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It's finally happening!

Odd topic :)

Well I've been fighting a good bit here with all this going on. On the 8th of July I see the hospital to fill out all my paperwork. My stuff grew 2mm more and its pushing itself downwards causing more issues even more
:( I can say this doctor has been the absolute best! He's been so kind to me and his staff is wonderful. His name is Dr.Suh from Savannah neurological & spine institute. My surgery will be on the 14th. Is there any advice I should have. I've never had surgery besides wisdom teeth and it was miserable. How long has anyone stayed in the hospital? Am I allowed to wear my own clothes of course I know not jeans :p I just would like to know something
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9432311 tn?1432825085
Hello again, I would like to check to see how you are, now that your date is getting closer. Are you packed up with all the things you will need in the hospital. Just think of the things that will make you feel most comfortable. AZHR mentions above about speaking with a dietitian about your food while you are in the hospital. That is a very valuable thing to know. Nutrition is important for your recovery, and I can tell you that I haven't had the best meals during my hospital stays. Hunger is just one thing you really don't want to have to deal with at this time. I wish I had known about this earlier. Let us know any other questions you have now that tuesday is right around the corner.
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Avatar universal
Thank you! Hah I'm just not feeling the whole let's stay In the room. I can't even stand being home alone with my two dogs lol. I need people to talk to and what not ha. If that makes sense! Lol thank you all for the support its been a huge help these crazy months that's gone by, I've thought for awhile I was losing my mind cause the symptoms that we're going on
Helpful - 0
6150006 tn?1496080243
Most hospitals will allow you to speak with the Dietician to plan your meals if you ask.
Consider you will have "lines" in your arm(s) a few days depending on how quickly you recover.  Lines are for IV fluids and meds, and I had an arterial line for 3 days also.  I assume that's normal & would be for monitoring how well oxyegenated your blood is.  Your own clothes would get in the way & possibly be ruined .
When I worked in ICU years ago, hospital gowns were required  for those patients who wanted to be covered as gowns just got in the way of care for critical patients; they were covered with a sheet.
They will wake you very often for neuro. checks the first day or two.  While this is really annoying after a few times it is very necessary.
I was in NeuroSurg ICU for 4 days & step-down for 1 day.
Please take it slow!!  You will have a false sense of wellness due to the
meds.  I went home on Steroids. & in my case had to be on them for quite a while which is not usual.  
I, too, would have the surgery again.  Even with all the problems I had & continue to have, I am still better than before surgery.
God Bless!
Helpful - 0
620923 tn?1452915648
COMMUNITY LEADER

  Hi.....once you are out of ICU you can wear your own PJ's....you will want a V neck over sized T or a button front night shirt....I also found the hospital to be very warm so take light and warmer items to layer if needed....I actually wore the hospital gowns as it was not a priority for me .....I did take some along....

You will want change for soda's or drinks after the lunch cart is done serving...etc....I sent my hubby to the cafeteria for sandwiches as I could not eat what was on the menu....(foods were items I had to avoid for reflux)

  Do post on the list your surgery date for a Prayer thread to be posted...and I promise I will get better at getting them up in time....lol...

Know everyone is different and there is no way you can follow a guideline or time line for recovery.....listen to your body and rest, ,rest, and rest some more.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Yeah I've been fighting awhile but the fact that I keep losing the feeling of my legs and its a lot more to it. Thank you it really eases my mind thatd you'd do it again. I have a memory foam/ gel pillow so I'm assuming that won't work. I do agree with the pajamas. That's why I was asking I want to feel comfortable in my own clothes but I'll take yall advice. I'm thankful for this website. As the 14th gets closer my mind is eased
Helpful - 0
9432311 tn?1432825085
And, the most important thing is to listen to your surgeon's postoperative instructions. Take very good care of yourself so that you can heal.
Helpful - 0
9432311 tn?1432825085
Hi, I read your post and Lottida's reply. I had the very same two surgeries - 7 months apart. I brought my own pajamas so I could feel comfortable. I am really fond of pajamas and wear them each evening as early as possible. They make me think of sleep, so it helps me to unwind from the waking hours of the day. However, I had the very same experience that Lottida's describes above. After surgery, the pain meds will make you so sleepy that changing into something could very well be the last thing you think of.

Some things to bring would be a button shirt to wear home. You will not want to pull anything with a constricting neckline over your head. Also bring some moisturizing balm for your lips. Don't forget a charger for your phone. Don't get stuck paying for a hospital room phone. The pillow that Lottida's describes is the most cherished thing you will have. I dearly love mine. Laying directly on your incision area is not comfortable or even tolerable. Maybe also you may want to bring slippers that are nonskid on the bottom. You will be walking with the help of a physical therapist a few days after your surgery. The last thing I can say is that it is a very good thing that you are scheduled for your surgery date. Sometimes I have heard some people report long waiting period of time to wait. It is great when you can get it done soon. Finally, a question. Would I do the surgery again, if given a choice? Yes. Yes. A thousand times, yes. I am on my way to getting hold of the life I lived and loved before all those pesky symptoms got in the way. Keep in touch, so we can continue to help you.
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Avatar universal
Eeekk! I hope you're doing better! Thank you for the advice I don't even know where to begin on how to take this but I know I'll be one day at a time. I don't like hosptials so hopefully it'll just be two nights there
Helpful - 0
12573102 tn?1431701617
I just wanted to say that I had my decompression on April 2nd & then had to have another surgery on June 2nd for a CSF leak.  For the decompression I was in ICU for 1 night & the neuro floor for 1 night (2 nights total).......the 2nd surgery I was in ICU for 5 nights & neuro floor for 1 night (total 6 nights).  I had to wear that gown the entire time I was in ICU.  Not sure if all hospitals are the same, but honestly I really did not care what I had on because the pain meds keeps you groggy (not like you are waking around much in ICU anyway).    If you do bring clothes make sure they are either button up tops or very loose pull overs.  I also brought snacks like crackers or cheezits which helps when having a little queezy stomach.  I also had one of those neck pillows that are made in a U shape.....I would lie it flat on the bed so that my incision was in the open area of the pillow so that it wasn't touching anything (doesn't feel very good to lay on your incision at first).  I also used that neck pillow for the ride home (I would put it on with the opening to the back of my head so that it functioned like a neck brace & helped prevent my head from moving too much while riding in the car).  Hope this was of some help to you & good luck with your surgery!!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you! I've never had surgery beside wisdom teeth and I'm not fond of hosptials. My last 2 mris I've had to wear that thing it makes me really uncomfortable I hate them. That's why I was hoping after surgery they'd let me change bleh. They were really iffy about doing it till they did the MRI on my csf flow then it came back there was a blockage or something and it was causing something to push further on my C.tonsils I can't spell it
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Avatar universal
I had my surgery 10 years ago when I was 12. It's hard to remember a lot of the details but you can wear anything you like. You'll be asked to change anyways so it doesn't matter. They'll give you a Johnny (that dumb dress looking smock that ties around the neck and doesn't have a back.) Everyone's story is different, my original hospital stay was 2 weeks but that was due to complications and my surgery being postponed. When I actually had the decompression, I was in the hospital for 5 days. My headaches didn't go away, but they did become a lot more manageable.

Congrats on it finally happening and hopefully everything works out for you!
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