Surgery - What can a spouse of the patient expect?
 

Hi everyone. Let me give you some background. My name husband has had a headache every day, nonstop for just over three years now. He has tried every drug, it would fill a legal pad and nothing has helped. Diagnosis was migraine and he has been to several neurologists, it was blamed on sleep apnea and he had a sleep study over a year ago. He has had so many tests. It wasn't until just about a month ago that he suddenly got severe vertigo. The doctor had a suspicion and sent him for an MRI.

Turns out that he has a 6mm herniation of his cerebellar tonsils into the foramen magnum. The sad thing is the radiologist said it appears unchanged from his MRI from 2 years ago. In 2009 he had a CT and we just found out the radiologist that read it requested an MRI because he found a 6mm herniation and he wanted the MRI to confirm since they are better at imaging the brain. The radiologist that read the MRI said it was negative...so because some incompetent person royaly screwed up my husband has been through much suffering.

He had many symptoms that were never put together and some are more recent, like numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, the sleep apnea, (he is thin), very bad short-term memory, insomnia, chronic fatigue, vision issues and several more. We saw neurosurgeon Dr. Thorell at UNMC in Omaha. Right before we did he had a CINE MRI that showed little to no flow on the posterior side. He confirmed the diagnosis and said we have done everything under the sun to control his symptoms and nothing helps at all so surgery is all that he has to offer and he thinks it will give him great relief but of course he can't make any promises. His vertigo is so severe at this point though he is having trouble driving. :(

So...my question for you all is this:
He is having the surgery, obviously it is scary for me as his wife. I am a stay at home mom to a 3yr old and a 1yr old. What can I expect? How can I help him? He has a 2 MRIs on Wednesday, a c-spine and a MR-V then Thursday we meet with Dr. Thorell to discuss those and schedule surgery. He had said it could be as soon as 2wks from now! I know it will be hospital for 3-5 days and recovery of 4-6wks.

How long is the surgery generally? He will have the C1 laminectomy and dural graft. Is he going to be completely out of it for days at the hospital? Should I expect to have someone watch my children almost 24/7 for that time? What will the recovery time be like? Is it just immense pain and having him lie flat on the couch for most of it? Just really is there anything from your experience that I can do that will make this whole thing easier on him. What did you need or wish you had after surgery?

I am just really concerned and want to be prepared so I can give him the best care possible. Thank you so much in advance for an help or advice you can offer.

surgery
 

Everyone is so different . I myself was in the hospital l 4 days . You are not flat they get you up. I had my Mother in law to come in for about a week . Your husband needs to do absolulty nothing for 6 weeks . he may feel like it but thats a no no . Good idea to have the kids at gramma for a few days . and hubby should not pick up at all. Just be there for him , meals , meds keep him comfortable . make sure you get a pain scrip and a laxative before leaving the hospital also make sure you have a follow up appt for him. He will be fine . also tell him to turn his head ever so often cause if he doesnt his neck will get stiff. If you have further just send me a PM . See your from NB I am in sioux city . They just had the chiari walk in Lincoln in sept. take care Roz

Thank you Roz, I really appreciate it.

see your in Nebraska , they just had the chiari walk there sept 17 . I was there as I live in Iowa and it was closer to me. send me a PM anytime