ANA Discussion Forum
Treatment Options => Microsurgical Options => Topic started by: Jeepers on June 08, 2009, 10:37:39 am
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what were you're first thoughts?
(a) thank God I survived
(b) wow! that was fast!
(c) holey-moley ... this is some pretty major *@#$
probably all three, right?
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the first thing that came to mind, was Cand I smile?
I sure did.
Second thing was wow, done already, really its 3pm?? ( start time was 8am)
third thing was..ok were is the pain??
JO ;D
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First thing was wondering where my hubby was, and wondering if anyone had told him that I made it through OK. Once that was answered, I wondered if I could smile.
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Jeep ~
Good question! I was very groggy but recall thinking 'I made it'! I went in and out of sleep (I was extremely fatigued from the 9-hour surgery). It was a bit later that I did the requisite 'face check' to see if everything was still mobile. It was, so I went back to sleep. Later, I remember my wife being there (she didn't leave the hospital for almost 3 days) and talking to her to assure her that I was 'fine' (all things considered). About that point I began plotting how soon I could convince my doctor to release me. It took almost 5 days but I finally 'escaped'. :)
Jim
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Hi Jeep,
When I first realized that I had survived was in ICU, but I was so extremely weak I actually considered not to breathe because it was so heavy. I only had a pulse of 47 beats per minute and I didn't have the strength to open my eyes. When my hubby got to ICU he just touched my arm, but I actually thought I hurt. I was so very tired and weak and I was afraid of feeling like that, but I got better day by day and now I'm almost three week post-op and I'm feeling fine. I'm getting used to being SSD and I also have some balance issues, but life is good! :D
Best to you all from Helene :)
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Good question. I distinctly remember the experience. The first thing I saw was my blonde ICU nurse standing in front of a light and she had a glow about her head due to the light. She said, "hello Lee, my name is Madonna." I was a bit shocked. I thought to myself, "the bad news is that I'm dead, the good news is that I'm in heaven!". I had a long chuckle over that.
When my wife arrived to see me, I actually didn't want to see her, because I knew I looked like crap and frankly I didn't want her to see me in that condition. I remember hearing her talk to the nurses as they tried in vain to explain my position to her. I heard her say "Telll him that I bore 4 of his children and I'm coming back". It was then that I really knew that I had survived!
It is a bit surreal. It was certainly the single most physically challenging thing I have endured in my lifetime. I am stronger because of it...
Dufreyne--
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Great question...a trip down memory lane for me!
I was so groggy, no pain, but my neck was really stiff. The ICU nurse asked me if I wanted to see my family (who had been waiting for 8 hours and we are very close, by the way) and I said "no!" I have no idea why I said that, and they had to wait until the next visiting time, 45 minutes later!!!! I felt so guilty but they were terrific and knew I wasn't quite right!!!
Kathy
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Good question. I distinctly remember the experience. The first thing I saw was my blonde ICU nurse standing in front of a light and she had a glow about her head due to the light. She said, "hello Lee, my name is Madonna." I was a bit shocked. I thought to myself, "the bad news is that I'm dead, the good news is that I'm in heaven!". I had a long chuckle over that.
Dufreyne--
HAH!! That made me laugh, Dufreyne! ;D
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... now I'm almost three week post-op and I'm feeling fine. I'm getting used to being SSD and I also have some balance issues, but life is good! :D
Best to you all from Helene :)
That's very encouraging Helene!!
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These are all very interesting replies! I'm kind of in a state of calm, decision-wise right now (although the scheduling gal can certainly give me a call any time she's ready >:(), but when I think how things are never quite the same as you imagine them to be, I'm curious how this will play out post-op. Everyone here has really provided a great sense of reassurance ... especially when you consider how frantic we probably all were when we were diagnosed and going thru the decision-making process.
I have to say, everyone sounds so relaxed about post-op. Not to minimize the grandess of brain surgery in the least, your sharings here are, as I said, very reassuring
... and I appreciate that! :)
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I dont remember the first 24 hours after surgery ... I was kinda a mess .. I remember thinking what time is it ? saw that it was early in the morning and wondered , boy how did they do this so quickly .. that is until I realized it was the next day!!!
I dont remeber this, but right after surgery, I was not really awake yet -- by wife asked if "I wanted a mushroom pie" ... I made a ugly face and mumbled no ... she knew I was still in there ... now you have to know me ... I eat everything and anything .. but one thing ... muchrooms ..... ;D :o
I spent a couple of extra days in ICU .. but a week later.. I was out !!
