Good to hear from you, Pupper. You're going to get better day by day and before you know it, you're going to be your old self again. You've been through a pretty rough ordeal, but the reward is going to be so worth it.
Slowly but surely. Are you taking pain meds? That can take away the appetite and so can having the balance system turned upside down. I lost 8 lbs in the hospital for 3 1/2 days. Keep in touch. Thinking of you.
I'm so glad to know you're doing well enough to give a computer update within a week of VNS!! Hats off to Pupper!!! I'm truly impressed!
Thank you all. You're good wishes mean a lot to me. So, update. (Number of days are approximate). 20 days since surgery. First 5 days slow spinning (vertigo). Then lessened to strong dizziness for next 7 days. I could walk but I looked like a guy who'd had too many drinks and was trying hard to disguise it. On day 10 to 13 I could do household chores. Not because I wanted to, but to relieve the boredom from lying down all the time. Chores were difficult. I moved like a robot. Day 14 to 20, dizziness improved. Though still quite dizzy. I could do chores with greater ease. On day 17 another marked improvement. I could probably play basketball slowly on my driveway hoop and concentrate well enough that my neighbors wouldn't know anything was very wrong. That's just to give you a sense of where I am. Though basketball would be hard, I COULD do it. The main issue isn't the dizziness actually, but the fatigue. I'll do a chore for 10 minutes, then have to lie down for 30. Repeat. I feel like a zombie. My head is heavy. I often sit and just stare, as in a stupor. I hate the feeling. The only thing good about the fatigue is that when I lay down it feels SOOOOO GOOOOOOOD. I mean, everyone likes to lay down. But laying down in my state is exquisitely pleasurable. Bodily and mentally. Like having a massage. It's that good. But yes, it sucks, this fatigue. My doctor says it's expected after a craniotomy and will get better in time. I was already fatigued because of the Meniere's. But now it's much much worse. (I know I still have Meniere's, but you know what I mean). The appetite thing is weird. I'm just not that hungry. I've lost about 18 pounds in 20 days. And that's with no exercise and most of my time spent in bed. I haven't had any alcohol since surgery so that helps explain the weight loss. But doesn't explain the lack of appetite. Oh well. I'm very happy I had a VNS though. My hearing in bad ear is worse by about 20% since surgery. Doctor says it's clogged with fluid from surgery etc. And that it should get a bit better. Anyway, I'm glad I did this. And thanks again for your support. Gosh, just to write my feelings to people who understand is a Godsend. Thank you times 10.
Yay, Pupper. So glad for the update. We've sure been thinking about you. Good to hear you've made it through the roughest parts. Five days of vertigo, slow moving or not, is hell. Sounds similar to what I went through when I had my failed shunt surgery. I'm sure you wondered if it would ever end and I'm happy to hear that that part is over for you. I can relate to the heavy headed feeling. Mine felt so heavy at times, I didn't think my neck could support it. That was time to lie down. It will get better, as will the problem with fatigue. Being under anesthesia slows down your whole system and it's not unusual to have no appetite following a major surgery. It will come back eventually. I'm delighted at your progress and your ability to check in here and relieved to get an update. Looking forward to hearing from you again as you feel up to it.
So good to see you Pupper! I am tying to rmember 20 days out. I think I was just pleasantly surprised to be alive and functioning that my expectations were low. I didnt have the headaches and i hope yours are gone. It did take me a while to learn to walk and i think the best thing i did for myself was do a lot of walking. It was this time of year and good for walking. Any little bit of uneven ground was very challenging. Be careful about cars etc but try to walk a lot. I must have mentioned fatigue to my surgeon because, like yours, he told me it was typical of this kind of surgery. I am thrilled you retained hearing even if not perfect because you will be able to echo locate and that is such an underrated thing. Sleep too is underrated in the healing process, so allow yourself lots of time to rest. Try to hold your own, weight-wise. Look for some calorie-dense things that you dont have to eat huge quantities of. It may be meds or the nausea that comes from unstable equilibrium. I did find it took up to several months for the swelling throughout the area to go down. I remember taking pseudofed even after i went bakc to work at least two months out because i felt like things werent right in my head. In retrospect, all i did was give myself heart palpitations and probably should have just been more patient. Keep,your doctor informed if anything doesnt seem right and keep us posted. I look for your updates.
