#chiari

Going into surgery, I was really disconnected from everything that was going on. Only able to focus on the current moment, and not how I'd handle the next steps. Surprisingly, it was a helpful way of coping.

Anesthesia felt like a deep sleep, and nothing else. There was no count down, just a push of medication and quick sleep. And when I woke up I felt mostly normal, and very tired.

During the surgery there was an unexpected complication, I think because the ventilation tube was leaking, but my chronically uncooperative lungs definitely didn't help. I had a severe laryngospasm and bronchospasm, which means I was having spasms that were greatly restricting my ability to breathe. I also had a partial lung collapse. Yikes!

I know that's probably scary sounding, but I didn't even realize the severity of the event until I read the reports on My-Chart, days later. And when I first woke up, I thought the CPAP machine on my face was a big overreaction, because I felt okay!

I had that CPAP machine for an hour or so after waking up, and had oxygen for the next day, but was still feeling so much better than I expected to.

From my understanding, my recovery was easier than it is for the majority of people. My pain was mostly low, and I was doing well without any strong pain medications. I was also able to get out of bed a few hours after surgery to use the bathroom. Not only was my family surprised, but the nurses and physician, too. Though I was very tired for the rest of the first day.

I want to stress that my experience is just my experience, and that this surgery can go many different ways, for better or for worse.

After four days in the hospital, I could go home! My inclined pillow and tray table were my best friends during this time. Maybe I'll make a list of things that were helpful during my recovery at home?

During my two-week post-op appointment, I got my stitches out and that was very easy. I noted that I had a minor chest pain when breathing, and my surgeon ordered a stat CT scan. I ended up having pneumonia, which was a little irritating. Thankfully, we caught it early and I only had the chest pain as a symptom. My lungs just refuse to act normally, I guess.

Now, two months out, I'm back to how I felt pre-surgery. Still having my regular symptoms, but I always knew any relief would be slow in arrival. I'm starting to regain full motion of my neck, and am not needing any routine pain medication!

Even though I still don't know if this procedure will help my symptoms, I'm so glad it was available to me. I was unwavering in my belief that it was the right step for me, regardless of it's effectiveness. And if this isn't enough, I will continue to work towards other avenues for relief.