Hi Reagan,

I've had no experience with a lump, other than when I wore my old glasses for a couple of weeks shortly after surgery. I didn't think they were too tight but the limbs kind of made an indentation over the incisions. I decided that as I'd spend a mint on the surgery, it would be senseless not to spend the extra dollars for some light-weight, rimless, wire-limbed specs - no more dents.

I did experience tightness around the head, especially around the incisions - but not recently (I'm about five months post-op).

I still occasionally experience a bit of numbness in my left forearm and hand and sometimes around my mouth. Less and less so with each passing day. Those are the areas where I felt the effects of my small strokes, so it may be due to that.  Initially it was when I was tired, but sometimes I still feel it a bit in my hand when gripping the steering wheel of the car. I found that the more consistently I exercise (water aerobics and swimming five days a week) the less frequently I experience the numbess. Maybe learning those new movements in the water aerobics class is helping to reprogram my brain around the injured areas or maybe it's just the passage of time that's causing the improvement.

As time passes. I find myself forgetting some of the recovery process until someone here posts a question. I was fortunate in that I kept in touch with a wonderful woman I met there at Stanford who had surgery at the same time as me. We were able to compare notes throughout our recoveries - we still do. It would be helpful, I think if there was a comprehensive list available in one place, either located on this site or on the Stanford site, of what to expect during the recovery period - especially what is normal and what is not. Also information about ID bracelets, novacaine when visiting the dentist, flying and diving, ... It's all here on this site, but you have to know what to search for to find it or just happen to stumble across it when reading the archives, which requires a lot of reading. If you read this D.J., maybe - in your spare time  ...

Hope this is of some help to you.
Kim

Hi Regan,

Here are a few prior threads where similiar experiences were discussed.

Throbbing sensation?:
http://www.moyamoya.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=news;action=display;num=1141686847

Pain at scar:
http://www.moyamoya.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=news;action=display;num=1168484891

Scalp Pain 1 week after surgery:
http://www.moyamoya.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=news;action=display;num=1117182732

I hope it helps, and that you're feeling better soon. You've been through alot, God love ya. I'm very proud of you. It takes time, hang in there!

Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

Mar