Clipping surgery in 3 days for 44 years old female!

General
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Hi @Gio,

That is indeed very good to hear that she is improving!

Like @oct20 and some others, most of my surgeries were coils and stents, so I did not have a crainotomy. However, because of a related condition, I did have some more traditional brain surgeries, shaved head, staples and all (for context, I believe I had ~20 staples in two different locations).

Of course, when they remove (cut) the staples you feel what is happening, but for me it didn’t hurt. If I don’t recall any pain then you know it wasn’t bad at all!! The only thing I remember is that one staple was a little more troublesome only because the skin was doing a good job healing around it, so there was a little bit more wrestling to get it out! My first round of staples were removed by a visiting nurse here at home, and my second round were removed while in rehab, so it makes make sense to me you are not doing tge long drive back to Athens! :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

Again, I didn’t have a crainotomy. I did not have strong headaches, but I was also prescribed a VERY strong painkiller that I did not use (and for the record they are very long gone from my house! :grin:). However, since I was prescribed them, my non-medical opinion tells me yes, it is still possible. [Reading over my notes, I was to start on the powerful one first, and then wean to Tylenol (acetaminophen), as the pain improved.] Of course, if you are concerned enough, we always recommend checking in with your medical team as they know far better than I do!

Finally, I just want to emphasize what @oct20 said. You are doing a wonderful job looking after your wife, and it so beautiful (across the distance) to witness the depth of love and care you have for each other. Please remember to also look after yourself, too, though. Around here, healing is thought of in weeks, months, or even years - largely depending on what you have been through. You are running a marathon, not a sprint, so be sure that both of you get a chance to rest.

As you can, please keep us posted on how you are doing!

Fin Whale Fan :whale:

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22

Hey @Gio ,
My name is Merl. I’m a member of the modsupport team here on Ben’s Friends. You have been given some really good information by others here. I don’t have an annie but another little nasty that’s required a few neurosurgeries, including craniotomies. I also have a shunt in my head to drain the fluid from my skull.

It was explained to me that there have been changes in the flow of blood/fluids within the brain. For some people, those changes have a minimal impact, for some there can be lingering effects, but for some of us the impacts can be longer lasting. In technical terms, she is still in recovery. Her body needs time to adjust. Some medicos will often give a 6-8week timeline, but that timeline is very flexible and it really needs to be flexible. That thing called “Recovery” is never a straight line of progression, there are always 'Bumps in the road". I had to learn how to manage around those bumps. Learn to listen to my body. When it said stop, I had to stop. As I’ve often said “For me personally, some days I could leap a tall building in a single bound (OK, so, a bit of an exaggeration) but then some days I’m lucky to even crawl out of bed”. I am NOT a very patient person. This has taught me (often the hard way, in agony) to be much more patient.

It sounds like things are slowly improving and that’s a good thing. The slower she takes her recovery now, the better the longer term out come. So don’t be trying to force the recovery. Her body will recover at it’s own rate and sometimes that can be three steps forward, two steps backward, but slowly she will learn how best to manage for herself.

Hope it helps
Merl from the Modsupport Team

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23

Hello friends

Today was not a good day. She has strong headaches and strong muscle leg pain. Without a reason. I can’t understand….two steps forward three steps back..

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It’s the way of life for many of us here, unfortunately. Have you been able to reach her surgeon’s team? Do they know the medicine she is on, especially the over the counter medication? Is she still going to PT? Are you taking some time to yourself? I cannot stress enough how important it is for the two of you that you get some time for yourself. So enjoy a walk, do whatever hobby you do normally, if you have a yard and it’s not raining, go enjoy it.

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Hey, I’m new here but I had 2x 7mm brain aneurysm clipped 3 weeks ago and I’m recovering now. Be prepared for emotional rollercoaster but take each day as it comes as it’s normal to feel all sorts of emotions and get lots of rest. Here if you need a chat

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Hi Sammy

Thank you for your message. Do you experience any headaches or leg pain? Are you taking any painkillers med?

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Great first post! Thanks so much!

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Hey yes I do get headaches but I make sure I take my co codomol and remember it’s my brain healing do try to think it’s a positive pain. No leg pain but iv been walking bit more every day as it’s so important to keep moving. Please go easy on yourself and try to be positive , I’m very grateful to have come out the other side

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Hi @Gio , I hope today is a better day for your wife… once you have done all you can and gotten all the medical help you can from doctors, etc., I want to remind you to just “HOLD” her, if you’re not already doing so. Among other things, “…Hugs can help lower cortisol levels, the body’s primary stress hormone, which can improve sleep quality and allow the body to better repair and replenish itself, thus strengthening the immune system.” https://www.instagram.com/reel/DO0snnsAt-o/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Sometimes we can think that your loved one is in pain, and perhaps want to be “left alone,” but that cannot be further from the truth, in my opinion. From my own experience, after my rupture and hospital stay in ICU, during the weeks after I was discharged, aside from the physical headaches that I had, and all the pain medication I was taking, the “PTSD” of the whole experience had me waking up in the night crying uncontrollably. Once he knew I had all that I needed, my hubby would just hold me, and that is all he could do, but it made a world of a difference… and it will give you some comfort too.

Virtual hugs from the US :hugs:

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Hello friends

Thank you all so much for your support. Today we had the first walk outside! The pain exists but is less. Also we have reduced the painkillers frequency. On Monday we wii remove the staples. Any experiences or knowledge about how many days is the ideal period after surgery to remove them? I am afraid that we should have removed them sooner!

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Hurray!! What wonderful news!!! Just remind her to take it VERY slow. She has been through a lot, and not pushing herself will help tremendously, although it is the exact opposite of what you want to do!

As a patient, somewhere in the 10-14 days sounds right to me, based on my experience. It very much depends on how that wound is healing, and that matters far more than following a specific formula!!

Thanks for the good news: you made my day!

Fin Whale Fan :whale:

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@Gio Wonderful news ! Just remember that she cannot rush her recovery. She needs a LOT of rest, sleep, eat nutritious meals and drink water. No alcohol, at least not yet……Regarding the staples, no they should not be removed sooner. I’m sure Monday will be a perfect time for a medical professional to check how everything is healing and to remove the staples. Please let her know that we are thinking of her and that she must be patient with her recovery. Get back to us next week with some more news. All the best to both of you.

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Happy dance for both of you! Sounds like you’re both doing everything correctly listen to the others, baby steps, no rushing, healthy diet, hydration….

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