Thank You everyone for your responses
I had mine december 17th. Here’s my take:
-it’s not as bad as you think.
-rest rest rest.
-have someone to help you for the first few weeks
-get a shower stool. Really helps with the bathing process
-stay ahead of pain with the pain meds
-get a foam wedge pillow for bed and a small, soft pillow to sleep on.
My recovery was fine. Much better than most I’ve heard of. I would do it again in a heart beat.
I'm currently in the process of writing my TN story (very emotional to write about) but what I can tell you now at a year and 3 months since my MVD surgery is that it was all worth it and I'm so happy that I made that leap of faith. I am pain free and med free and have been since surgery, since I weaned off my heavy dose of Tegretol weeks after surgery. The worst part of my recovery was the first 24 hours after I woke up from surgery. I was nauseous as I've never been before. It was honestly very miserable and it seemed like minute by minute to get through that. It helped when every hour they gave me a med that put me to sleep for about 20 minutes, which was a nice break. Literally at about 24 hrs, the nausea lifted and I felt so much better. I spent 2 nights in the hospital and then went home.
I had meals delivered to me and my family from friends and family for about 8 weeks (I couldn't believe how much people stepped up to help). I also had the same friends drive my kids to activities, take me to the gym to "walk", visit with me here and there, etc. I was walking very short walks on the treadmill 4 days after surgery and continued this ongoing adding more and more time slowly. I really think this helped with my recovery. I also went on an anti-inflamation diet 6 weeks before and also after surgery (no meat or dairy, omega 3's and tons of plant based meals). Honestly, I thought the recovery was way better than I expected. I was back to workouts (spin classes) about a month later and back to teaching those spin classes (my job) two months after surgery, but really could have before that. I was on pain meds for a very short time after surgery, quickly getting on to just ibuprofen and tylenol. I looked up and did some easy physical therapy moves for my neck muscles, which helped tremendously. I slept somewhat upright on our sectional couch for a couple of weeks. Again, recovery was not as bad as I had expected. Other than the first 24 hours after surgery, I never had any problems and just progressively, and more quickly than expected, got better and well.
Prayers to you as you have your upcoming surgery. You will have a sense of peace the day of surgery (I did). Just know that you made this decision for you after all your research and I'm sure soul searching. Leave it in the hands of the experienced surgeon and God that day. You will be happy that you made this choice.
Thank you so much that was very helpful God Bless
mybell said:
I'm currently in the process of writing my TN story (very emotional to write about) but what I can tell you now at a year and 3 months since my MVD surgery is that it was all worth it and I'm so happy that I made that leap of faith. I am pain free and med free and have been since surgery, since I weaned off my heavy dose of Tegretol weeks after surgery. The worst part of my recovery was the first 24 hours after I woke up from surgery. I was nauseous as I've never been before. It was honestly very miserable and it seemed like minute by minute to get through that. It helped when every hour they gave me a med that put me to sleep for about 20 minutes, which was a nice break. Literally at about 24 hrs, the nausea lifted and I felt so much better. I spent 2 nights in the hospital and then went home.
I had meals delivered to me and my family from friends and family for about 8 weeks (I couldn't believe how much people stepped up to help). I also had the same friends drive my kids to activities, take me to the gym to "walk", visit with me here and there, etc. I was walking very short walks on the treadmill 4 days after surgery and continued this ongoing adding more and more time slowly. I really think this helped with my recovery. I also went on an anti-inflamation diet 6 weeks before and also after surgery (no meat or dairy, omega 3's and tons of plant based meals). Honestly, I thought the recovery was way better than I expected. I was back to workouts (spin classes) about a month later and back to teaching those spin classes (my job) two months after surgery, but really could have before that. I was on pain meds for a very short time after surgery, quickly getting on to just ibuprofen and tylenol. I looked up and did some easy physical therapy moves for my neck muscles, which helped tremendously. I slept somewhat upright on our sectional couch for a couple of weeks. Again, recovery was not as bad as I had expected. Other than the first 24 hours after surgery, I never had any problems and just progressively, and more quickly than expected, got better and well.
Prayers to you as you have your upcoming surgery. You will have a sense of peace the day of surgery (I did). Just know that you made this decision for you after all your research and I'm sure soul searching. Leave it in the hands of the experienced surgeon and God that day. You will be happy that you made this choice.
start stool softeners a couple days before just to greese the wheels ;-]
i was out in a couple days but got a csf leak and had to have another surgery to remove the plate, healed up fast after that...second surgery on friday, was driving and back at school on thrusday...remember that everyone is different and this effects us all differently, so dont gauge where you are and where you should be by anyone elses story, just rest and take it easy.
for me in the hospital, the deluaded (sp) they gave me made me sick and i started to hallucinate, so they switched me to morphine and that was way better, i got norco pills when i went home, but only used a couple, then later vicidin...but nothing after the second surgery except a couple Tylenol.
your going to be fine, dont go in with any expectations except that the waking up and no stabbing pains! good luck
On the stool softeners, I fortunately did not need them at all. If you eat a high fiber diet like I do (I eat close to 50 grams or more daily) and drink lots of water, you may not need them. My mother-in-law bought some for me and I never had to take them. It might depend too on how long you stay on the pain meds too but depending on your current diet, they may be unnecessary.
The anti-inflammatory diet I mentioned too can and should continue through your recovery. Surgery causes inflammation and you can reduce some of that through diet. Be sure to freeze some healthy, high-fiber, inflammation-friendly, small meals for just you for the weeks after surgery.
Take it very easy but remember to move too - short, easy walks to start, preferably with a friend :). It will lift your spirits.
Best wishes and many prayers for you! Please keep us updated after surgery. We are all here to support you!