It’s the little things in life that make us realise we take so much for granted. I am 2 weeks post decompression and noticing things that are changing, returning to a state that I remember yet didn’t realise had faded so much.
For the first time in years I am adding cold water when I have a shower, I’d only been using hot.
I knew I had been experiencing loss of sensation in my head, neck, shoulders and back, that cape like distribution typical of Chiari but I didn’t realise just how much.
It may be that adding a bit of cold into the hot water of a shower is of no significance to others but I couldn’t be more excited and I’m telling everyone. What this means for me is that no matter what happens from here my surgery has been successful. One of my biggest fears has been that slowly bit by bit I was losing feeling and strength in my arms, hands, legs. I was terrified - where was it going to end, would it ever end?
I’m really very excited about this. I’m so glad I decided to have the surgery and so grateful for the Professor who performed it. It’s such a great feeling to be able to share positive news too. Life is good!
Sallymagint, we are so happy for you! After surgery like that, how welcome it must be to notice changes in the right direction: even small improvements bring with them hope and optimism.
It’s also a testament to how resilient and adaptable we are as humans: as time goes on, we manage to learn to live with so so much, and it’s only when progress is made that we realize just how much we were coping with.
So happy to hear things are slowly coming back. I have 1 1/2 weeks till my surgery and was wondering how soon things start to change. I am nervous about the surgery but also am keeping a positive outlook on the outcome of the surgery. I have right shoulder pain and am hoping this and the noise in my ears changes. I wish you more good changes!!
Thank you wrumble, I do understand that nervous but excited feeling, I remember it well. For me I was more excited than nervous because things had become so bad and the stress leading up to the surgery was so intense I just wanted it done. I knew there were risks associated but I also knew there were risks if I left things like they were, I losing strength and feeling in my arms and legs and that scared me the most out of everything.
Following surgery the first thing I noticed in terms of change to symptoms was in ICU when I wanted to turn from my back to my side. Admittedly I had a nurse helping me but when I turned I noticed when lifting my head off the pillow that it didn’t feel as heavy. Now I was in a fair amount of pain at that point and it was only a couple of hours after surgery so for me to have a recollection of that, it was clearly a obvious change.
I’m so glad I had the surgery. I feel like life is just beginning for me again. I still have to take things slowly and I’ve come unstuck a couple of times already thinking I was fine to do something and overdid things then paid the price later. Its still a bit of a juggling act but I’m getting much better at keeping it things moving.
All the best for your surgery, looking forward to hearing positive updates from you too when the new you is born. Take care
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Thanks Seenie, It is really exciting possibly a little too exciting for me because there is things I desperately want to do and just can’t yet. This journey has taught me so much and given me determination to help others so that the negative impact on them is as little as possible. If there is a hurdle that someone else doesn’t have to jump like I did, I want to make it happen. I can’t change the world but I can help out my small part of it. For now though I just have to take it slow and be patient - my plans are happening though while I wait!
