As the discussion title says I have been out of hospital for about 1 week now. I was admitted on the 10th and discharged on the 15th. As for the operation and recovery, I feel pretty much normal. I do feel a little tired but other than that I have no physical and cognitive deficits. Other than 1 massive scar on my back of mt head and 2 smaller ones where they put the brain drain in. Am I AVM free? I sure hope so. I will be returning to see my surgeon on the 23rd of November.
I would also like to ask a question about shampoo. I will be washing my hair today (finally after almost 2 weeks) and need advice on this. My surgeon and doctors didnt give me a straight answer. I was hoping fellow survivors could help in this department. Many thanks and prayers you guys.
It shouldn't be an issue. My first shampoo was the regular one from the hospital, just some generic crap that rinses like crap, felt like it stripped my hair of everything that gave it life lol. That was about a week after my crani I think, possibly longer. Then I used Pantene just because I'm a girl and wanted to smell like one lol. No one said not to use any specific kind of shampoo or anything.
Nice to hear all went well for you excellent I am sure its been taken care of and you will be fine. Not got a clue on the shampoo thing but thought I say well done on the op lol
Shaun, Congratulations on having a successful surgery behind you!
As for shampoo, I've always used my regular shampoo, but had my husband help me wash it to avoid the stitches.
Once your dr. removes the stitches, I would think you can go back to using what you normally do.
Take care and have a smooth, uneventful recovery. :)
Thanks for the suggestions. I have since used normal shampoo to wash my hair. All of the stiches are out bar one. It is causing me alot of discomfort and I am hopefully going to get it removed on Monday. I think it could be a stich or at least a knot. I have tried to pull it but it is causing me alot of pain. It is small. I was wondering if anyone has had any experiences similar to mine? Also I was thinking of cutting my hair this coming Monday after the GP. Is this too soon?
As for recovery, I seem to be going ok. Everything appears to be normal with me, except for my neck where the incision site is. My neck seems really stiff. I can bend it but not in the normal range of motions that I had before. I know that it is probably too soon to worry but I wonder if I'll ever be able to drive again.
On a side track I dont want to rant but I feel that my family does not get this. I may not look sick or even feel sick but everytime I move quickly or bend my neck too quickly I get reminded of what I just went through. Many times I get told that I do not have a brain injury and that I am ok now. I feel semi ok now, but I believe that I have a brain injury. Sometimes I even wonder if they know what I have just been through pre and post operation. Well thats my rant........
About your rant....that's unfortunately completely normal. There are so many people on this site (myself included) who feel like no one around them know or care about what just happened. It falls under that..."just because I don't LOOK sick"... It gets better but it's definitely one of those emotional hurdlles you'll have to conquer. Good luck:)
Congrats on your successful surgery! You should be fine to have a haircut. I had to warn my hairdresser that I have dents and bumps in my head so she wouldn't be freaked out when she washed it.
As for your family's reaction...completely normal, unfortunately. Even though you did not have a bleed, you had brain surgery. Your brain was cut in to, touched, pordded, whatever else...I think that qualifies as a brain injury! What cannot understand what one has not experienced. They have no idea what you've just been through and what you will continue to experience during the recovery process.
Try explaining it to them. Tell them how you are feeling. Tell them that you need time, patience and understanding.
Even though his degrees are in marine biology, I guess it helped that I'm married to a biologist in that he was very understanding of my limitations post-surgery. He pushed me to do as much as I could, but he also kept a close eye on me & made sure I was ok. And the one time I told him I COULDN'T do something (and pointed to my head), he was good with it. He is self-employed and his office is in our home, and he wanted me to help him with some paperwork. I coldn't focus well enough to do it right.
My incision started at my forehead & circled around to my ear (for my aneurysms, not my AVM). My neck was stiff, too, just from trying to find a sleeping position that didn't put pressure on the incision site.
I didn't get a haircut until 3 months after my crani. I just reminded my hairdresser that the incision site was still a bit sensitive & she was more careful when combing that area.