Hey Everyone

It has been a week and a day since my third MM surgery that I had with Dr. Steinberg. With my first two almost 6 years ago I had the STA/MCA and this time around Dr. Steinberg opted for the indirect method. Surgery was a breeze, I was up and wallking around less than 24 hours later and was doing really good up unitl I left the hospital on Sunday morning.

As of Monday morning I have been extrememly nauseous and weak on the left side, even weaker than I was before surgery. I can no longer walk in a straight line and have taken to using a cane (I'm only 22) to get from point A to point B without falling down. When I called they sent me to the ER on Tuesday, but the MRI scan was normal. I saw the doc on Wednesday and he put me on BP meds to raise my blood pressure.

I have been doing better but I now have this extreme tingling all over my scalp.  It's really annoying and even causes some pain at the incision site at times. Is that a normal side effect of BP meds? Has anyone else had problems because their BP has been too low after surgery?

I haven't been cleared by Dr. Steinberg to leave the area yet. I have another appointment with him on Monday and hopefully by then things will have improved and he'll let me go home, I want to sleep in my own bed!

Jesenia

Yes, my daughter had her surgeries last nov. We were in the Stanford Hosp for 6 weeks and she had problems immediately after the surgery with her BP. She was on IV meds to keep it up but when they went to wean it down, she had strokes so they had to keep it up through the second surgery. Today she is still on BP meds to keep it up, 4 months later. Not sure if she will have to be on them forever or what. She still complains of her incisions hurting and she says it feels like bugs in her head at the incision lines. Not sure how long that will occur but just wanted to tell you, you are not alone with your symptoms. Hope your recovery goes well and speedy!

Hey Jesenia

I'm sure it will clear soon.

Stay strong and positive.

Mark

Jesenia~

Sorry about the need for more surgery and the problems you're now facing.

Hope it clears up soon.

I also had itchy scalp after surgery.

My surgery was in 2000 when a lot of things about mm weren't known. I went thru a time of not feeling right and being weak and having a tia --- later learned that I needed to keep my blood pressure up (140 - 150 /80 - 90) to keep the surgery site open and flowing. Felt better after that. And a quick trip to Steinbergs!

Hope you get on a good track too.

Sending my best,

Linda (LA)

Thanks!

I feel like such a dummy, all I had to do was check the side effects on the bottle of the medication - something I normally do - and I would have known that tingling is indeed a side effect. It's the strangest feeling ever. It's not just at the incision site, it's all over my head and face, i'm hoping it goes away soon.

I see Dr. Steinberg on Monday, hopefully he'll let me go home because I'm doing so much better than I was before and I can walk a straight line again!!

Thanks again,
Jesenia

Freckles!

Glad you figured it out!!!!
Not a dummy, just overloaded with new information.
Glad too that you can pass a sobriety test!
I still carry a came when I don't want to pay such strict attention to walking straight and an in crowds.

Good going

Hope you get a good report form Steinberg

Linda (LA)

Hi Jessina,
You're a remarkable and brave young woman. I read some of your earlier posts and admire your strength. Made me feel like a real wimp for worrying about a single TIA. I'm praying that your recovery from this third surgery goes smoothly and quickly and that it leaves with no more symptoms.
Kim

Thanks Kim, but there is absolutely no reason to feel like a wimp. A TIA can be a scary thing. The thing is, I'm really not a strong person. All of my strength comes from knowing that no matter what, God is in control. If it weren't for that knowledge, I'd have fallen apart a long time ago and I don't know that I would have been able to get back together again.

I'm feeling almost 100% and I'm pretty sure Dr. Steinberg will give me the green light to go home tomorrow.

Jesenia

Hey Jessina,
Good to know that you're feeling so much better. Hope you hear good news today and are heading home soon.
Kim

What do MMers take to keep their BP up?  I have meds to bring it down, but sometimes...especially lately, it is too low.  It appears to affect my cognition when it is too low and I know others have the same problem...so what do you do?
Thanks,
Michele

Michele~

Good question.
I look forward to hearing more answers from others.
One of the other lines on this board regards bp. check it out  -- it's the 'Update on Kevin " line. Lots of information there.

It's always fair to call Steinbergs office and ask these kinds of questions.

Maintaining the proper bp seems like it's going to be a life long thing.

I wish you well,

Linda