After Surgery

Hello kathy, I am serena, I had my op 2/1/17, very close to your op date. I m experiencing tinnitus like you too, with some buzzing sound in my ears. Did your tinnitus get better now? Sometimes I also get floaters and visual issues. Hope to receive your reply soon and best wishes!

The floater  inLeft Eye started 3/2017. It went away  upon waking from surgery but came back. It gets worse and less. I think that hsa to do with Spine fluid pressures. NO still have tinnitus, and sounds in ears, and sound sensitivity. A Friend had Surgery as a teen. Her seizures went away. But she still has some symptoms. 1 is what I describe when your head gets cold if feels like goosebumps and the head skin contracts and crawls. And it feels strange. SO she 20 years  later still uses hats and scarves to keep her neck and lower head warm.  I am rolling with this process. It's up and down. I rest more if symptoms arise adn that seems to help. (Maybe I overdo it) I am 4 weeks post op today 1/25/2018. OH Found out troubles reading aloud.  But I  can read fine silently to self. Also started  stutter some. Also grasp to find words. And Math was an issue before surgery. I understand a person can relearn. Some weakness to left side or arm hand if I over do. Dizzy if I overdo. I also developed shaking.  That''s my journey. GodSpeed Serena !

Good to hear from you, kathy, I just started going back to uni, but its really a bit exhausting, tho my doctor encouraged me to do so in order to train my endurance. Increasing your daily activity may help you get better faster and be more functional!then I m still hving all those tinnitus nausea and visual issue, which I m really anxious abt that. Anyone here also have tinnitus post op? Its even worse after my op. Anxiety may trigger many somatic symptoms tho, and I m trying to sooth my nerves down and do some mild jogging to boost my adrenaline and endorphins haha needa stress out! Good luck to you and everyone here! And get well soon!

Hi kathy14843, thank you for your post it helped me to better understand some of the post-op symptoms and what might be considered common for this extensive a surgery. I did have a question for you if you wouldn't mind offering your opinion in the matter and that would he is it safe to lay on one's side if one has been ordered to sit sleep and pretty much remain at a90 degree Angel due to inflammation? Have had more than half of the stale s removed but 8 were left in place for another week pending inspection of the inflation at that time and I would just like to know if it is considered safe to lay on one's side (while still obeying the 90 degree orders ofcourse? Any feedback would be amazing and please forgive me if I'm not doing something correctly on here, I've actually never relied or done more than read ANY kind of forum like this but thank you for your help God bless

Your Welcome!  another friend has connected me to others with Chiari. She had surgery as a teen about 15 years ago.  So as for today: Dec 27-28th still emotional and have times of sensitivity and cry easily. Getting stronger and my gait is better. Less dizzy. I have Right temporal epilepsy and seems since the swelling is down in the brain less ezireus. Another benefit is IHave virtually no low back and entire spine  pain. I believe this is because the Craniotomy released that pressure on the neres and spine. Legs working better. Hands working Better. MUCH ISSUES with Reading out loud, but I read fine silently.  My brain seems to like the right side of my skull. So when I sleep n the right side. (And week 5 I am now sleepingin bed with anormal pillow) Inotice swelling to that side and wake up with an ear ache nd  pressure to that side. Until my brain and everything figures out this new space it badly wanted I thinkthis is a normal process. The Dr. said recovery expect a  year.  OH ass for the skin  crawling at site well that will  be  fore ever if you get  that side effect (as per my  friend). SO I wear lots of hats hoodies, and neck wraps to help keep warm the back of my head and ears.  Praying I keep healing just keep pushing but careful not to overdo or you will get worse symptoms of nauseau head aches and  take  longer to heal.  Maybe ttoday I will get some yarn to chrochet.   or color. I'm certain several areas of the brain "need a work out" if I am to heal the areas  that seem to struggle.

Still ear pressure and tinnitus. I go to the store and walk aboout until I tire. I still can't drive. Praying today is better in church. Last week the sound  was overwhelming and hurrt my ears. Beame weak and Naseau and came home  exhuasted that  was week 4 post Op. My legs works better my hands work better. Just have to  follow Dr orders not to lift over 5 pounds or bend those cause headache and pressure to my brain. So guys that is not good. Anyone else feel like  their patch is to one side or another on their head  My patch feels like it is more to the right sidde. SO Sleepingon the ridde works for some hours and I awake with ear ache pressure and a fullness on that side where the brain Cerebllum and tonsils seems to like to hang out. makes sense the mesh seems to be to the right and not centered. Adjusting to the outward pressure is an experience. Like sitting in a chair I can feel this odd sense of bulde (normal) So I usuaulyy turn my head away from the buldge as why push my brain back into the skull I am guessing. I am emotional Serena. I cry very easily. That's why I am pressingonwardgetting  out now to socialize and hoping this sensitivity goes away soon. Much Love Friends of Chiari.  Nice  to blog of our journey.

Dear Kathy, I am sorry to hear abt your post-op symptoms but I am proud of you that u are optimistic and fighting against them everyday. About the patch, my operation didnt involve use of artificial patch, just reduced the herniated cerebellum and remove part of the skull. Today I still feel uncomfortable to sleep on my pillow, but nausea has reduced. Walking exercise definitely help a lot on me.. i believe both of us are on the right tract to make our body rehab n function more. I am also trying to have more social support, family, church and friends do help face chiari with more hope and willpower, socializing gives me more hope to face the illness.... Still suffering srs tinnitus and sleep disturbance with occasional headache... I am disobedient that i tried to carry heavy bagssss:p turns out very tired afterwards... need more rest for sure. God bless all chiari friends, nice to share and lets keep updating here

Dear Serena,

Its good that you have your decompression done, each person different on how they recovering, its took me 2 months before I can have my life back... I am pain and drug free now..even though sometime I would have a back pain..I am not sure if that is due to chiari, but you have to listen to your body..its trying to tell you to take it easy,,,but if the pain is persistent and unmanageable you need to go back to your neurosurgeon prior your next appointment.....(post operation appointment) but you have d one  the right thing by getting surgery.....

Thanks you a lot for your reply b, I understand your meaning, as I admit I m indeed anxious and frustrated right now and keep worrying so much.... I am happy to hear that yr symptoms get better! Perhaps I should be more patient in the road of recovery!

Look Serena..please do not be a martyr..think of yourself first and LISTEN TO YOUR BODY SAYING..it does not matter who are advising you..your body wont lie...take care..but be sure...with that YOU WILL HAVE YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE BACK...just be patience

 

I am not being a martyr, sorry if my tone is weird, I am an asian whose english is not very good... I am trying to be more optimistic in handling tinnitus, hope things will go better later as u said and best wishes for chiari friends too