ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => AN Issues => Topic started by: kimberly on May 11, 2008, 08:43:51 pm
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Hello All :)
I appreciate the concern and well wishes from all of you. My roomate/friends were planning to post an update on the site but never made it that far. The surgery was a success and I was released from the hospital this morning at 10 a.m. I'm doing well and feel extremely fortunate that I had Dr. LaRouere and Dr. Pieper and staff (there were so many coming in and out from the team that I can't remember the names but plan to find out when I get my stitches out and thank them each personally if I'm able to). Because of them, my hearing was preserved.
My balance and vision aren't the best and I haven't eaten much of anything yet, but overall, I am feeling better than I thought I would. It is amazing to me that someone can have brain surgery and be home in 3 or 4 days! In the hospital and siince I've been home, it seems that I am on a 2/2 plan - 2 hours of sleeping and then 2 hours of being awake.
Again, thank you all for the advice, support, and kind words and thanks to whoever created this discussion forum! Pooter , I hope your surgery went well and best wishes to all who are having upcoming surgeries.
Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there. :)
Sincerely,
Kimberly
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ps - Jan i can't figure out how to reply to personal messages, sorry - maybe i can learn another night :)
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Great to hear from you, Kimberly and it's great that you're home so soon. Welcome to the postie world. How are you? Your balance will get better - it may take awhile but it does.
David
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Kimberly -
don't worry about replying to my PM. I just saw that you were logged on and I was hoping to hear how you are doing. We tend to worry about our "posties".
I'm so glad to hear you are home already. As you may know, Pooter (Brian) is still in the hospital but should be home shortly. His wife, Jenni, was been posting updates for us.
Your balance and vision should get better with time. I don't know what you've experienced so far, but when I was recovering I found that I felt better each and every day. I'm so glad your hearing was preserved! That's excellent news! Guess you won't have to get a BAHA like me afterall.
Keep us updated when you can.
Get lots of rest,
Jan
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Oh good, we were wondering about Kimberly. It sounds like all is well.
The 2/2 plan sounds delightful, I wish I could propose adopting that at work. :)
Have a nice slow week, it is May, enjoy a little spring time and take it easy. You'll be feeling improvements every day. Great news on the hearing, too.
Thanks for posting,
Steve
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Thank you all :)
I do have a question as I am now going into my first week at home. At the hospital , in fact in ICU they started me on these exercises (vestibular/otology protocal) where I look at two index cards - one with an A and one with a B for 2 minutes with different routines (ie hold card at reading distance, focus on target, move head from side to side etc) - my question is, are there other visual exercises that are more entertaining that one can do that have the same results? I would be interested in knowing what kind of visual fixation exercises or any kind of exercises have helped others to speed up the process of the vision/balance issue.
Thank you in advance.
Kimberly :)
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Kimberly-
Glad to hear you are home and doing okay. We don't know earch other since I just started posting here a few days before your surgery. As I said in an earlier post, I really loved the poem your friend wrote you. Sorrry, I meant to check on you before now, but was offline for a few days.
Wendy
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Kimberly,
So glad to hear you are doing so well. I only hope for the same this week! YIKES. I am sooooo scared. But it's great to see all the positive outcomes on here. sets my mind at ease a bit. I'll PM you later as I have questiosn about Providence hospital. Stay positive and get lots of rest.
Melissa
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Kimberly -
it's hard to say without actually seeing them, but the exercises you are talking about sound a lot like the ones my neurotologist had me doing both before and after surgery. They are pretty boring, but they really helped me with both vision and balance. They aren't easy to do, but usually the more you do them the better you will become.
Jan
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Welcome home, Kinberly - and to the land of Posties! I was so excited to see a post from you today! You are already having a remarkable recovery - home and on the computer 4 days later - Bravo! I'll echo what everyone else says about taking it easy - I guess the best things is to just listen to your body and rest when it tells you to. Naps are our friends!
So glad that you are doing so well, Kimberly!
Debbi - 12 days post op and still napping...
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Good to hear from you, Kimberly - glad you're home and the recovery has started!
