I'm having a VNS mid September. From what I gather it's going to be hard to use the stairs, for perhaps months afterward. My bedroom is on the second floor. Should I make the guest room, which is on the first floor, my main bedroom?
How old are you pupper? Do you live alone? After my surgery which destroyed the right side 8th nerve, i slept in an upstairs bedroom. I was 49, reasonably active for that age and married. The first few days, my husband did not leave the house til i was up, washed, dressed and things were kind of set up for me. By the time the stitches came out, i had walked a mile outdoors with a cane. At the end of 7 weeks, i was driving 35 miles to work, working a half day at an office job, not using a cane, and coming home (i was real tired at the end of those days). At the end of three months, i was working full time and the dr told me i could go back to the gym and do whatever i wanted. 'Now is the time to push it', he said. But i felt even better after six months and better yet after 9 months. Everyone is different and of course, the question of complications or not enters into it. So i would say, if you live alone, it might be a good idea to move to the first floor. If you have people around you might want to wait and see how it goes. Get a nice walking stick though, and maybe even a walker for the first few days if you can borrow one.
However ..l at my age now, i covet a first floor bedroom and would defintely do it anyway if i had a first floor bath and it was an option!
Pupper, For at least a few days, I think you'd be more comfortable if you didn't have to climb any stairs. There is also the fact that you don't know for sure what kind of shape you'll be in after you're discharged from the hospital. You could still be experiencing some vertigo, dizziness or double vision. You could be using a walker or a cane for awhile if your balance isn't that great right after surgery. Err on the side of caution. Plan to stay downstairs and if you're feeling terrific, you can always move back to your upstairs bedroom. I stayed downstairs for a couple of weeks. It's not that I wasn't physically able to go up the stairs, but as I recall, my head felt very heavy and my surroundings were bouncy. I didn't like the feeling in my head when going up the stairs, so I camped out on the couch. I agree with June. After your surgery you will see improvements for months to come. I was told you will be at your full potential a year after the surgery.
Thank you for the responses. OK, yes. I will set up my bedroom downstairs prior to surgery. I do live alone, June. But I think my mom is going to help me for a few days. If she can't, then I need to look into finding a nurse. I think there are nurses that come over for an hour or so, like, 3 times a day. I just need to be fed. I'd die before I let someone help me in the bathroom. My gf's life is very hectic from teaching all day and spending 2 hours a night in LA traffic jams. I don't want to burden her. I have a buddy who'd help me, because I helped him when he broke his ankle. And he's just a good guy. I may ask him to bring me a gyro or something. June, Cheryl, your stories give me hope and make me less afraid. Thank you.
The only thing i found hard or scary was talking a shower. I cant stand to go a day without a shower, but ... the thing is the incision cant get wet til the stitches come out if i remember. So, hair washing is out unless you have someone will help you and even then hard. Also, the hardest thing at first is standing in the shower because you are very unsteady to start with and in the shower eyes may be closed, and turning around with eyes closed, forget it. So think through how you will get in and hout of bath or other options. Also, of course, you will need nice flat shoes. In my experience i was very tired for a long time and the surgeon said that was a hallmark of that kind of surgery. Also you wont be able to drive for a while. When i first came home from the hospital, the horizon looked like it was bouncing all over the place. That gets correct soon, but it is a little disconcerting. Also i had severe nausea in the hospital. The nurse said it was typical od the operation but for me it went away the minute they took the iv with morphine out. I had a really good outcome. I hope it works as well for you.
Honestly, at first, i kind of leaned on the walls when i walked but keep positive and keep walking but of course away from cars etc.
Thanks June. It's good to hear the tough stories too. So if things get rough for me, I know it won't exactly be atypical.
Oh, if you wear bifocals, that might be hard at first. After losing a balance nerve you balance a great deal with your eyes. Walking in the dark will be very hard at first so maybe think about night lights or other accommodation. That may be when you need a walker etc.
Don't take an over-the-head shirt to wear home from the hospital. You're going to be sporting a big bandage and you probably won't be able get the shirt over your head.
OK, noted. No bifocals, no t-shirt. Now we're getting down to the nitty-gritty! Love it. Thank you guys. June, you know, it's not REALLY necessary to close your eyes in the shower. If you shampoo with your head tilted back a bit, gravity won't let it get in your eyes.
I'm going to try and cause disorientation by putting on my goggles, ear plugs and nose plug. Jump in the deep end of my pool and twist and flip over and over with my eyes closed underwater. I'm going to get out my old roller skates and re-learn to skate. Maybe walk around the house all day with the skates on.
Second the button up shirt. Get a cane or walking stick ahead of time. You are going to want to do a lot of walking because that is how you get your balance back. You will want easy to prepare meals. You probably wont want a banquet, simple things. You will probably look better than people expect you too afterward when they envision brain surgery. They took off very little of my hair. My brother prepared our mother for a ghastly sight and when they arrived, i looked pretty normal. The hair washing thing bothered me, that i couldnt do it and my husband thought the whole thing was way too complicated to get involved with. You might want to buy some of those disposable shower caps if you take showers instead of baths. The first couple days, i think a shower will be too challenging though. Do you have a pet?
Thanks June, you're helpful. Yes, I do have a cocker spaniel. I'll be sending him to a friend's house prior to surgery. I'm not to worried about the showers. I have an extensive fragrance collection. I'll just have my nurse spray me down every morning. To be honest I'm not big on showering. I take cold showers and they last about 45 seconds. A minute and a half if I shampoo. I rarely wash my face. Maybe once a month if I've got nothing better to do. I'm not exactly sure why men wash their face.
Your sense of humor will see you through. You might need help with the dog walking depending on size of dog and whether that involves any more than opening the back door and letting him out. I think while in the hospital, the occupational therapist will have you practice your daily routine, like bending over to get the dogfood out of the bag etc. If you ever want to do a sponge bath (i know, who would want to do that ??? ) you know what actually works? A real sea sponge. They hold so much water, you can actually rinse with them. Totally cool item. Sounds like you have things covered. Pick out a really cool cane or walking stick that you dont mind being seen with for a few weeks.
Pupper, Your surgery must be getting close. Thinking of you and wishing you all the best. Please let us know, when you're able, how you're getting along afterwards. This isn't going to be a walk in the park, but you're young and healthy and you've done your homework. You're going to come out of it like a champ.