And ... as long as I'm waiting ... when you 1st woke up from surg ...

[Jeepers]

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?

[tenai98]

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

[Adrienne]

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.

[Jim Scott]

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

[catlover]

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! 

Best to you all from Helene 

[dufreyne]

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--

[Kathy M]

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

[Jeepers]

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! 

[Jeepers]

... 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! 

Best to you all from Helene 

That's very encouraging Helene!!

[Jeepers]

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!   

[Joef]

  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 .....   

I spent a couple of extra days in ICU .. but a week later.. I was out !!

[joebloggs]

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

[TP]

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....

[Cheryl R]

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

[cindyj]

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!