Take it easy - take those naps others have recommended and keep us updated as you feel up to it.
Cindy
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Kimberly
It so great to hear that you are home and doing well my thoughts are with you.
Sam
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Kimberly --
So glad you're home and really glad they could save your hearing! ;D
Those exercises they gave you do sound like they could be a bit boring... maybe instead of letters on the cards, you could hold up pictures of Johnny Depp and McDreamy.. (or other cuties of your choosing)! :D Seriously though, there are a lot of vestibular exercises out there. If you call the PT department at the hospital and ask for some, they should be able to give you a home exercise packet of exercises you can do. I hope they gave you more than that one to do though. Or call the surgeons and they can work on getting you into an outpatient PT place where they can give you some exercises.
Hope things keep getting better! Welcome home!
Lori
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Johnny Depp!! That would be my choice - good idea, Lori.
cindy
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Hi, Kimberly:
Just stopping by to add my Welcome Home! :D
I'm so pleased to learn that you're out of the hospital and posting so quickly. A very good sign!
The exercises sound useful, if a bit tedious, but exercise of any kind usually is. I had some double vision for a few days post-op while still in the hospital but I just waited it out and kept reading when I could. It resolved within days. I hope you have a similar experience.
You're an inspiration to many, Kimberly. Now, enjoy your well-deserved R&R. :)
Jim
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welcome back home . My balance wasnt that good b4 the surgery but it is a little better afterwards. My biggest problem is at nite when my eyes cant overcorrect for no inner ear help on the rt side.
take it real easy for awhile.
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Hi Kimberly,
Wishing you a speedy recovery. I am doing the same type of exercises (5 1/2 weeks post op) and they do tend to get quiet boring. My vestibular therapist says you can use any object (pictures) I use the TV as they advance the exercises they have you do them standing and with different backgrounds (they've moved me up to putting the cards against a checkerboard pattern) they really do help, and I can definately notice the days when I cheat and don't do them. Best of luck to you.
Hope
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HI Kimberly,
Glad to hear you are doing well. It gives those of us waiting for surgery more hope!
Thanks for the nice Mother's day wish!
I was supposed to have surgery today but got rescheduled. UG. 3 more weeks. Perhaps i should practise napping? :D
I assume you had retrosig surgery as your hearing was saved. Any other complications or issues so far? What size was your AN and did you have symptoms prior to surgery?
Thanks for letting us all know how things went (WELL!).
Trish
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Sorry to chime in on Kimberly's post, but Trish, love the photo! Cali is a cutie!!
Lori
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Welcome home. Wellness Wishes to you!
Know here on the forum you have lots a support and you can even talk to us in your PJ’s or even if you are having a bad hair day.
Take care
Daisy Head Mazy
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Didn't see your post until now - so glad to hear you're doing well and still have your hearing! Great news!
Tamara
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Thanks Lori...This was on her first bday so she has cake on her face but you gotta love those big chubby cheeks!
Trish
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Thank you all so much for the nice words and welcoming me home :)
Trish - to answer your questions - My AN was 1.5 CM and I did have retrosig surgery. After surgery, no facial paralysis or hearing loss. I feel very fortunate, the only small issues I have now are vision if I turn my head or look up and down and slight balance problems (especially if it's dark or I close my eyes) and of course the napping all the time thing (which I agree, you might want to start praticing !) Prior to surgery I had tinnitus and crazy vertigo. The best way I can explain it is that sometimes I felt like when you are a kid and you spin yourself around 10 times and then stop and giggle at how stumbly you are and also similiar to when you go to a car wash and you know you arent moving but it feels like you are.
I hope all goes well for you!
Kimberly
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Welcome home, Kimberly! So glad to hear your recovery is speeding along, and how wonderful that your hearing is OK!
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Kimberly,
That was one major problem with my AN. My vision!! But, my balance did return and my vision returned within the first 3-4 months and was fine after than. A little scary but I am sooo tickled that your hearing was preserved. I lost my right side of hearing, but it sure comes in handy with a husband that snores. ;D
Myrna
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Kimberly -
Great to hear you are doing so well. Great news about your hearing too. It gives the rest of us who have not yet been treated hope!
