So I bit the bullet and decided to go ahead with the surgery…
I am just fed up with my val salva headaches… they are so bad that I dread winter coming with the obligatory cold. I was in so much pain last time.
But now… sometimes I just have to move my head back or turn to the side - and Bam! There’s the head pain. Thankfully they only last 15 seconds or so… but it is so painful. And they are so easily triggered now. I dont want to laugh, drink, go out…
Thats not a life for a 25yr old.
I am happy to accept that my dizziness and brain fog are likely to stick around. But these headaches are getting worse. Also my last MRi showed an increase in the fluid of the central cord.
I know this is not any kind of guarantee… but I need to try it. The medications havent helped at all but I am just so nervous.
Im not expecting any specific advice… just needed to vent and get it out. Thanks for reading
Best wishes on your surgery! :) Like Beeba said the valsalva headaches are usually one of the first things to go. You may also see a reduction in your brain fog and dizziness...I have! Keep us posted on your journey!
I have to say the same for myself as Beeba and Angyln as far as the valsalva h/a's are concerned...for me, as well, that got so much better..pretty much , right after surgery.
I had my surgery almost 5 yrs ago...and I must say that things are better now than they were before surgery. I kept experiencing positive changes for a long time..years...What I mean to say , is that it did not happen over night...for me, the head aches got better soon after...then I still dealt with so much pressure in my head...it a slow process for that to change...So weird that I am sharing this today...as just the other day , I was thinking to myself,.."Boy, that pressure is gone!" Every once in a while...if the weather is crazy, I may feel pressure...but nothing, nothing, like it was...and I was having pressure issues up until, I think..about 1.5 yrs ago...Though it had gotten some better up to that point..it was still quite bothersome.
I do recommend a wonderful book by Ray D'Alonzo called.."Contents Under Pressure", it is his journey..and he writes that he saw/felt improvement for years as well.
I do want to share this too..My NS told me that it was likely that I would have new Sx's after the surgery...But...do for me not to get alarmed...they would go away...he went on to tell me that it was the brain/body adjusting to the new CSF flow. I am so happy he told me this..as I did get a couple of new Sx's...but , just like he had told me...they left...never to return.
I wanted to share this with you , for many NS's tend to forget to tell their patients this and it is awful for someone to get new issues after the surgery, ya know?
Please feel free to ask any questions...we are all in this thing together!!
I requested a DVD with my MRI images on them… just so I could have a proper look! (Im such a geek) when I posted this message… I was at work. And when I returned home, my images and reports had been delivered!
Surprisingly. . When I said about the increase in fluid. My MRI report said it was a Pre-syrinx. Which is new and wasnt in my mri 10mths previous.
Abby - thankyou… that is my daughter, she is definitely a cutie. That photo was from last summer… she is much more of a drama queen now - quote “I am the ladybird boss!!!”
but I am just so nervous.