First of all, I have to alpologize for all of the questions I have on this forum. Thank you everyone for answering my questions; you are all very wonderful!
Now, here's a question that concerns me as well. How badly does it hurt when they put the head piece on with the pins for Gamma Knife surgery? My doctor said it only takes two minutes, and I will be given something for pain prior; but all this "being awake" stuff has me terrified! I am a huge baby! Thanks again everyone!
I attempted to reply and it didn't show up, so I will try again. I apologize if I sent two responses by accident. Getting the head piece on doesn't really hurt at all. It did cause me to have a pretty rough time just because I had such a bad headache and back pain already, and not being able to move for a few hours was very uncomfortable to me. It was probably the worst day that I have ever had. But to answer your question - it shouldnt hurt at all getting the head piece on. Good luck, stay strong.
I was fine when they attached the halo. However, I highly recommend asking for good pain killers and something for nausea when they are about to take it off. I have an extremely high pain tolerance and I would give the removing about a 15/10.
Jami,
For me the day was a total fog. The 2 days after I was sore from the halo and angio. They will do their best to make you as comfortable as possible. Best of luck!
Hi Jami, I know exactly where you are coming from. I too am very scared about having the halo fitted and it’s the thought of being awake that terrifies me! To be quite honest I am even scared at having the angio which is scheduled for next week. If they could put me to sleep for the whole lot I would be quite happy. So don’t be embarrassed about being a baby coz I’m one too!! Hope it goes well for you. linda
Linda, I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Please update us after your surgery.
Hugs!
I've had GK twice. The first time, the lidocaine shots to numb the pin sites hurt--they put something for pain in my IV during the 3rd lidocaine shot & that helped. The 2nd time, they gave me something in the IV before the lidocaine shots & it really wasn't bad.
For me, the removal was the worst part both times. I was the last of 4 patients both times (because I had the most complicated procedure both times). So....lidocaine shots & halo attachment at about 7 am & halo removal at about 3 pm. The lidocaine had worn off. Because I was the last patient to leave the GK unit to go to day surgery (and they had been there since 4:30--5:00 am) & were going off shift, I wasn't able to have any pain killer until getting to day surgery & eating something.
I also had a crani to clip two aneurysms a month after the first GK--and the halo attachment & removal is SOOO much better than a crani!
Hey, I definitely share in your fear. I am terrified for being awake and I have a HUGE phobia of needles. I am in need of radiation and have to get a halo as well but the machine they use out here is called Brain Lab but I highly doubt the halo is any different. But dont feel like a baby! It is a legitimate fear! I'll be keeping you in my prayers and keep me posted for how it goes!
Hello,
I experienced no pain. My doctor used pain medicine as well as numbing cream. I felt no pain at all! The head piece is a little heavy.
It's a fascinating feeling. I think back on it as, basically, a privilege to have had such a strange thing done to my body. After some time I found the thing felt like an extension of my skull, how I imagine people with prosthetics might sense their prostheses. I had scalp injections at the pin sites - these anaesthetic injections sort of 'popped', and were more uncomfortable than the pins themselves I found. You have very little to worry about.
Like others have said, and I'm sure the staff would also mention, the oddest part is taking the thing off again. I can only describe it as a sensation of my skull expanding, and expanding, and expanding to about the size of the world. At the end of treatment day, it's very hard to say what is the result of drugs, pins, pressure, confusion or just totally justified exhaustion - so feeling rough is to be expected. It's an awfully strange thing to be putting a human body through.
I felt extremely emotional trying to sleep the night after my radiation.
Be well, be safe.
(And if in the meantime you already had the treatment, I hope you are recovered to full strength)
I had Cyberknife, no pain meds, and was awake. The headpiece hurt, yes, but it was so worth it.
I had my head frame put on in literally just a couple mins. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would have been but it was definetly scary. They numb you before the screw it to your skull. Then not long after they will give you pain medication which helped alot.I had mine on for 10 hours and when they finally took it off I was very much in pain and had a headache for a couple of days!
Hi Jamie, I had gamma knife back in 1991. I decided after having gamma knife, I would answer questions telling all of my way experience... I know the procedure has changed for the better of the patient...I was told most of what it would be like...no one told how painful it was having the frame placed. Back then I wasn't allowed any medication. I was wide awake and not prepared. My entire body was in shock,I couldn't stop shaking. I was upset because I was not told the truth.
I talked to someone who my doctor had preformed gk surgery on, and she was a support, and she didn't' give all the info to prepare.
I am well today. AVM mostly disappeared... And l am grateful for that surgery being available to me. What I'm saying is prepare. Learn ways of calming yourself..distract yourself by dreaming a dream..anything you love...and those you love.
Be well. I send you out comfort and good thoughts.
HI Heidi. I had the Cyberknife treatment following an embolization and have to agree that it was all worth it :)))!
it does only take a few minutes and to be honest it really isn't that bad. I just had it done on 1/22/13. I could still feel the one pin in the back so they did give me a shot there and then I felt nothing but pressure until they took it off which didn't hurt at all. The only part that was painful to me was when they did the angio and that was only because they went through the same artery as the first time and it wasn't healed yet. (I had 2 angio's within 18 days of each other)The first angio didn't hurt at all. If you believe in God, I suggest you give all your fears and worries to Him. That's what I did..put it all in His hands and accepted whatever the outcome would be as His will. I can honestly say that I went in there, kissed my husband goodbye and went through the whole day at peace (except when i cried from the pain from the 2nd angio)Of course being all doped up helped too :)I also had a lot of people praying for me too!
when i got my head peice for radiosurgery it did not hurt at all. all i remember was them giving my pain meds in my iv, i giggled for a few seconds, than i dont remember anything after that. i was awake the whole time and my mom said i experienced no pain while they put it on. i do remember them taking it off and there was only a little pain but it was not bad. the thing that freaked me out the most was the next day my face and eyes were swollen and puffy. so i can say hardly any pain at all
399-1666_1066566301203_7242_n1.jpg (37.8 KB)Slow response, but I'll add anyway...
I only got the local anesthetic (the shots near the pin sites) and the pain was pretty bad the first time. The shots felt like any other, which were very tolerable. The cranking/tightening made me really uneasy and I had to ask the doctor to slow down once or twice. The tightness (and weight!) of the frame was uncomfortable for about a half hour. The lack of release of pressure after getting it removed was the same intensity and duration.
My second GK was entirely different. There was a bit of pain and pressure, but it was nothing compared to the first time. Either my nerves died or it was simply way easier because I wasn't so nervous.
Probably important to mention that I have a very high pain tolerance. Also important to mention that it was extremely early in the morning :-P
Late response from me too but if anyone is reading this worried about the cage then I hope a few of these suggestions can help you. I had it july 2011, it is a daunting thing to think about but whatever you're feeling, before the day starts talk to the nurse that will be with you. Explain you'd like her to ask you at every stage if you're comfortable. Like many others we feel as though we don't want to put them out or feel like we're being a pain. But please, just this once, do yourself a favour and make sure you're always comfortable. They're not going to mind you asking for another pillow to help support your neck. It is quite heavy and when you have to lie still for so long with your neck raised it gets uncomfortable and can be upsetting.