Wendy
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Hi Kimberly -
In checking to see how you are doing, I noticed you haven't made any new posts. Hope you are okay and will let us know how you are doing when you are up to it.
Wendy
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Sporting a big crooked smile for ya,Congrats !
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Hi Wendy :)
Thanks for the concern. I have been doing great up until yesterday. Today is my one week mark and I really thought I was recovering quickly and yesterday decided to venture out with a few friends. We went for a 45 minute walk and then to a cafe for an early dinner. I was up all night every hour and a half being sick. I'm not sure if this is totally unrelated to the surgery or if I just pushed it too hard. Today I've been sleeping, drinking 7'up and lounging around feeling like I'm back 2 steps in this recovery process.
I too am not the most patient person and really am having a hard time being dependent on other people for rides, food, etc. I am looking foward to when I can drive and go to the store and pick up groceries or stop and get a movie on my own. I keep telling myself "suck it up buttercup" and that I'm one of the more fortunate ones because my AN was not that big and I didn't lose my hearing, but today I'm having a feel sorry for myself day. Tomorrow will be better. :)
I hope you all are doing well.
Kimberly
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Hi, Kimberly:
Sorry you've had a little set-back but I suspect that - as you guessed - you probably pushed yourself just a little too hard and are experiencing the ramifications of the over-exertion today. You'll bounce back with some rest. Coincidentally, As the second anniversary of my AN surgery draws near, my wife and I have been recalling - with amusement - my impatience to resume all of my normal activities just as fast as I could, once I was home from the hospital. I was driving within two weeks of my release, with my surgeon's permission, of course. I probably overdid it at times and felt it the next day, but I probably made light of my fatigue and rested, then went right back and did the same thing. I recall walking a lot and being pleased to eat out and so on, just like a 'regular person'.
Obviously, you're doing great Kimberly, and I think you'll continue to do well, even if you have a few little bumps in the road to a complete recovery. Keep it up! :)
Jim
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Kimberly,
That was one major problem with my AN. My vision!! ...
Myrna
Myrna,
Can you elaborate on those vision problems?
Thanks
Syl
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Hi Kimberly -
Sorry to hear you're not feeling great. I know it's hard to be patient when you're recovering from surgery (I haven't had the surgery for my AN yet, but unfortunately, I've had lots of experience with other operations) but you have to listen to what your body is telling you and not push too much. Otherwise your body pushes right back and you end up on your rear end. Take it easy for a couple of days and I'm sure you'll start seeing improvement again!
Wendy
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Hi Kimberly-
Well, don't be too hard on yourself! The last few weeks of my recovery have been filled with ups and downs - just don't get discouraged when your body calls a brief time out. I am learning to trust my body to know when it is time to slow down (a hard lesson, but worth learning.) ARe you still on steroids?
Debbi
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Kimberly -
having good days and bad days post op is fairly normal. In time you'll find you are having many more good days than bad.
Keep the faith,
Jan
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Hi everyone :)
I'm feeling a little better today. Debbi - I was never on steroids, so I'm lucky that way, never had to wean off of them. I think I just tried to jump back into things quicker than I needed to. You are right about the body letting you know when you've gone too far! My plan is to start over today but SLOWLY. It is weird though, I start to feel pretty normal and like I can do all the things I could before but then when I leave the apartment for a few hours I'm coming home exhausted and feeling crappy. I'm optimistic though , especially after reading what many here have to say about their recovery.
BTW Jim - what were the EXACT words you used when you asked you doctor if you could start driving after 2 weeks? :)
thank you all!
Kimberly
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Hi, Kimberly:
I'm pleased to note that you're feeling a bit better today. Slow but steady is usually the best path to recovery. I was fortunate that I never had any real setbacks because I did 'push it' a bit, but not so hard that I felt I had done my recovery any harm. My doctor was always pleased at my progress when I saw him.
