----------------------------------------------------------- New Message on Pituitary Chat
----------------------------------------------------------- From: Diana62 Message 9 in Discussion Beth, I hope you receive this before you start traveling. I think recovery and what it actually means depends on each person. I am retired (62) and therefore didn't have to report to a job. I also have never had surgery of any kind before and don't have anything to compare it to except childbirth. I did have a slight complication, my b/p jumped up over 200 as I was coming out of the anethesia (I have high b/p and take a med) and then they overmedicated me and it dropped below 100. So, they sent me to the ICU for observation for an extra day. Instead of staying 2 nights in the hospital it was 3. Dr. Kelly referred to it as a "heart blip" but it worried me which caused extra stress (more tests since, I'm fine). I had surgery on a Tues at noon, still in and out of it that night in ICU and slowly got better on Wed, left the ICU at midnight Wed night, got very little sleep, did much better on Thurs, was walking around, going to the bathroom myself, etc. and by Fri morning was dressed and ready to get "out of there" and felt pretty good. We drove straight home to SD and then I finally got some SLEEP. I had to sleep in the recliner for 2 weeks because you can't lay flat. What surprised me was that I was fatigued for weeks and took daily naps, 2-3 a day. I guess that I had this idea that because there was no visable incision, etc. it would be like childbirth...NOT! I talked to Amanda at Dr. Kelly's and she said it IS major surgery and he has been inside your head and it doesn't like being messed with and it has to heal. (something like that) even if you can't see it. So, take the naps, sleep and rest. My guess is 3-4 weeks depending on what your job is. One of the ladies in our support group is an elementary school teacher and she stayed off 3 weeks and said it was a mistake, she should have taken another week off. Again, it IS major surgery, you are under anethesia, pain medication (I didn't have much) and for days they are constantly taking lab tests. I kept joking that they took so much blood that I was going to be anemic. AND when I was tested in SD about 4 weeks later I WAS anemic! I am sure this added to my fatigue. I'm not sure how much this helps you because so much depends on you, your age, kids at home, your job, etc. I am sure that if you don't have any extra days in the hospital you will feel better, you just don't get sleep there. Also, I was told not to drive for 2 weeks after surgery until my followup appt, don't know what he will tell you, but be prepared that you won't be doing any driving home. Complications after coming home...none! I followed all my instuctions to the letter and the first week people brought food so I did NOTHING. Did you ever get a hold of Sharmyn? I assume that if you booked the surgery with Dr. Kelly that you liked him, even if you haven't been there in person. I don't want to post my phone # here but if you like I can call Amanda and tell her to give it to you if there is anything you want to ask while in LA. Hopefully, you have gotten help on where to stay, etc. Have you been to CA before? I sort of rambled here but I hope this helps. Diana ----------------------------------------------------------- To stop getting this e-mail, or change how often it arrives, go to your E-mail Settings. http://groups.msn.com/PituitaryChat/_emailsettings.msnw Need help? If you've forgotten your password, please go to Passport Member Services. http://groups.msn.com/_passportredir.msnw?ppmprop=help For other questions or feedback, go to our Contact Us page. http://groups.msn.com/contact If you do not want to receive future e-mail from this MSN group, or if you received this message by mistake, please click the "Remove" link below. On the pre-addressed e-mail message that opens, simply click "Send". Your e-mail address will be deleted from this group's mailing list. mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
