Hello everyone, happy to at least smile a little after months of my terrible ordeal. To recap a little bit, I had my first surgery July 12th, had a 2nd surgery to repair a pseudomeningocele on September 6th wasn’t home 24 hours and was readmitted for a severe CSF leak, in the hospital for 7 days and was one day away from having to have a shunt placed in my head. I have been home since September 17th and things are moving along very well. The only issues that I’m experiencing now is sitting in an upright position. My lower backs hurts up my spine into my neck along my right shoulder and arm. My hands and feet at times go numb and I only have what I call positional headaches with mild to moderate neck pain on the right side with occasional pressure behind my right eye. I’m guessing the back problems are coming from having a lumbar drain in my back having to lay flat for 7 days. Considering everything that I went through before getting to this point all of this is manageable and a lot easier to deal with. My pain level is down considerably and my recovery is now moving in the right direction. I am now able to do for and care for myself unlike a few ago when I could not walk and was in a wheelchair. I can finally smile and breath a sigh of relief
So glad you are continually improving! :) Hopefully your lingering issues will start clearing up in time! You've been through a lot!
Man, what a horrible experience. You are an amazing lady to have such a bright attitude so soon off the coat tails of your surgery saga. I hope all of the pain just continues to fade away. Thank you for keeping us updated cause we wonder how you are doing!
Jenn
jcdemar said:
Man, what a horrible experience. You are an amazing lady to have such a bright attitude so soon off the coat tails of your surgery saga. I hope all of the pain just continues to fade away. Thank you for keeping us updated cause we wonder how you are doing!
Jenn
Thank you so much Ms. Anglyn, Ms. Jcdemar, I have had quite an ordeal since July but I am so determined to at least get some quality of life back. I know I still have to take it slow but it feels SO GOOD to smile, mingle with family and friends WITHOUT excruciating pain and the feeling your head is gonna pop like a balloon. I didn’t value the ability I had to care for myself, to walk, to sit up and do the simple everyday things of life until I was no longer able to do them anymore. I feel as though I’ve been giving another chance so I refuse to let anything hold me back. Faith, determination and a strong belief that I can and will continue to get better.
Thank you for honestly sharing both the good and the bad parts of your ordeal. It makes me aware this is not a simple little operation (I have minimized mine to cope I think), but a serious & complex healing to face. I think if I were more honest with myself, I might just run away from it! But, Chiari is not like that, you cant escape! I have watched your story with amazement at your tenacity! Best wishes!
Sonj said:
Thank you for honestly sharing both the good and the bad parts of your ordeal. It makes me aware this is not a simple little operation (I have minimized mine to cope I think), but a serious & complex healing to face. I think if I were more honest with myself, I might just run away from it! But, Chiari is not like that, you cant escape! I have watched your story with amazement at your tenacity! Best wishes!
Thank you so much Ms. Sonj, I did the same thing to cope because it was much easier for me to deal with it that way but once I became honest with myself and realized there is no running away things begin to turn around and get better, it took a while but it's moving along in the right direction. This last setback that I over came made me realize the seriousness of the disease but again I am determined to get better and live through Chiari not Chiari through me. Thank you again, everyone has been so supportive and that really helps a lot.
Emmaline said:
Thanks Ms. Emmaline, I am truly grateful and take nothing for granted now, I'm slowly moving back into things but it feels great to finally feel like a person again.Keep up the recovery, you have been through so much. It's amazing how the experiences we have teaches us what we have to be grateful for.
Abby said:
I am so sorry this has been such a tough recovery time for you. Sending many hugs and prayers.
Thank you Ms. Abby, it really has been a tough recovery and I am so glad things have finally began to go in the right direction. I made it past the 2.5 week mark and I only have some minor issues NOTHING compared to what I had been experiencing since July. Praying things will continue or get better so I can at least try to get back to the administrative part of work in a few weeks. Still taking it slow though.
Beeba said:
Glad you have taken a turn. I am so sorry about the very rough time you have experienced. Please rest up and continue to heal.
Thank you Ms. Beeba.