BTW Jim - what were the EXACT words you used when you asked you doctor if you could start driving after 2 weeks? :)
I was antsy to drive so during my 2-week visit with my neurosurgeon, when he grinned and told me how good I was doing I seized the opportunity and just asked him flat-out if it was O.K. for me to drive. My wife added that I was pestering her about feeling 'confined' and so on. He smiled and said something along the lines of "Well, O.K. but start out on back roads and don't overdo it". I did drive the back streets - for about 10 minutes (no problem) - then I was on the interstate and never looked back, so to speak. On my next visit, the doctor asked me how I was doing with the driving and I said: "Fine - I drove here". (a 60 mile round trip) He never questioned me about it again. Every AN patient is different and some have trouble driving again - but some don't. I hope you'll be in the latter category, Kimberly. :) Meanwhile, I wish you continued success in your recovery.
Jim
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I did not drive for a couple months not because of balance issues .. because any light at all would blind me ... so when I did start driving .. it was on cloudy days! slowly but surely it does some back ... (the eye weight helped too)
when I did start .. it seemed my "hands" forgot how to drive! ... any little eye wondering at signs or senery and the car would drift off -- and quickly! .. I had to look at the road at all times!! .. at almost 3 years now .. its getting a little better.. but not 100% yet ...
(handwritting was very bad too .. I lost all eye-hand cooridnation) .. but most of it has returned!
welcome home! the worst is over... its just very slow... :)
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Hey Kimberly-
Me again on the driving issue. I got my stitches out 10 days post, and since I really wasn't having any significant balance/dizziness problems, I just asked the surgeon straight up if I could drive. He said sure - as long as I exercised due caution and started with short trips. The only thing really holding me back from driving much is the dry eye and my feeling that I need to put drops in it every 10 minutes or so.
Debbi
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Kimberly -
first and foremost, please check with your doctor before you start to drive again, just to make sure he's okay with it. Chances are he'll tell you it's okay as long as you think you're ready.
As others have said, starting small is the key. Once are are confident you have mastered short trips, add longer distances, higher speeds (within the limit, of course ;) ), highways, etc., and you should be fine.
You'll known your limitations - if you have any - when you try it.
Good luck,
Jan
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Kimberly~
Glad you are feeling better - I doubt you would have gotten sick if you wouldn't have partied so hard with your friends!! Just kidding... ;D I try to tell everyone that you will have good days and bad (sometimes for NO explanable reason) and that is OK!!
Keep up the progress!
K
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Fantastic. It is so good to hear that many are now on the road to recovery. You sound great!!!
Robyn
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Hi Kimbefly,
Jsut checking in to see how you are doing. I hope all is well and your recovery is progressing nicely. Are you driving yet?
Wendy
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Good going Kim!
It is so good to hear the update! Hope you keep feeling better and better and better!
Take care,
Mary
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Kimberly
Happy your home and on the road to recovery. Balance issues will take time as you know but with exercise and fortitude, your on the road to a healthier lifestyle. You must be thrilled.*)
Take Care
Claire
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Hi Everyone!
Today I get my stitches out! I hope it doesn't hurt. I am a wuss.
I went camping over the weekend (to a campground 20 minutes from home) and it was so nice to get away from home! My doctor said to do a lot of walking and boy did I, my ankles hurt from walking so much! I did a lot of relaxing and sitting around too. BTW just a tip for other campers out there - the mosquitoes and gnats were really into my head - my friends joked that it would be a good idea to save on citrona candles by sitting me up on the picnic table.
Overall the weekend went well. I still get a few weird headaches and some sharp random shooting pains around the incision area but that would happen at home, the mall, the pharmacy or at a campground. Does anyone else get those and if so, how long did this last for you?
I hope you all had a fun filled but relaxing Memorial Day weekend!
Kimberly
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Kimberly -
I can't believe it's already time to have your stitches removed! Time sure flies when you're having fun! I didn't have any pain when the doc took mine out, but then again my head was still pretty numb; yours probably is too :)
It sounds like the camping trip was good - despite being a bug magnet :D My son has been bothering me to go camping, so I am taking him and my daughter to the Indiana Dunes this weekend to camp in a tent. Not really my style, but I figure it's for a good cause. We'll be celebrating my 1 year retrosigmoid anniversary on Saturday.