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Hi Jeepers!
The first thing I thought when I opened my eyes and saw my friend there was "woo hoo", I even took my mask off and said a tiny little "woo hoo" in a Homer Simpson style apparently. Then I thought wow, no pain. Then I thought, oh my god the room is spinning I'm going to be.... sick. And I was. Good times! I felt hot and my mask was annoying me but that's all. Apparently I got too hot at one point and they took a plastic sheet thing off the bed underneath me because i was warming up so much on top of it. Then they gave me a cool bed bath thing... I barely remember it. I remember thinking someone is washing me and thinking that they were being really nice in pulling one leg out and doing that then putting it back under the sheet and pulling the other leg out etc. I distinctly remember thinking, that's so nice of her, she's not just pulling the sheet back and showing everyone what I had for breakfast! Then I fell asleep again.
You'll be fine!
JB x
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When I woke up in post op after 9 hours of surgery there were about 8 people standing around me and the first thing I noticed was I could smell so many different smells. I hadn't realized my sense of smell was impacted by my tumor. I could smell perfume, BO, hospital smells, deodorant. It was really strange, then I noticed there were double the amount of people standing around. I remember saying am I alive and my surgeon said yes that I made it thru and everything is fine. Then I told him I was seeing double. That sorta didn't hit me until a few days later....
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My first words after 2 of my surgeries and maybe 3 were I'm going to throw up! And I did. Wasn't a huge amount and they would always give me meds for it. Then I would ask what time is it? I was always much more sleepy past the mid fossas and awake easier with the translab. The CSF leak was very easy after and awake right away and stayed awake. I just so hope never again with brain surgery!
Cheryl R
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My first thought was why is it SO LOUD and such strange noises (all in my head) and then, I quickly asked for nausea meds...repeat for three days... ;), THEN, I thought, wow, I did get through it...and you can too!
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I remember having a bunch of people looking at me.. it was all a blur because I didn't have my glasses on ... but I assume it was one of the surgeons, the ICU nurse and the assigned hospitalist. They wanted me to talk, blink my eyes and try to smile. All I remember was thinking ... why are these people waking me up, when all I want to do is sleep.... leave me alone...
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As my surgery date of June 25th gets closer, I've wondered the same . This has been very interesting reading and a good laugh on a few. Having had several surgeries already, It is strange as to what you think of the very first thing upon waking.
Patty
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I woke up to my husband saying, "I'm going to leave now, OK?" (it was after midnight)
I thought why are you leaving, I just woke up?
Apparently, I was slow in coming around and maybe slightly awake, but do not remember talking to him.
The next thing I thought was "I have a %$#^ of a headache" which continued through that long first night :'( along with throwing up :'( :'( :'(
But the first 3 days don't count, remember!
Maureen
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C
Definitely C
Jan
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It was SUCH a long time ago...but I do remember them telling us that morning that they would not take me to Recovery - I would stay in the OR until they thought that they could move me and then take me straight to ICU since it would be so late. They knew that the surgery would be at least 12 hours, possibly more...since it was 14, it was very late. My SIL was a recovery room nurse and so she had tried to prepare everyone for what I would look like after being under for that long...guess she didn't get the point across because all I remember (besides all the crazy nightmares all night) is seeing the looks of horror on everyone's faces when I saw them in the hall when they were taking me to ICU. For some reason, I remember being in the hall and next to the steel doors of the elevator! The next few days were in & out...but I made it thru and am alive to tell about it!! ;)
K ;D
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I woke up in my room in neuro ICU and saw my doctor then the clock and thought, 'gee it sure is late... I don't think I've ever slept so long in my life... I'm VERY VERY thirsty.'
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The first thing I thought about was can I blink. I remember trying and being very happy because i thought i could, but it was only Bell Phenomanon. But I didn't figure that out for another day or so.
Second thought was I wish someone would stop the room from spinning. It was making me so sick.
Third thought - I was so hot and wanted water but they wouldn't give it to me. The next best thing was my son's cold hands. They felt so good i didn't want to let go.
No one prepared my family for what i would look like after a 12 hour surgery so I did have a lot of shocked looks also. My poor daughter ran out of the room crying. I didn't realize it was me that had her upset. I really felt pretty good once the room stopped spinning. The next day I was allowed to get up and saw myself in the mirror and then I figured it out.
