New member, symptoms questions.

[Mark F.]

Well first post after surgery.  First day was rough, no sugar coating that one, but feeling better each day.   Spent 2 days in ICU, now I'm just out on the floor.   Told I'll most likely be sent home Monday, making my stay 6 days.   They were able to preserve what hearing I had, although it isn't much, as I was already legally deaf in the left ear, just not totally deaf, so I can still tell direction of louder sounds.   Balance am told is better than most at this point.  I got up and walked the hallway yesterday afternoon with just someone holding my arm.  Yesterday morning I was using a walker so that was a quick transition.  Post op headache was probably the worst headache I ever had in my life, but after 2 days seems to be gone now. Thank you all for your support and advice, it was useful and I believe really helped.

[skier]

Terrific, Mark! Very happy to hear this.

Best,
Skier

[sissyn]

Outstanding News!  Mark - So glad to hear that you are doing well and each day improving. 

Take Care - Sissy

[DanFouratt]

Great news, thanks for sharing.  Keep on getting better.

[Mark F.]

Skier,

I think you are on to something with keeping as active as possible.  Since I was a runner I used my treadmill everyday before surgery, even when my balance was questionable at best I used the handrails and did what I could.   I really believe that my surprise walking ability after surgery has everything to do with having strong legs that can help me steady myself.  If I could give anyone any word of advice it would be do whatever you can to keep active and keep your legs strong right up to the day.  I'm not doctor, but it helped me.

[ESH]

So glad to hear you are making such progress.

Ellen

[Mark F.]

I just realized that I didn't mention the results from that last MRI the day before surgery.  I was a little surprised as I had just had an MRI 4 weeks prior, and in those 4 weeks it grew 1mm each direction.   Final measurements on it was 13x9x9.   When it was first diagnosed I was at 10x6x6.

[DanFouratt]

Surprised it grew, glad it is gone!  Keep on moving.
Dan

[Jill Marie]

Hi Mark,

Wow, I was really surprised and pleased to see that you posted just 3 days after surgery.  I didn't think we would hear from you for at least a week or two.  Glad to hear your balance is better than normal, that will certainly help your recovery.  I was on crutches after breaking my leg a month before surgery so I'm lucky they even let me out of the hospital. Lol. Speaking of getting out, tomorrow is the big day, bet you're looking forward to it.  So sorry to hear that you had such a rough time with the headaches, thankful of course that they went away.  Considering the growth in your tumor recently I imagine you're really glad you got rid of it.  Take Care, Jill

[Mark F.]

Ok I did hit a setback on swallowing.   Still not on solid food, and now but just got moved up from liquid only to soft food.  I'm told I probably won't be going home today, maybe tomorrow depending on how it goes with the food.  The doctors seem to think I came in with a mild infection and the combination of the surgery, breathing tube, and steroids just blew it up into a full blown Thrush infection in my esophagus.   It is getting better, sad I might not go home as soon as I wanted, but it's temporary.   The big thing for me is I have now been off my pain medication for 3 days already.   I was surprised to learn that the minor amount of pain I have now is absolutely nothing compared to what I apparently was living with every day of my life for the last three years.

Jill:  One thing you have in the hospital is a lot of free time, way too much actually so I've been watching the website a couple times a day.

[Mark F.]

Officially released from the hospital!!!   7 days here was longer than I expected, but three of those are due to the throat infection problem.   I could have been released from a neuro standpoint Saturday.   

[ESH]

Hooray!

Ellen

[Jill Marie]

Hi Mark,

Really glad to hear that you put your "Ruby Slippers on, tapped them 3 times and now you're home!" Congratulations!! Glad they got the infection under control so you can at least eat soft food and got to go home. Being off the pain meds so soon is definitely a plus, less side effects.  What a huge difference in your life now having the awful constant pain gone. I'm so very happy for you! I bet you can't wait to celebrate how well you're doing.  Perhaps not dealing with the pain anymore is your celebration! 

Glad you were able to have a computer so you could check the website and update us!  Jill