How long were you hospitalized?

[EJTampa]

It's like when you start returning to work again, or start driving post op.  We all have different time frames.  So while it's nice to know what others have done as a guideline, take your time and heal at your own pace.

Best of luck,

Jan

Excellent point Jan.
 
For me, I had an easy time with recovery so was able to leave quickly.  My driving is a different story.  I have struggled with driving due to light-headedness.  Everyone's recovery will be different.  You will know when you are ready to leave the hospital.
 
Ernie

[nteeman]

Operated on a Tuesday -- went home on the following Friday morning. In ICU one night, regular room 2 nights. Back to work exactly 31 days after surgery. I was able to drive 2 weeks after surgery.

BUT even though I am back to my regular routine I still consider myself as recovering.

Cheers
Neal

[Syl]

It's almost 10 months since my surgery, and I consider myself as still recovering.

Syl

[kathylittlejohncobb]

Hi, I had retrosigmoid at House/St. Vincent's & was in the hospital from Tuesday through Saturday, then at the guest house, Seton Hall, next door for several days while recuping and keeping followup doctor's appointments.  It's a great place to stay!
Best to you!
Kathy

[leapyrtwins]

I should have also mentioned that sometimes age can be a factor in the swiftness of recovery.  Although I'm not 100 (yet) I'm sure those who are 10-20 years younger than I am probably recovered much faster - at least from the "hospitalization" factor. 

Other health issues may also come into play for some patients.

Jan

[Joef]

When I saw Dr Stefan the other day he said most patients are in for 4 days, some 3, some 5, and some even 6 or more. 

I had Stefan too ... and I had my issues ... on day 5 he asked me if I was ready to go.. and I could stay longer if I wanted ..
(I was having big balance issues.. and was still on a walker)

I dont think he finshed the sentence .... I wanted to go!

[Jim Scott]

DLM4me ~

I underwent retrosigmoid approach surgery and was released from the hospital 5 days later (4 days in ICU).  I had no complications.  I was 63 years old and in good health.

As is often the case around here, Jan (leapyrtwins) is correct.  Every AN patient is unique and while you can find an 'average' hospital stay for AN surgery patients, that average may have little or no relation to your specific situation, due to variables, including your state of health, rate of recovery, etc. 

Jim

[DLM4me]

Thanks for the replies so far.

And, yes, I do realize that each person's experience is unique and cannot be used to gauge how my own post-op experience will be.  I think I'm just looking for some reassurance that...MAYBE...I'm not looking at a long stay in the hospital.  I have a lot of health problems and each time I've had surgery recently (in the past 5 years), it's taken longer and longer to rebound afterwards.  So I'm a tad bit worried! 

[Pooter]

12 hr Retrosigmoid surgery at Methodist in Houston.  Morning surgery on Thursday, in ICU util about 8pm Friday, then in a regular room until discharged Tuesday afternoon.

I'm with others who warned you not to pin your hat or judge your progress by others' shorter / longer hospital stays.  Everyone's experience is different and each doctor is unique in their need to keep you X number of days in the hospital after surgery.

Rule of thumb, get out when you can but not before you're ready. 

Regards,
Brian

[Keri]

Translab Thursday
ICU until following Tuesday, then home.
I don't think I needed to be in ICU all that time; there was difficulty finding a regular room. Downside of ICU - they do wake you up a lot (esp in a teaching hospital) Upside of ICU - no weird roomates (i.e. Joe Bloggs experiences)!!

Best to you,
Keri

[Trackman]

Translab, Tuesday 6 hours - out of ICU early Wednesday morning - out of hospital Saturday morning. At the time, I felt I was pushed out of the hospital early but in hindsight I was ready.

Mitch

[cecile k]

Surgery (suboccipital) for about 7.5 hours (that's what they tell me :-)

Hospital stay two weeks (facial paralysis started to set in). I was being weaned off steroids but they had to restart them - I could literally feel my face pull together again (strange) and had no further problems in that area.

Went to stay with my parents in a quiet environment (I have five boys then ages 4-14) and stayed for five weeks until I could walk stairs and my terrible headaches were more or less under control with meds. My parents are the BEST :-) and we are so blessed to have them living five km away. My Dad and Mom (in their 70s) were determined I would stay with them until I would be well enough to cope with the boys :-)

[TaraT]

Translab-Tuesday 11 hours - AGH, Pittsburgh.  ICU overnight and then moved to ICU stepdown unit.  Discharged on Monday afternoon.  Issues with aseptic meningitis.

[Kim Zingale]

I had a nine-hour retrosigmoid surgery at Johns Hopkins on a Monday. I developed breathing issues after being taken off the ventilator initially, so I needed to be in ICU for an extra day or two, and then there was trouble with a regular room opening up on the neuro floor. I didn't go home until the following Monday because my blood sugars (I have diabetes) were so screwed up from the steroid, and my neurosurgeon is a cautious guy. He probably would have kept me longer but I convinced him that being in the hospital any longer wasn't going to help my blood sugars so I might as well go home and manage it there. I preferred ICU to the regular room; I think I was woken up during the night a similar number of times, so that wasn't a factor. I liked being by myself and having easy access to the nursing staff in ICU.

[MAlegant]

Surgery on a Tuesday, home on Thursday afternoon.  Ernie's got the record, I believe.
M