Aa
Air Bubbles
Has anyone continued to hear/feel air bubbling in the back of their head and neck post decompression surgery? This sound and feeling is driving me crazy along with all of the other complications.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Please be careful.....I know this is what you typically do,but you can do too much while healing....
Happy to hear your oozing has stopped....the tightness and pulling can correlate with washing your hair....or your head getting wet while taking a shower...as the skin dries it will pull........so try a shower cap and only wash your hair once week to see if that helps with the pulling....
Well, I've been back to work for almost 3 weeks now with no problems, and spent the weekend with my father at the hunting lease hunting deer like we do every weekend this time of year this past weekend. The incision is all healed up, but still feels a little tight at times, but it is manageable. Still being really careful how I do things, and will continue to be until at least the first of the year, and maybe longer if I feel it is warranted. Doc said everything looked great, and didn't need to see me again until my 3 month post-op checkup in December.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hmmm well I had a drain put in while I was in ICU....and I know a lot do not have it at that point....
The thing is I had what we called oozing for almost 9 months....it was such a small amount....and it was after I felt my skin being pulled....not sure how to explain it....but if I coughed or turned my head a certain way I felt this pulling and then I had a few minute drops of ooze...my Drs did not feel it was anything to worry about and gave me a topical antibacterial ointment....
I had a CSF leak b4, so I know it was not a leak....but I was not aware these other "leaks" or oozing were as common as they are....lol...
Honestly I thought I had it for so long since I have EDS and I am slow to heal....lol...
I asked the on-call surgeon from the same office while I was in the hospital over the weekend the same question when he came through on rounds one morning, and he said it wasn't uncommon at all.
He said a lot of times they will install a drain for a week after surgery to help the incision heal up a bit without fluid being able to build up in the surgical space.
He seemed to think that as long as it is not CSF, it was a completely manageable thing. He talked of one patient that leaked a little non-CSF fluid here and there for almost a month, but healed up fine. The common theme seemed to be "everyone heals differently".
He said a lot of times they will install a drain for a week after surgery to help the incision heal up a bit without fluid being able to build up in the surgical space.
He seemed to think that as long as it is not CSF, it was a completely manageable thing. He talked of one patient that leaked a little non-CSF fluid here and there for almost a month, but healed up fine. The common theme seemed to be "everyone heals differently".
COMMUNITY LEADER
Did you Dr say how common this is?.....Never heard of this without there being a leak, so it is good to know not all pockets of fluid mean a leak.
Very Interesting, thanks for sharing : )
They drained the fluid 16 days ago, on September 4th.
I had a follow-up appointment with my surgeon for the first surgery on the 3rd, and had tea-colored fluid seeping out of a pore in my skin just above my incision the night before. I went to my follow-up, and he sent me over to the hospital for a CT scan and scheduled me for surgery for the next morning. The CT scan showed a fluid pocket, and he was worried that either I had an infection, or that my graft was leaking. Ended up that the graft was fine and I didn't have an infection, it was just fluid invading the surgical space.
I had a follow-up appointment with my surgeon for the first surgery on the 3rd, and had tea-colored fluid seeping out of a pore in my skin just above my incision the night before. I went to my follow-up, and he sent me over to the hospital for a CT scan and scheduled me for surgery for the next morning. The CT scan showed a fluid pocket, and he was worried that either I had an infection, or that my graft was leaking. Ended up that the graft was fine and I didn't have an infection, it was just fluid invading the surgical space.
COMMUNITY LEADER
That is great that you have a job that is easy and that you can go back to ......
So when did they drain the fluid?.....I am so impressed that it was done so fast.....and you are up to moving forward...great news !!!
I rebuild brake valves, so I'm sitting at a work table pretty much all day in a room that has air conditioning and heat, not much different than sitting here at the computer all day...lol
I have a nice comfy chair and an easy job that doesn't require heavy lifting any more. It's good to be the senior man.
I really only have an incision to heal this time because they didn't do anything other than drain the fluid off and clean it up. They put a drain in it for a week, but that was taken out a week ago. I saw the surgeon yesterday and he said he will take the stitches out next Friday.
I have a nice comfy chair and an easy job that doesn't require heavy lifting any more. It's good to be the senior man.
I really only have an incision to heal this time because they didn't do anything other than drain the fluid off and clean it up. They put a drain in it for a week, but that was taken out a week ago. I saw the surgeon yesterday and he said he will take the stitches out next Friday.
COMMUNITY LEADER
WOW, really? What kind of work do you do?
I am impressed that you had that taken care of so quickly and going back to work....
Do keep us posted on how work goes for you.....
Feeling fine and dandy. I had a fluid pocket build up in the surgical space at 5 weeks post-op, and they opened me back up and drained it and checked my patch, but the patch wasn't leaking, the fluid turned out to be just metabolized fat and fluid from the tissues that were disturbed from the surgery. Sewed me back up and sent me home. I'm headed back to work on Monday.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Could be the fluid re-establishing flow...?? Some of us can have issues on one side or the other and my side was my left as well....
especially since you no longer hear it.....
How are you feeling?
I heard them shortly after my surgery, but not lately.
Sometimes sounded like water running, sometimes like bubbles.
Seemed to be only when I laid down, facing left.
Sometimes sounded like water running, sometimes like bubbles.
Seemed to be only when I laid down, facing left.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi and welcome to the Chiari forum.
DO you have a DX of Chiari Malformation? Some tend to hear these effervescent sounds which may or may not be the CSF that can get obstructed...it could also be just the blood flow in and around the ear canals.... Drs have suggested a number of things it could be...and teh DX you have could help determine what it may be.
I hear bubbles in the middle of my head while sitting and taking the stairs. Pls advice.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi...I know there is a traction test they do....attach a halo and do testing, it does not sound pleasant...and they also do the flexion and extension xrays.
Does anyone have advise for ruling out cranial cervical instability? My dr us ruling it out however GE only done 2 regular xrays. I didn't think this would show or diagnosis CCI. Any advise . I'm getting apt for Duke.
He is referring me to Duke. Does anyone recommend or not recommend a neurologist there?
COMMUNITY LEADER
Many times u will want to look for a neurologist to help with pre and post op care...but sometimes a PCP will be able to help...
We only have a list of NS's in the Health Pages for those looking for a surgeon
http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/list?cid=186
What practice are those doctors with? It will be easier to look them up that way since I dont have their first name or locations. Thank you!
COMMUNITY LEADER
I am not familiar with that Dr...I googled him and Chiari is not listed...just general neurosurgery.....it may be he missed something...not really sure.
U may want to get an opinion from a specialist in Chiari .....
@ girlinxile- it may be related or something totally different.....my NS told me that tethered cord could worsen 6 weeks to 6 months post op from decompression surgery....so, things can still be related at that point,...just not sure what for her tho.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Mayo is well known for medical services it provides but is not known to be tops in Chiari care.....
May I ask who did ur original surgery?
U deff need to look into y u r falling so much.....something else may be going on.....but I do recall it took me some time to gain my balance back and u r not far along in ur recovery only 6 months.
There are a few Drs closer to u, Dr Henderson, Dr Rosner, Dr Heiss.....they are in NC and MD....
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Chiari Malformation Community
Find out how beta-blocker eye drops show promising results for acute migraine relief.
In this special Missouri Medicine report, doctors examine advances in diagnosis and treatment of this devastating and costly neurodegenerative disease.
Here are 12 simple – and fun! – ways to boost your brainpower.
Discover some of the causes of dizziness and how to treat it.
Discover the common causes of headaches and how to treat headache pain.
Two of the largest studies on Alzheimer’s have yielded new clues about the disease
