Today's the day!

[saralynn143]

I'm so glad that the surgery went well. Kris was not out yet when I went to bed last night, and this was the first thing I checked this morning. Looking forward to additional positive updates.

Sara

[Cheryl R]

Good to hear the surgery went well.    I've always told my family that the surgery day is hardest for them once I was in surgery.   
   I hope all goes well now and that the first few days go fast!             Remember our motto that the first 3 days don't count!
                                                              Cheryl R
                                                                 

[Kaybo]

Glad things went well and hope she (& you) had a good night.  Onward & upward from here...remember it won't always be smooth sailing and you will need lots of patience along the way, but everything WILL be good in the end!!  Tell Kris to listen to her body!!

Prayers still coming your way!
K   

[CHD63]

So glad Kris' surgery is over.  It sounds like everything went well.  Now on to a quick recovery.  As the others have said, do not be discouraged if these first three days are a bit rocky ..... she has been through a lot.  From day four on she should rapidly feel better.

Thoughts and prayers continue for this next phase in the journey!

Clarice

[Jim Scott]

Mike ~

Thank you for the great news about Kris!  Prayers have certainly been answered.  I'm sure she'll have a fine recovery.  Take good care of her. 

Jim

[Lizard]

Mike,
Thanks for the wonderful updates and I want to officially welcome Kris to postie land!  Hope she is recovering well, and remember the first 3 days don't count 
Take care and please keep us posted,
Liz

[moe]

Mike,
So relieved to hear that Kris's surgery was a success! Now YOU take a deep breath, get some fresh air.
We'll be here for both of you
Maureen

[Wik1350]

Quick update for Day 1, which as I understand it doesn't count.  I'll be sure to remind her of that, btw.

I got in to see Kris several times in ICU today. She is sleeping most of the time and very groggy from the pain medication when she is not. She's bothered by head pain (does this surprise anyone?) the most and she's soar from being strapped down in an awkward position for 10 hours during the surgery. It was a long surgery and her brain stem was displaced pretty bad so this isn't shocking anyone, including me.

She is really bothered by opening her eyes, so she doesn't do it too much right now. She says it makes her head hurt so she has to be pushed by us and the staff to try every so often to get used to it. The doctors have done full exams on her and gotten good response out of her eyes when they do, so they don't think there is any lasting issues there it might just take a little time to adjust. She also had an MRI today to check for fluid buildup and such and it came back clean which was good.

I did notice that as the day progress our conversations went from one word answers to more reciprocal interactions. I believe that with another night of rest the progress will continue. I have faith that the answer to her question today of "will I ever get better?" is absolutely and unequivocally YES!

Till tomorrow, good night friends.

[4cm in Pacific Northwest]

2 wonderful blessings to count... baby Parker and a successful surgery (whew that's behind her now).

Your family remains in my prayers.

DHM

[jaylogs]

Sounds like things are already picking up!! Yeah, between all the drugs/anesthesia and whatnot, she'll be groggy for several days.  I'm keeping her in my prayers for a speedy and uneventful recovery! Keep us updated when you can (you are doing a wonderful job thus far!)
Jay

[CHD63]

Sounds like Kris is doing well.  It is very normal not to want to open her eyes ..... not only because of the headache, but she may experience double vision and dizziness when she does, as well ..... all very expected.  Once they can begin to reduce the pain meds and anti-nausea drugs, she will feel better also.

Thoughts and prayers continue for all of you!!  You need to also take care of yourself, you know!

Clarice

[Soundy]

Sounds like she is doing good ... I know she feels bad but still sounds like she doing good all the same ...

as for eye opening ... opening mine post op was painful ... recovery tech that sat with me for hours before going to ICU said it was from suddenly seeing everything and it was overstimulating my tired brain ... he put it more in medical terms but that is what it came down to ... I could open my eyes for them when asked , but preferred them closed ...and for 2 days opened them as little as possible

continued good healing to Kris

[Jim Scott]

Mike ~

Kris' reactions thus far seem perfectly normal and why we say (thanks to Steve), that the first three days (post-op) 'don't count'.  It takes that amount of time to get the anesthesia out of your system and for the patient's body/brain to begin to rebound from  the trauma of invasive surgery. You should see improvement daily.  5 days is the typical hospital stay, although there is no set time frame for discharge and her doctors will decide if and when Kris is ready to go home, where recovery is always easier (in my opinion).  Thanks for keeping us 'in the loop'.

Jim

[Lizard]

Thanks again for the updates, and I also had a lot of pain from light that lasted about two weeks.  In the hospital I used an empty pillowcase to cover them when it was really bothersome.

Take care,
Liz

[GRACE1]

I am so glad to see your updates.  I only have a computer at work right now, so I had to wait until this morning to see how Kris is doing.  I thought about her all weeked.

Grace