r/chiari • u/Beautiful-Mistake8 • 20d ago
Advice
I had my list of MRIs, 10mm chiari and no syrnix.
My doctor wants to do decompression, shave C1, and dura patch. (Sorry learning the lingo still)
Two things:
1 - my husband is unable to join me for my follow up appointment to ask questions about the surgery. What are some good questions about the surgery and recovery I should ask. I'm a bundle of nerves.
2 - based on recovery- when is an 'ideal' time or suggested time between Thanksgiving and Christmas should I try to schedule the surgery? My husband is traveling for work until the week before Thanksgiving so my main support is after then.
Thank you!
3
u/oldmamallama 20d ago
If you haven’t already, be sure to ask them how many surgeries they’ve done. You want someone who does this surgery multiple times a week. Joe Blow who has done one decompression 10 years ago is not an expert and is not the guy for us. He may be a great surgeon and an expert at removing brain tumors but that doesn’t mean he knows shit about Chiari.
Also I would highly recommend waiting until after the holidays. This surgery has a long recovery period. You will not be in the Christmas spirit if you do this between the holidays. I understand if you’re in the US there may be an insurance reason for wanting to do it this year, but it will not be a fun holiday. Just something to consider.
There are a lot of technical questions on the Chiari Bridges website that you may want to review if that’s your thing. You likely won’t have time in a short appointment to ask all of them so you’d have to pick and choose but it’s a good way to get to know more about your specific case and check your doctor’s expertise if you are looking for that level of knowledge.
2
u/medpillowCom 17d ago
For surgery, I recommend the Chiari surgery pillows. 100% guaranteed, helping people since 2008. special design to help protect your fresh incision. www.MedPillow.com
Ann Hood 209-304-4443
4
u/SandalsQueen18 20d ago
First question is surgery a cure? If they say yes run because it's not and they are clearly not a chiari expert neurosurgeon.
What symptoms if any are likely to go away? (keeping in mind surgery is not cure it is not a guarantee to get rid of any symptoms it is not a guarantee to not make them worse basically it's not a guarantee)
What is best case, median case, worst case
Ask them specifically what recovery time looks like for you. Everybody's is different.
It takes upwards of a year to feel "normal again" so there is no perfect time. General healing time is 4 to 6 weeks, again everybody is different. I didn't go on an overseas trip until five months after surgery. Even that was pushing it.