The big day is finally over and it was a long one. I arrived at the hospital at 5:15 a.m., had the head frame on before 6 a.m., and ended up receiving treatment at 1 p.m. One hour in the Gamma Knife machine and 1.5 hours in recovery prior to heading home.
I did experience enough anxiety prior to having the head frame put on that I was given one Ativan which took the edge off for me. The frame was put on without any problems and I was surprised to find my entire skull felt frozen. I had expected only the area around the pin sites. Mid morning I started to get a dull headache and felt nauseous, so I was given some Tylenol and something for the nausea through IV.
I need to wear glasses all day so having the frame on and being unable to wear them probably brought on the headache - everything was out of focus! By the afternoon I was getting anxious again the closer it came to having treatment so I requested another Ativan. I wanted to be comfortable during the treatment and for when the head frame was removed. (I have a low tolerance for drugs or meds but wanted to get through the day as comfortably as I could.) The hour in the Gamma Knife Machine was a non event.
Once out of the Gamma machine, and the head frame was removed the headache hit immediately. It started before the last screw came out and by the time I was wheeled into the recovery area it was severe along with the nausea. ( I'm prone to migraines and nausea so it didn't surprise me.) I was very quickly given a narcotic pain med and more anti-nausea drugs both through IV and I slept for the next 1.5 hours while the meds did their work. Everyone was so kind and attentive ensuring I was made comfortable.
I was very groggy on the way home but managed a light meal and then went to bed. I slept well all night. Woke this morning still feeling slightly nauseous. Took a gravol, slept all morning and now coming up to the 24 hour marker for receiving the Gamma, I have no headache, no nausea, the pin sites look good, no leaking, no swelling and overall I feel pretty good. There is tenderness where the pins were and I am finding the ice packs soothing.
Thanks for all the well wishes and tips!
Cathie
