Hi Polina:
I had 2 surgeries (Oct, Nov 2014) and Drs. Lim and Limb were my physicians. If one can have a "wonderful" experience in surgery, then I did, even though some parts were tough.
I had a large AN removed in October and a CSF leak repaired in Nov. (which I probably caused, when I banged my head hard). Although it's obviously early on, I can't say enough good things about the two. Not just expert at what they do but incredibly soothing, patient, and attentive.
(Personally, I had no problem with it being a teaching hospital and frankly liked that in addition to my doctors I could call on residents and team members when I had questions. There was someone available around-the-clock, even when my doctors were in surgery.)
Drs. Lim and Limb are incredibly busy. But I will say this: When I needed them--for instance, after I banged my head and had a series of vicious headaches and went to my local hospital--they were there for me. Dr. Lim phoned me himself and urged me to consider returning to JH so he and Dr. Limb could be sure the leak he and the local doctors ID'd through CAT scans and an MRI was treated properly. My other option was going to a nearby metropolitan hospital and having their surgeons do it. He was willing to phone colleagues there, if that's what I wanted. But I'm really glad I went back to JH. These are surgeons who care immensely about their patients.)
My understanding is that Lim and Limb did the AN surgery, were assisted by the others. Dr. Limb was the lead on the CSF surgery b/c (as Dr. Lim told me) that particular surgery is his area of expertise. But Dr. Lim was there too. The two seem to work as a team regularly and obviously have high regard for each other.
Given that my 1st surgery lasted 12 hours, I assumed Dr. Michael Lim could not do every single thing, but I know he was there. The actual removal of what proved to be a large and resistant tumor Dr. Lim did himself. Dr. Charles Limb came out at one point to reassure my husband that, even though my surgery was harder/longer than anticipated, it was going well.
I hope it eases your mind to learn that my only major post-op headaches were related directly to my CSF leak (the 1st one started seconds after I banged my head on a hard edge in a sensitive place). They have not returned since the surgery to repair the CSF leak. Two days after the AN surgery, I needed no pain killers. After the CSF surgery, I took the occasional Tylenol (maybe 1-2 every few days, as needed, none after 2 weeks). You migth have headaches of course--but I just want you to know they are not inevitable.
In other words: Everyone's different. I found some "helpful" advice I got before surgery to be less-than-helpful. For instance, I was told certain things would happen. For instance, a couple people told me I wouldn't be able to stand upright on my own in a shower for months--and I was doing so within 8 days of the AN surgery. I was advised to be prepared to be on all sorts of prescription medicines for months to come. Within 4 weeks I was on nothing.
While brain surgery was no fun, I would only describe the first week as "an ordeal." The first 48 hours were rough--Dr. Lim told me it would be. (Not so much b/c of pain, which is well managed, but because I was weak and also connected to the IV and catheter, things like that.)
After the first 2 weeks my recovery was steady and noticeable. Now, two months out, while I'm not 100% healed I now believe things will eventually get back to normal, or close to it. Just this week I've gone back to work, have started driving. I still need to do vestibular exercises, but I don't fall (never did: another thing one person told me would happen).
That's not to say that others' advice was not useful--for instance the advice to bring something very loose to wear while leaving the hospital. The steroids I was on the first 2 weeks post-op made my stomach swell. It would've been impossible to zip up my normal clothes, but I was prepared for this, thanks to advice from other AN patients.
Then there were some things no one warned me about (I didn't know about these forums until recently so maybe it's mentioned here somewhere). For instance, for whatever reason, I couldn't swallow for the first 6 days after surgery. (Soon though I could deal with mushy foods. Three weeks out, all my swallowing ability returned.)
I guess what I'm trying to say is, while it's useful to be prepared for what might happen-- I'm glad I had a shower chair at home waiting, even if I didn't need it--things really could be easier for you than they have been for others. But some things could be harder. It's so hard to know.
The great thing for me, being at Johns Hopkins, is that they were prepared for all outcomes and I got help right away to deal with the hard stuff (like the swallowing: When the idea of being tube-fed upset me, they worked with me to devise a way to get enough mushy foods down so I could avoid it).
In general, the nurses, the staff and the doctors were upbeat as well as knowledgable; that made a big difference in my experience. They knew what to do when I needed help. They were happy when things went well for me, and encouraged me to assume things would be fine.
Not sure if any of this is helpful to you. But I'd be happy to tell you more about my JH experience if it'll be useful.
