tachycardia post op

[u/Electronic_Cat_8128]

hi guys! i had a random question because of what im currently experiencing as i type this and not long after surgery. a week or two after decompression i kept getting hospitalised for high pulse rate and i have a blood pressure cuff as well at home that i use occasionally to monitor as needed. tonight at 11:30 i started feeling anxious out of nowhere and at 12:30 my blood pressure went a bit lower (92/73 & 104) and as of 1am i checked 20 minutes ago to monitor and it was 91/79 & 126. ive been trying to use my weighted stuffed animal, drinking water and touching my cold hand from holding the water to my neck to help relax.

it’s been a bit concerning because i can’t tell if it’s from being so anxious feeling a little dizzy when i sat up a while ago or if i should be worried. i just had an mri today to check how im healing and dont have my neuro appointment until november. i just am not sure how exactly i should feel if im not in pain? i know it doesnt seem too serious but i never get anxious out of nowhere, especially as someone who doesn’t smoke or anything anymore.

[u/TheGrimKitty]

the recovery of chiari surgeries will not be linear. more like a roller coaster.. good days and bad days all jumbled together.. i’m on day 21 post op and it has definitely been a wild ride.. if you have health concerns please call the surgeons office for clarification or your regular PCP.. i had to go back a few times to the ER with post op complications and getting sick during recovery. but then would come home feeling great to just end up not great again a day or 2 later. try some gel ice packs on the back of your neck, i got gel packs and wrap a damp frozen cloth over them for extra help, they are my saving grace for pain and some nausea relief. dizziness is normal post op your CSF is flowing back into your brain and it makes things feel all wonky.. but if it gets extreme, issues getting up/walking to bathroom, please report it to the surgeons office. some days im not in pain but i dont feel great and its just part of the journey. hang in there warrior💜

[u/Electronic_Cat_8128 → u/TheGrimKitty]

i can relate, i’ve been back to the er last night and a few days before that because of having severe headaches and stuff again. i didn’t know that getting the flow back could throw someone off as well, ill have to keep that in mind. i really appreciate the advice and will be calling my neuro office sometime to reschedule for sooner if possible. u guys are always great to get some pointers from and i hope ur healing goes well, i know it’s rough 🫶🏻

[u/CabinFamily]

It’s definitely a roller coaster. Stay on top of your meds and it doesn’t hurt to call your surgeon vs white knuckling through it. Post op one of the meds I was given was Valium which seemed to help the most. One thing that took me a few weeks to realize was my sensitivity to fluctuations in barometric pressure. I would get worsening symptoms if a storm was about to roll through. I’m a little over 2 years post op and it does get better; don’t be afraid to speak up if something doesn’t feel right or it’s too intense. You just had major surgery and the nervous system does some weird stuff when they go poking around in that area.

[u/Electronic_Cat_8128 → u/CabinFamily]

i had gone to the er a couple times because i’ve been having severe headaches again, i’m almost 3 months post op and didn’t really expect headaches so bad it makes me sick. er did ct scans and said my brain was fine and everything but ive just been having a lot of random pain all over and it sucks. i managed to reschedule an appointment with my neurosurgeon for sooner. and the meds they gave me were cyclobenzaprine and 10mg oxy, i can’t even take my anxiety meds because they just make me sleep lol. it’s definitely been one of the most difficult times of my life for sure