^^ when i soeak of swelling i mean sinuses etc just felt off. Not the incision, that healed in normal time. Did you have any nrve damage? Numbness? i think the area of the incision felt numb for a while.
Thanks for the update. I'm so glad you are doing well. I remember when I first had the Epley maneuver done to me after a long time of undiagnosed BPPV I was profoundly exhausted a lot of the time. I think my brain was expending a lot of energy to adjust to the new "normal" and imagine the same is true for you (though more dramatic!). It sounds like you are heading in the right direction, and that is so great.
Great to hear from you, Pupper! Fatigue is expected. Be sure to maintain your blood glucose level. Granting you have little to no appetite, an electrolyte supplement such as Hydralyte may decrease your fatigue. If you PM John of Ohio he may be able to tailor a vitamin-based regimen specific to your circumstances, if it only be employed while you recover.
Pupper I am so happy to hear you are recovering ! The first few days described by you gave me shivers and goosebumps. It Just must have felt awful to have the constant vertigo feeling. I have never experienced fatigue like yours and I am positive it will pass shortly. Stay strong and move around - that’s your new “gym.” Please keep us posted. Hugs
Good to hear from you Pupper. What an ordeal you have been through. Here’s hoping you are through the worst of it. I think I found the pounds you lost! want them back?
For the last 4 days (starting 19 days after surgery) I've had tingling/numbness in pinky and ring fingers of both hands. And down from pinky into side of hand. I emailed my surgeon about it this morning. After a bit of Q & A, he said, "this is not related to the brain surgery and more likely reflects something going on in your cervical spine (ie arthritis of some kind, like a disk herniation, etc). I recommend that you see your PCP for further evaluation (eg MRI cervical spine)." I don't know. I've been a bit too afraid to research it online because I don't want to deal with bad news right now. There's no history of arthritis in my family and I feel like I'm too young for it (I know you can get it at any age, just saying). And I've done nothing to herniate a disk. Unless you can herniate a disk from sleeping too much. I just find it hard to believe it has nothing to do with the surgery. I've never had anything like this tingling before. I'm not doing anything different than prior to surgery, lifestyle wise. I guess it's time to dive into some research tomorrow. Possible effects of VNS etc. And of course I'll do what he recommended. You guys think it may be related to my VNS? Thanks.
Appreciate that Scott. The thing is, the advice came from my neurosurgeon. Who I assume is a neurologist, going on his credentials below. And he's basically saying, "don't come see me, it's got nothing to do with me cutting your nerve." Which, I have to assume is fair/correct, (at least at this point). Two doctors from a nationally known clinic operated on me for my VNS. The neurosurgeon (mentioned above), and my neurotologist, (who's been treating me for the last 2 years). Both were involved in the email conversation about my finger tingling/numbness. I HAVE to assume they would call me in to the clinic if they thought it was related to the VNS. (All this has nothing to do with the good advice you gave me, I'm just talking.) My neurosurgeon's bio: (In other words, if a guy with these credentials/knowledge, determines my numbness isn't VNS related, I have to assume he knows what he's talking about.) Residency in Neurological Surgery, ___ Neurological Institute Complex Spine Surgery, ___Neurological Institute Medical Director, Spine Surgery Program, ___ Management of Neurofibromatosis Treatment of Spinal Tumors and Traumatic Spine Injury Surgery for Tumors of the Skull Base Management of Cerebral Vascular Malformations and Aneurysm CyberKnife and GammaKnife Radiosurgery
As I mentioned earlier, in the neurosurgeon's email to me, he stated the tingling could be related to the cervical spine. As far as me doing anything different, behaviorally, since the VNS, which relates to what he said; I HAVE been quite hunched over, with my head falling forward. Because I feel so weak and fatigued. Perhaps this poor posture is messing with my cervical area.
Puppet, posture may have something to do with it. I wonder if with more time/rehab your posture will improve and your numbness will go away. I have never had surgery for MM but I had a forward head posture and terrible heavyheadedness during my most dizzy times. I wonder what makes us take on that position??? Also, I wonder if the way your head was positioned during surgery may have affected nerves in your neck? Chiropractor? Just thinking out loud...
Compression or inflammation of the Ulnar nerve will cause your symptoms. The Ulnar nerve goes through the C8 but any number of factors from your spine, shoulder or elbow can affect the nerve. I have had this problem with both my hands for years.