hurting today

[sheila53213]

so i'm in a lot of pain today...i had surgery 10 days ago....the left side of my incision is swollen and squishy and the whole back of my head is tender to the touch. i can't stand it. my head also feels very very heavy. sitting up right now hurts more than nails going down a chalkboard.
i took one of my relpax pills last night b/c my head hurt so bad. it did a little but nothing like i was hoping for. today my head is worst than yesterday.
how does one know if they have a csf leak. i know what a spinal headache feels like b/c i've had one before but would it feel the same way now if the leak is in a different spot? the last time i had one was b/c of an LP that was done.
I just don't get it. any suggestions would be helpful.

thanks

sheila

[sheila53213]

mine hurt for a little while but I'm over it now. the only thing with mine is that mine itches like crazy...i itch it so bad that it turns red and then looks like little red dots afterwards....but they taped me so good i still have tape marks on me...lol.
my temples hurt every once in awhile but its different then before surgery. so that is a plus. the main thing that bothers me right now is motion in a car and heat. I went to Target today for some medicine and a few things and holy bananas....i was wiped out. Even hours later I'm still pooped and out of it. the best way for me to describe it is me being very lethargic. Like I don't get it right away when people are talking to me. My husband says I look pale and just out of it.
Another thing that is odd now is that I am going thru a serious bout of insomnia! Like maybe 2-3 hours of sleep a night....I am very restless and very agitated when it comes to night time. I don't seem to know why.

[Kim60]

forgot to mention.. don't know how! Is it normal for the arm that they put the line in the artery to hurt for this long?? The bruising is just about gone but still hurts all the way up to my shoulder. I get a really throbbing pain most of the day.  Another question for my NS.
Thanks everyone.
Kim xo

[Kim60]

Sheila you're my hero!  I'm still here and taking this one day at a time.. wish I didn't need pain meds because I really don't like them.  The main pain I have right now is sometimes at my temples and top of my head,  since yesterday a sharp pain in my neck! Really hurts.  I think I just did too much .. needed to get out of the house so my husband took me visiting.  Paying for it today :(  My incission seems OK.. a bit tender at places.  We'll see what happens next week.  Hopefully stitches will be out and I can finally wash my hair. This is my goal for now.

[selmaS]

I totally understand and got off mine as asap too : )

[sheila53213]

so far so good....even in the hospital they were surprised by how well i was doing. I was moving around on my own before they even got me out of the cicu!!! I was moving from side to side. I was so happy...

I'm very excited about the pain meds. I am not one to stay on them if I don't need them. I just don't like how they make me feel afterwards. I get very lethargic and groggy and out of it for 2 days after. It's ridiculous.

[selmaS]

WOW......no pain meds...good for u  : )

Glad that u r feeling better after laying down too : )

I pray ur recovery goes smoothly for both u and  Kim.

[sheila53213]

thank you so much Selma and Kim...I'm doing much better today. I layed down for a straight 48 hours and that seemed to help.
I am not on pain meds. I came home with a pain med and a muscle relaxer. I have not needed any of them since the day I came home from the hospital. Even in the hospital I wasn't taking the pain meds. I just didn't feel I needed them. It was odd...they said they never seen someone not take as much pain meds. I guess my relaxation and meditation and visualization helped with that. Thank heavens.
Kim~I had my staples taken out last week Tuesday. The only thing that hurt with that is that my hair was getting pulled. Since my new hair is growing at a very rapid pace.
Hope you are feeling better today.


Sheila

[Kim60]

Just thinking of you today, how have you been feeling Sheila? did you get your stitches out yet?
Take care,
Kim in NH

[selmaS]

This too shall pass....right now u have pain from the surgery itself.....and then u may feel great....and then some symptoms may reappear for shorter durations than b4...and u r right...get those meds on time to stay on top of the pain.....I am now almost 14 months post op...the time flew by really.

[Kim60]

that really *****. Day 8 for me.  I seemed to feel better yesterday but today I woke up feeling like crap and I still do.  Can't take meds till 12:45 so counting the minutes.  I don't think I could take it without the meds.  I usually hate to take anything but this time I'll take whatever they give me.
Hope you get better soon.
xo Kim

[selmaS]

HI Sheila...so sorry u r not feeling well......

Aren't u still on pain meds?.....at 10 days post op u should be......

A CSF leak...when u r up right it feels like ur head in in a tympani drum that is being banged on every second...u get very nauseated to the point of vomiting...can not take light or sound.....

If u believe u have this lie down.and stay down.....drink plenty of water and some caffeine....it should heal itself in approx 4 to 5 days if not see ur dr!

yes the HA would feel the same regardless where the leak is from.....I had one due to an epidural...very very bad.....I was in misery those 5 days....

Let us know how u r doing

"selma"