I was just wondering how many of you guys had pain after surgery and how many didn’t because Tommy had surgery on April 2nd and seemed to be much better the couple of days right after surgery than he does now.  We talked to the Attending Neurosurgeon on call yesterday and Theresa today, they don’t seem concerned.  We have an appointment on Thursday with Dr. Steinberg and then we fly home to PA on Friday.  Just wondering?!

Thanks
Calee

Hi Calee,

Where and what type of pain is Tommy experieincing?

My brother had both sides done a week apart at Stanford by Dr. Steinberg in May of 2005.  He said the only pain he recalls is at the incision site which he expected and he said he had a slight headache but nothing alarming or anything more than what he expected after having two brain surgeries. He did mention that he thought he felt the pain only after the anesthesia wore off a couple of days later so that may be the same for Tommy.  My brother also mentioned that he thought that some people simply have different thresholds to pain meaning some will feel little or no pain while others feel more intense pain.

I hope this is of some help to you and hopefully others will share their experiences too.

Let us know what Dr. Steinberg says on Thursday.

Hugs,

Lore

What time is Tommy's appointment with Dr Steinberg?  Annamarie has an appointment with him at 9:00 that morning.  Maybe we will run into each other.

Margaret

Hi Calee,
The first surgery (right side) was a slam dunk for me. The second (left side) the following week was no problem until after I left the hospital, then I had some mild speech trouble,  momentary difficulty with swallowing and then tingling and numbness in my right hand. Like you, I called Teresa. I went back to the hospital for another MRI/MRA which proved that everything was due to the brain adjusting to the increased blood flow. I remember that I was so exhausted that my folks had to push me about the hospital in a wheelchair - and I was willing to let them. Other than that, I didn't experience a great deal of pain, other than a slight headache from time to time. I took no more Vicodin than was prescribed, but did take it as soon as I felt the slightest discomfort. It seemed to effectively keep the pain under control.
Every one responds differently, so I wouldn't put too much store in any one person's post-surgery experiences. I know that I was worried enough though that I rescheduled my flight home so that I was near to Stanford over the weekend. The extra few days gave me and my family a great deal of peace of mind. In retrospect, I know that it wasn't necessary to stay the extra days as by Monday, I was feeling great and was more than ready to cut the strings with Stanford and return home to my friends and family.
I'm sure Tommy too will perk up in in the next few days. Best wishes to all of you,
Kim

For me once the anesheia wore off I felt like some one hit me over the head with a sledg hammer. I took pain killers for about a month. In the begining i had to overlap a half an hour so I didn't get a rush of pain, but I slowly weened my way down by the end of the month I wasn't takeing anything. I got regular headaces for about a year but now the headackes are maybe once a month. My scar does itch from time to time. and my softspot gets tender as well. I had my surgery in 2004. It does get Better. If not you have the best doctor looking after Tommy. You both are in my prayers.
Becky

Tommy had just the right side done last Wednesday and says that the pain is mostly right in or near the incision.  Dr. Steinberg says that since he has no disease on the left side he probably won’t need surgery for his other side.  Out of 200 people with no disease on one side only 1 person developed disease.

Just read your responses to Tommy and he said to mention that it's not so much the headaches that are keeping him from not wanting to move it's more the nauseous feeling.  His headache is the worst after sleeping all night and then gets better during the day.  Seems laying down is the worst, he’s sleeping with six pillows to prop himself up.  He has the nauseous feeling when walking around and it’s the worst while riding in the car.  He says it feels like being carsick.  

Margaret – Tommy’s appointment is 11am.

Thank you all for being there for us!
Carol

PS:  His sense of humor seems to be returning, he’s talking about the zipper on the side of his head opening and losing his marbles!

Hi Carol,
Could be the nausea is due to medications he was given during surgery or is taking now. Takes awhile for those to get out of the system completely.
Great to hear that his sense of humor is returning. His humor sounds a lot like my son's. Being able to laugh at my ordeal really helped with the recovery - sure couldn't find much to laugh about before the surgery.
Kim