It's so nice to reach milestones during your recovery; gives you a good feeling :)
Congratulations on your progress,
Jan
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Good luck today, Kimberly!
That is so great that you got to go camping! I can't help you with the headaches -- I had them BEFORE surgery and never after. I realize now how incredibly blessed I am NOT to have them! I'm sure someone else can shed more light on this!
K
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Hi Kimberly-
Good luck today! At the most, you'll probalby feel a little tugging but now much else when they take the sutures out. I really didn't feel a thing - and I am probalby a bigger woos than anyone! They just took my second batch of stitches out on Friday in the hospital, and, again, I really didn't feel much more than a little tugging.
And, yes, I do get odd random pains in my head and neck. There is still s spot on the top of my head that is also very tender (whre they probably had one of the nerve probes attached.) Of course, my ear and the upper part of my incision are still pretty numb to the touch.
Funny about the mosquitos! One of my cats is still very interested in my incision - I suspect she'd try to clean it if I let her - ugh!
Don't worry about today - you'll do great!
Debbi
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Hi Kimberly!
Best of luck to you today!
Mary
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Hi, Kimberly:
As you probably will know by the time you read this, having your stitches removed is not all that traumatic and is over fairly quickly. The random shooting pain(s) around your incision is fairly typical. Mine lasted a few months. As you heal, they should subside.
I admire your fortitude in going camping. So soon after surgery, too. I never saw any good reason to abandon an air-conditioned hotel room and a comfortable bed to sleep outdoors, with all the attendant inconveniences, including mosquitoes, but I maintain that those who like camping should do it and I respect their choice of recreational activity. I'll just wait in the hotel, thanks. ;)
Seriously, you seem to be having a splendid recovery Kimberly. Very encouraging for 'newbies' facing surgery and worrying about it. I wish you continued success. :)
Jim
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Kimberly,
That is so great that you were able to go camping (and enjoy it) so soon! Good for you!! I'm sure the fresh air in the great outdoors felt good.
I used to camp, but now, you'd find me in a suite in the same hotel as Jim. My idea of roughing it has reallly changed. These days, if my husband is a little late making my latte in the morning, it could ruin my whole day! :-\ I think it might be hard to make those over a campfire...
Lori
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How did it go yesterday, Kinberly?
Debbi
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Kimberly -
I've been wondering also. Did everything go well? Any pain?
Jan
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Hi Kimberly,
Sounds like you had a fun weekend except for the bugs. Hope getting those stiches out was easy for you, I know they usually are not a problem. Now that they are out, your head will probably feel better too. I've never had stiches in my head, but have had a few abdominal surgeries and I know getting the stiches or stapes out always made be feel better. Glad to see you back.
Wendy
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Hey everyone :)
Happy Thursday! Having the stitches removed did not hurt at all. WHEW! Now I can put stuff on the area. The doc recommended vitamin e or cocoa butter. Any ideas on what has worked best for some of you?
No dentist appointment, swimming or exercise (except walking) for another month or so and then a hearing test and hopefully after that clear for lift off.
I really appreciate everyone's concern and caring during this process. Thank you all so much!
Kimberly
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Kimberly -
glad the stitches removal didn't hurt :)
Vitamin E or cocoa butter - interesting; never thought of using either, but they make perfect sense.
My doc recommended bacitracin after my AN surgery and neosporin after my BAHA implant.
Don't forget that if you put something gunky on your head and it makes your hair gross, you can use Dawn detergent to shampoo. It cuts through the gunk very nicely - many thanks to Lori for that tip ;)
Jan
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My mom has always been on the edge with the "natural" stuff (she was making yogurt before you could buy it) but not too Granola!! Anyway, we had used Vitamin E oil FOREVER...anyway, I have used it on ALL my scars and it works wonderful! However, this time I got some ScarGel for the T3 -- I haven't been able to use it TONS since I have this beautiful bandage, but I did use it on my scars in my hairline and it was INCREDIBLE! I don't really know about Cocoa Butter, but I know the oil works well. You can either pop open capsules or get the actual oil from the health food store!
K