But the first three days don't count - that's for sure!!
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Hey Jeepers,
This was a great topic, particularly since I'm waiting for surgery in less than 10 days now. I most likely will be one of the "I'm gonna throw up" ones, but am hoping to avert that!! :D
It's good to hear that people came through with a sense of humor. That counts for sooooooo much.
Molly
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You know what is so funny (ironic)? I have had several surgeries since my AN & get VERY sick & nauseous after each - to the point of them now taking special precautions - but don't remember getting sick AT ALL after 14 HOURS of anesthesia (so?)!!
K
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1. I can't breathe! The oxygen face mask was just being pulled off my face. They must've turned it off a bit too soon.
2. I'm gonna throw up! and did.
3. My husband patting my arm telling me "they got it all". Relief, only 10 days later at my post-op appt. I found out there was still a small bit left :-[
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I'll bet I'll be one of the pukers too! ;D
I'm counting on being very doped up. I've been known to succumb to anxiety attacks and as I ponder the upcoming event, I imagine panicing as I'm unable to move, have a mask over my face, or some similar scenario. :-[
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I remember
1. waking up and realizing that although the room wasn't spinning (my biggest fear) it wasn't exacly stable either, but as long as I kept my eyes closed it was tolerable.
2. Being very nauseous
3. wanting to go back to sleep but couldn't because some other dude in the ICU was out of his mind and yelling all night. It was horrible. I kept thinking that the ICU that my daughter was in way back when at Mayo Clinic in Rochester was NOTHING like this!
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First I asked if they got it all...no answer
Then I asked how long I'd been out...around 11 hours
Where's my husband, did you tell him? Did you tell him I'm ok??? Go get him, he's got to be worried sick!
They asked me for my pain level and I hollered back, ITS A NINE (didn't want to say 10 because, well, what if it got worse?)
Ice chips were my very best friend and they will probably be yours too.
After about an hour my husband and parents were allowed to come back to neuro ICU and we visited for a couple of hours. I don't remember much of the conversation but I do remember feeling no pain after the whole NINE incident (thank you morphine).
I stayed in the hospital for 3 nights and now only deal with SSD and manageable balance problems.
Best wishes to you, when is your surgery?
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All I remember is seeing the doctor, 3 friends/coworkers, & then vomiting forever !. Then I realized 1/2 my face was paralyzed, WHEW, what a nightmare !
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I'll bet I'll be one of the pukers too! ;D
I'm counting on being very doped up. I've been known to succumb to anxiety attacks and as I ponder the upcoming event, I imagine panicing as I'm unable to move, have a mask over my face, or some similar scenario. :-[
Don't stress too much. I don't recall being unable to move or having a mask over my face - or any other "freaky" scenarios.
I was a puker the first time they made me sit up and put my legs over the side of the bed - so if you lose your lunch, just remember you're in good company ;) I think in my case it was the spinning room that did me in.
I told Dr. Battista that the whole experience reminded me of the first (and last) time I was good and drunk - back in college. The spinning room and the puking just added to the memory. I recall him being quite amused :D
Humor can get you through a lot of situations post-op; I highly recommend it.
Jan
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I'm not so sure I should have read this thread...I hate vomiting (I certainly hope none of you enjoy it... ;))
Getting a bit amxious just 3 days out from surgery...very unlike me to stress over things but I guess this is a big one... ::)
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I'm not so sure I should have read this thread..
Yep, oh well too late!
Really, I'm sure you'll do fine. :) And you're pretty much in a fog anyway in the recovery.
They give you lots of anti nausea drugs because of the nature of the surgery too.
Just tell the anesthesiologist that you need lots of anti nausea meds after the surgery.
I'm sure you'll rock it!
Maureen
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Stoneaxe , Good luck on the surgery!!
I was one of the lucky ones ... I did not throw up! .. but I did not eat at first... the first time I took one bite it felt like it was going to come up ... but the next day... I took 3 bites... and the meal I took 6 ... and so on and so on .. by the end of my hospital stay.. I could not get enough to eat ! (the roid's where really kicking in) ... one of by best memorys of the hospital stay... my wife brought back a cheesecake from the cheesecake factory.. boy was I happy!! ...
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I didn't throw up either (so maybe you won't ...) but i drank so many of those vanilla nutrition drinks that when i see something similar now, i feel like throwing up!
