First Decompression Surgery Over

[ChiariWolf]

As some of you are aware tommorow marks one week since my first decompression surgery. At this point it seems to have been a success. But then how long does it take before one 'really' truely knows if the syptoms will stay at bay? Time will tell one suspects. I do know that the most crippling ones for me have stayed at bay this far. The last two days the HAs have returned, not as bad but none the less... ouch. Some of that may just be the bone loss and such as they are not the same HA, the same intensity just eowwwwwwww. Dizzzy, vertigo, bp problems, blackouts much of that thus far is gone. NO numbness whatsoever at this point. Much nausea the first few days, patchy after that but the last two days eating normal what I can with the HA.

Best of all was I'm not a zipperhead. Check out the pics. The bandage fell off last night. Wife helped me get pics this afternoon and post them. The scale looks like the endo cut is just proud of an inch! Neck skin is very tender so obviously it was streched out but that will heal. And even better, if your any where close... anywhere at all, use some patience... my gut feeling but I really feel Dr Di in the Cleveland Clinic is someone who is going to look out for many of us in the days to come. You have to fight for the right to be seen by him. He is 'not' cut happy. He recognizes that this is a dangerous operation and doesn't want to hurt anyone. But when the chips are down. Man did he pull through. And his compassion after the operation was even more than before the operation. IMO he is one of a kind a very good doctor. I will be writing a paper on him later once my body has more time to heal and can more accurately give you all a long term overview of this endo type of decompression. Sorry, but I feel this be a fairer way to assess both Dr. Di and be fair as to recommending him and or the surgery to you or not recommending.  At this point though, my gut says Call him!

[n40066]

uh oh!  you have just described me and my way of thinking to a t!  thanks to both of you for reminding me to be a bit more careful and objective about my treatment options.  until this very moment in time, surgery has been the only thought on my mind.  and you are also right in that i am looking at surgery as a "fix all my problems" option without considering the dangers involved.  thanks for the reality check, guy!

[rod44]

Hi
Sending you best wishes for a quick and full recovery after your surgery.

Your NS sounds like a good caring and sensible doctor, you and he make an important point about surgery, this is a dangerous procedure not to be rushed into, it is all too easy to jump at  the choice of surgery thinking it is a miracle cure with out being objective. We hear what we want to hear but don’t hear the warnings about the risks involved, to be objective you need to be educated and this forum is good for that.
After getting a DX of cm and a syrinx this frightens the life out of me, prior to that DX I was very brave ready to have any thing done to resolve my problems, now I have sat back and thought about it, I think I need to know much more before they start chopping on me.


Again best wishes to you and your Family
Ray.

[selmaS]

Thanks for the info and reccommendation...we have members still looking for a good dr.

I posted a comment on ur pic...I am sooooooo amazed at how small an endoscopy scar is.....


"selma"