Pooter,
Quoting you
"I also seems to be weaker than I used to be (even after the surgery). Dunno. Perhaps its just due to lack of movement on my part. " Could this be from your calorie intake?I had low energy and a neighbour, who is a dietary technician, brought over boost, ensure and carnation instant breakfast powder (to add to milk) after declaring,
“Heavens you look deathly pale and are becoming a rack of bones!� Due to the diuretic I was on, Diamox, I had a reduced appetite and was losing weight like crazy. I was not aware that I was low on “good� calories.
Here are some links (I am
not promoting Amazon here- I just like that you can read the labels, on their website for examples, without having to drive to a store... You can window shop in your jammies
... like who wants to go shopping after a craniotomy?
!)
Boosthttp://www.amazon.com/Boost-Nutritional-Energy-Chocolate-Bottle/dp/B000KK4FGA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1214060427&sr=1-3Ensurehttp://www.amazon.com/Ensure-Complete-Balanced-Nutrition-Chocolate/dp/B000AS1LDM/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1214060427&sr=1-15Carnation Breakfast powderhttp://www.amazon.com/Carnation-Instant-Breakfast-Nutritional-17-7-Ounce/dp/B000FIIX88/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1214060571&sr=1-4I personally go with the Carnation Breakfast as it tastes just as good, it is a
fraction of the cost, and I can control the milk fat content.
You choose what sort of milk you mix it with: soy, skim, hormone free etc. I now start my morning off with a hot cup of this instead of coffee. This all started in my post op days when I was tired and had CSF leaks… and coffee still tasted disgusting due to facial nerve swelling. I still have coffee but just one cup now, later in the morning, as this first hot
bevy is a more nutritious drink. Because you are taking a diuretic and now an antihistamine (also a diuretic) you will have to be careful of other diuretics you add to your diet such a tea and coffee as to protect your kidneys. Thus my neighbour suggested the energy drinks I mentioned above.
Please remember I am not a medical professional only an experienced patient who learned from my medical professionals mistakes. (My Stanford team was great it was the follow up care at home, in Oregon, which was not.) As long as you are still leaking CSF you should also stay clear of people with colds and infections. Quarantine yourself until this stops- as the leak allows
direct access to the brain for bacteria
still.. Take your temperature regularly until you are on the clearing. “IF� you spike a high fever you must get medical help right away as this could develop in meningitis. I never spiked a high fever- thank God. I am not trying to scare you but I just want you to be well informed.
Back and Butt painPlace heat pads on your “posterior� (that is a poke & tease
at my cherished,
well written and
eloquently spoken buddy –
“Scotty�… AKA Jim Scott
) …and back will help. Do NOT apply heat along "the spine" as this can cause more inflammation and increase swelling and leaks. If the incision is still inflamed you can apply ice- but not more than 12 minutes, at a time, to prevent frostbite. The bed resting is magnifying this for sure- be sure to walk daily (with a buddy to help you)
All what you complained about I too had. It does get better with time. Currently I am practicing double pirouettes on the dance floor. I can do a single but still have balance issues on the double. I would not have thought this possible last August when I had a walker, I was SO tired, my posterior and back ached and I had CSF liquid coming out of my nose… not to mention the morning sickness and appetite loss with the Diamox. It was a tough 9 months- and unlike pregnancy there was NOT a-buddle-of-joy at the end- however the tumor is
gone now.
Pooter- it does get better! Hang in there.Keep moving forward…
Daisy Head Mazy