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I did not throw up either. Whenever it was meal time I always asked for Gravol, which I received most times by intravenous. but after a few days I tried eating without the gravol, and I was fine.
JO ;D
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FWIW:
I wasn't hungry the first day post-op. The second day a nurse 'forced' me to eat something (she said she wouldn't leave until I ate). By the 3rd day post-op, food looked better and by Day 4, I proved I was actually hungry by eating the uniquely bland, almost-cold hospital food. I never vomited and after Day 1, I never really felt nauseous. Clearly, everyone has a slightly different post-op experience. There simply is no 'standard' recovery with AN surgery.
Jim
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They give you lots of anti nausea drugs because of the nature of the surgery too.
Just tell the anesthesiologist that you need lots of anti nausea meds after the surgery.
Take some peppermints with you. I was very nauseous for a week, even with all the high powered anti-nausea drugs they gave me. Peppermints worked better than any of them!
Also - I don't think I ate anything for at least 5 days. My taste was affected and was very hard to eat when 1. it tastes awful and 2. you feel like it's going to come right back up. :(
Good luck to you. Think positive. The mind is a very powerful thing.
Cathy
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The first thing I thought of after waking was, this thing gagging my throat is going to make me barf! Awesome I can feel my throat-it worked! Prior to that my throat, teeth and gum's were numb. Then the flood gates opened and they didn't put the respirator back in, just an oxygen mask. I was happy and knew things would be good.
Stevek
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I never thought to myself "I made it" because I never really doubted that I would. When I first cracked an eye open after surgery, it felt like I would imagine a roller coaster on acid would. Shut my eye again quickly. I certainly didn't feel like eating but never vomited. Whatever I had in the IV (morphine, maybe) for pain made me very itchy. I was semiconscious at best and ended up blowing the IVs because I was scratching everywhere. If I ever have future surgeries (which I hope to avoid), I plan to make sure that Benadryl is on the med list if needed.
The ICU was full so I spent the night in the OR Recovery room. This was WONDERFUL! I was the only person there all night and had 3 bored nurses at my beck and call. They brought be ice chips (instantly upon request) and gave me a sponge bath in the bed because I'd been so hot & sweaty. For some reason I was very, very hot, even though the room is kept very cool. Also, that night there was a storm and lightening hit the hospital and knocked out the air conditioning. The only rooms on the generator for air conditioning were the OR and OR Recovery Room - Yay! Sometimes things work out.
Best wishes to all upcoming posties!
Tam
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I went thur periods of being extremely hot and then cold...One nurse mentioned menopause...nooooooooo I ssid I was 3 yrs post meopause and never had the night sweats...This was right after surgery and my body felt like a lead weight..The night nurses were great in uncovering me and the covering me back up. Not so when the day nurse came in....She made me do it...Boy was I irritated at her but I realized it was best for me...She is also the one who convinced me to eat something on the second day.
JO ;D
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The night nurses were great in uncovering me and the covering me back up. Not so when the day nurse came in....She made me do it...Boy was I irritated at her but I realized it was best for me...She is also the one who convinced me to eat something on the second day.
That tough love thing, Jo! It is hard, but sometimes we must be pushed a bit...I would likely not have gotten up out of that hospital bed on day 3 if the physical therapy guy hadn't bullied me out...so glad he did, though, as there's no telling how long I would have stayed in the hospital ::)
Cindy
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I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who was burning up hot after surgery. Others I've told about it think it's weird. I guess I'm in good company.
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I never thought to myself "I made it" because I never really doubted that I would.
Tamara ~
Allow me to clarify: I never thought for a moment that I wouldn't live through the surgery. Upon awakening, I simply realized that it was over ("I made it") and I could get on with my life, which had been totally dominated by my AN diagnosis for the previous 3 weeks. I'm pleased to state that things went well from that point on. :)
Jim
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Jim
Aha - I understand. Good to know you weren't that worried! :)
Tam
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What a great and, at times, funny thread. I haven't made the decision yet, but reading this helped overcome one of my biggest fears.
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I don't remember much of anything right after surgery.
However...
My daughter asked me three questions.
1. Can I have $1000? Answer: sure
2. Can I have a brand new car? Answer: sure
3. Can I have another baby sister? Answer: Hell No!
That's when she knew I was going to be just fine. ;D