Okay...this is a roller coaster! First I have excellent energy, healing well, on the go, resting when I should. Then I'm "ghost walking" with a few hours sleep here and there, then insomnia, and now.....I CAN'T STOP BEING SLEEPY!! I'm 2 1/2 weeks post op and feel more tired now than I have in a week!!! What's the deal??? Anyone else go through this? For the ladies: is it worse around your monthly cycle? I had a partial hystorectomy in '08 but mother nature was nice enough to leave me with what seems perfectly operating ovaries which still carries all the symptoms of PMS...could this be it?? (Sorry for all the guys, hope this doesn't offend you)
I just hate to bug my neurologist with all these little questions when I can talk to those of you who have gone through it, your responses are more accurate!! Thank you to any advice any of you may have!!
You are very early in your recovery. Your body is getting used to having your CSF flowing correctly & is still healing. Are you taking any medications that might be affecting your sleep? Chiari itself affects sleep patterns. My post surgical CM symptoms are worse during hormonal changes each month. I didn't know what to expect after my CM surgeries & unfortunately everyone has different recovery situations. Just be kind to your body & allow it to heal. I really hope you feel better soon. If you need to call your Neurologist and ask to be prescribed something to help you sleep. No one can feel well when they are having sleep disturbances.
thank you both! \yes still taking pain meds, and if I don't take them early enough in the eve they will keep me up. I have Melatonin which I didn't take b/c I was scared it would react with meds. I don't want to give my brain reasons to spaz. Does make me feel better that the 'monthly' can affect it. I realized today I'm pretty sure that's what it is b/c I'm eating us out of house and home lol. But, it is def effecting my life and thank god its the weekend b/c my husband just had surgery too and it's been a struggle to keep the house going and getting he kids up for school on time b/c we are both healing and sleeping weird. I will conquer this! I have to get better, I want my old life back, gotta be able to still play with my kids before they grow up on me and resent that they never had a mom that was well enough to play. Makes my heart hurt. Anyway, enough sobby stuff from me, thank you both kindly!!
Emmaline, where do you get Bach's Rescue Remedy from? Since the original post in September I was doing well until about 2 weeks ago I fell and fractured my elbow at a local gas station. ugh! I'm really hoping I didn't screw anything up with my surgery on the brain b/c It was well over a month post op when I fell, but I fell hard. I had to see an orthopedic specialist to make sure I didn't need surgery, he said right now no. But I'm afraid it may have also affected my wrist and shoulder which no one x-rayed. So now I feel like I did the 2nd week post op. Getting headaches again, extremly fatigued (monthly hormones make it much worse) and just hopeless. I see my neuro sergeon on the 17th, I'm sure they'll be giving me a follow up MRI. I hope all is okay with my brain but what I'm experiencing is actually just post-op re awakening of the nerves and it wasn't all for nothing. I felt fatigued like this before the surgery, almost the same pain. Now I'm feeling hopeless. I dont want to go through any more surgeries. I was hoping this was going to change things for me, but I almost feel worse. I'm also no able to take any anti anxiety medication right now either, so hoping once I get that under control it may change. So many factors to account for. But the hopelessness is the worst. I know I'm not ready to go back to work yet and that scares me so much b/c I need the money badly,I have no income right now. ugh...*sigh*
It is a strange thing, but I NEVER had trouble sleeping before I was decompressed. I had my surgery 4 1/2 yrs ago and I have had to take sleep aid prescriptions ever since. If I don't take hem I am literally up all night. I hate it!