Here is the short version:
It has been a month since I had my surgery and I am doing well. I just went to my follow-up appointment today and everything is healing as it should. I have about 75% of my strength and endurance back. So don't picture me laying in bed all day, cut up and in agony. I am up and around but moving a much slower pace. My plan is to come back for two days (4 hours each day) right before Christmas break to get myself acclimated back to the real world. I miss all of you and will never complain about having too much to do ever again....this past month has been trying in many ways, but not being able to do much but rest has been a challenge.
If you want to read the long version, keep reading............if not, you can stop here.......don't worry, I will never know which version you chose........
Long Version:
Surgery:
On Oct. 22nd, I went in for surgery and never anticipated what would follow. This is the first surgery I have ever had and so I had no expectations, just fear. It is sort of one of those situations that you don't know the right questions to ask until after. When I woke up from my 8 hour surgery, I was confused...sadly my first thought was am I at school...go figure! It didn't take me long (a few seconds) to feel the excruciating pain in my head and neck. The pain was so bad, I couldn't have even imagined it if someone tried to describe it to me prior to the surgery. During surgery, they took about 3 cm off the base of my skull and shave down my first vertebrae. The also made and incision in my leg and took a piece of skin from above my muscle to graft into the thin lining that covers my brain. After this, they noticed a small area on the left side of my head where spinal fluid was leaking and so they took more skin from my leg to patch that. Next, they put two needles in my lower back to drain off some excess spinal fluid. They sewed me all back up with several layers of dissolvable stitches (internally) on my leg and several layers on my neck/head. On the outside of my neck/head, I had sutures that I had removed on day 8 and my leg had surgical tape over the top that was supposed to fall off...I had to help them come off after two weeks...I had had enough!
Recovery:
The first two weeks of recover was pure torture. Even with the heavy doses of Morphine and Valium I was on in the hospital, the pain never really went away. I was in the hospital from Thursday until Monday (so 5 days) and I had to lay on either my right or left side. I literally flipped like a pancake from side to side for many days after surgery. I was trying to get comfortable so the pain was manageable and that was the only thing I could do to try. I was so weak that I needed help every time I moved and so it was a big job for the nurses and my husband. While I was in the hospital, I had so many tubes coming out of me and I looked just awful! I had to get blood thinning shots...in my stomach...every 12 hours, blood take every 12 hours, new IV's as my existing ones went bad, I had a tube in my wrist that constantly measured my heartbeat...I was a mess. It wasn't until the Sunday night or early Monday morning that they MADE me get up and walk. I was scared and weak, but I did it. After that point, I was ready to go home and so I did whatever I had to do to get out of there.
After being home, my recovery has gone by in weeks rather than days. After week 2, so 14 days, the extreme headache pains went away, but I was left with no strength in my neck and limited movement as well. Sleeping was still very difficult...I could never get comfortable. My leg was starting to bug me more, I think I just started to notice it more as the pain in my head lessened. I ended up taking off the surgical tape with Q-tip and rubbing alcohol and boy did that feel good!! I got off all of my prescription pain meds and just used Tylenol and Motrin. After week 3, I still had limited movement, and strength in my head, but it did improve from the week before. I was sleeping much better when I could actually fall to sleep and my leg was just achy, not really in pain. Now, after 4 weeks, I am feeling pretty good. I have much more movement in my neck. I can look over my left shoulder, but not my right one yet, so driving is still not an option for me unless someone is brave enough to come with me and help me change lanes........:-) My leg is healing well. I don't have much feeling on or around my incision, but hopefully that will not be permanent. It still aches, but mostly when it is touched or at the end of the day after walking on it. I get random headaches, but that is only if I try to do too much in a day or I haven't slept well...they mostly ache at the base of my head where I am still healing.
So, life for me right now is at a snails pace which I am alright with for the time being. I am just thankful I am able to be up moving around with minimal pain.
I appreciate all of you for the cards, flowers, candy, bread, emails, thoughts, prayers, and concern you have sent my way. Each and every act in my behalf has gotten me to where I am today. Without the love and care from family and friends, this type of surgery could take a person to a dark place pretty easily. The love and encouragement from all has been my saving grace that has kept me going each and everyday. I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Leg after 4 weeks 
Head after 4 weeks.
