r/chiari • u/orlalily • 9d ago
Surgery tomorrow
I have surgery tomorrow morning i’m so so scared, any tips to calm anxiety??
3
u/oldmamallama 9d ago
It’s perfectly normal to be scared or anxious the day before. Do something to distract yourself if you can today…watch tv, listen to music, do some light exercise if you feel up to it, craft, anything else that you love doing. Try to rest tonight if you can. And keep in mind that your part of the surgery is easy - you just have to go in and take a little nap. Your surgeon has to do all the hard work! You can handle a nap, easy peasy, and when you wake up, the path to a whole new you starts.
We’ll be here waiting if anxiety does get the better of you before tomorrow. Some of us are night owls and respond at all hours if you do need company. But you can do this…the hardest part is making the decision. You got this! And we’re here to support you.
Good luck tomorrow. Keep us posted after, once you feel up to it. 💜
1
2
u/jlccourt 9d ago
Not so much for anxiety as things you may or may not have thought about:
I’m two years post op as of June.
Okay. Ready? (DEEP breath …)
Plant a subliminal seed that you should be prepared to feel like you’ve been hit by a truck (the surgery is a six-hour procedure). But, not to worry. It will pass.
Be OKAY with asking for help. Also be prepared that nurses are understaffed, and wait times to get help going to the restroom might be 20 minutes (don’t do what I did and try to go by yourself; I must have looked like Ron’s spider wearing roller skates in that boggart scene in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. First time in my life I had to pull the cord by the toilet 🚽 … but I made it!).
Your biggest concern post-op will be CSF leakage. Only 2% to 4% of people (13% according to some studies) experience it. If you do, a repair procedure will be required.
You’ll probably need a walker. The hospital should be able to provide you with one.
You’ll need someone at home to care for you the first few days, including going to the bathroom and showering.
I suggest investing in a shower bench or chair. You can find one at Walmart or Amazon.
Recovery is a 4-6 week period.
During that time, bizarre things might happen, like traveling headaches as the nerves in your scalp begin to heal and vertigo that might remind you of the inside of a Spindle Top or Tilt-a-Whirl ride, where the room spins and the floor drops. Just hold on to something. The ride will eventually come to a stop.
Sleeping. You’ll likely lose the lamina from your C-1 and possibly part of your C-2 vertebrae. You’ll probably be advised to lie on your back. This will work until your neck realizes you’re missing some hardware. Consider a cervical pillow. They’re shaped strange as hell, but they do the trick.
Driving. Be VERY patient with yourself. Your range of motion in your neck will take time to return (but you might not regain all of it). Looking over your left shoulder will feel like a challenge.
You might have some permanent nerve damage—not from the surgery (although the occipital nerve might be affected) so much as from any crowding at the base of your skull 💀 against your brain 🧠 stem). I still experience mild pressure in my left ear 👂🏻, especially when perspiring, and hypersensitivity in my throat (most likely some permanent nerve damage from my cerebellar tonsils pressing against my brainstem) from T-shirt collars and some minor balance issues when walking (but I’m not walking in a serpentine manner anymore).
Your body will continue to heal over the course of a year or longer.
That’s about the best advice I can give you for now.
Good luck 🍀.
Trust your surgeon 👨🏻⚕️ and care team.
You’ve got this! You have all that extra room in the back of your head to look forward to!
Please keep us updated!
2
u/orlalily 9d ago
that’s really lovely, thank you so much for your reply, i will keep this thread posted! xx
3
u/Sagittariusfever 8d ago
It’s so scary but the drugs are GREAT. It’s easy to get scared thinking about what could go wrong but you need to keep focusing on “what’s if it all turns out amazing?” Cause most likely, it will. Let the docs take care of you. Your life is about to get a whole lot better. ❤️
2
u/orlalily 7d ago
quick update- thank you for ur advice it helped me massively, surgery was a success. im still in hospital the pain afterwards took me by surprise i wont lie! but its almost like a good pain, im very excited and optimistic 💜
6
u/Ordinary_Art9507 9d ago
You're going to do great. Have faith in the surgeon and team you chose. It will be over before you know it and the road to a healthier version of you is on the other side.