Meniere's Disease Support Group

Im out of surgery and at home, its day 2. Feeling great (knock on wood) Swollen behind ear quite a bit, and the worst part is my TMJ bone, its killing me, can hardly open mouth very wide. I guess its just where my mouth was open for so long during surgery and head tilted to the side, is all i can think. Ear aches but not a killing pain compared to when I had my tonsils out a year ago as an adult. NO VERTIGO yet, just a bit uneasy balance wise which is to be expected. Best of luck to you pete and hope all goes great!! Thanks to all for your support. Heading back to bed to rest. Doc said all went great.

Glad to hear the surgery went well. I really think the head has to recalibrate now that it has a shunt to deal with thus the off balance. That will go away soon. Sounds like you're on your way to a full recovery. Stay chilled out this week

Miriam

I'm going to stay in the apartment the night before to get situated. I expect to buy a variety of different food. I'm assuming that stuff to be chewed a lot would not be a good choice.

Looking back through these posts it looks like most people were doing pretty well by day two, at least a little bit up and about without excessive pain and discomfort. I've never had any kind of surgery before so this will all be new to me...I guess drilling into peoples' heads is just another day for the surgeons (which is a good thing).

I plan to get some Ambien, that stuff seems to knock you out no matter what. I'm a bit fearful of the surgery but more than a little bit excited to be doing something about this. Even if it doesn't work, then I will know so and can then move on to the more radical treatments. Having those at least as an option if needed is not a bad thing at all.

afortner: thanks for taking the time and energy for a note. Congratulations on your new shunt-may it change your life! Take it easy and I hope for a contunued steady recovery-are you cheering for the Bengals or the Bills!?

I'm 8 days vertigo-free after surgery and loving it! It's beautiful "Indian Summer" in the Northeast.

Peter: Last week was my first general anesthesia and it went fine. The anesthesiologist was great answering questions and kept me at ease. Generally the anesthesiologist will meet you before the procedure starts. I get cold easily and they let me keep my Smartwool sox on in the OR! I ended up having Phenergan (for any nausea-also relaxes) to go home with (used for a couple of days). If you happen to be sick, it comes in suppository form. They prescribed Valium also, but only took 1. Back to normal Meniere's meds right away, also. I found difficulty chewing at first, also-yogurt and scrambled eggs, jello and broth worked, also ginger ale diluted with a bit of water and ice chips. Having a few bendable straws saves sitting up each time. It seemed better, at least for me, to lie propped up a bit on pillows.

My experience, of course, is individual, but feel free to bring questions here just for whatever benefit personal experience can offer from us. It has been wonderful for me. Your treatment team is the best resource. Have a good week.

Thanks for the kind notes guys. Definitely the BIlls!! Grew up a Southern Indiana Buffalo Bills Fan. They are 0-8 this year but I am tried and true to my team. Cheer for them the same no matter if they are 8-0 or 0-8. THanks for the kind words again. Head hurts but feel pretty good. Tired but that comes with the territory.

Keep you updated. See you guys soon.

peter, i thought i would be in bed and totally incapable for a week or more after surgery. but not so at all! BUT some people get the dizzies post-op and feel pretty bad. I had little pain (was off all the meds on day three) and walking a bit to starbucks on day two. and on day 5 i got the ok to work out...i started slowly and am not doing anything strenuous!

BUT, again, everyone is diff. where in la are you doing the surgery? i went to the house clinic-they do surgery accross the street at st vincent. piece of cake! but you will want someone to help you after!

another tip for all those sac/shunt candidates! get one of those neck pillows used for sleeping on air planes! the hole where the next goes can be for the ear and you can rest your head on the pillow part!!! i wish i had had that!

also, the darvacet does not make for good sleep! so ambien or something else could be good. BUT clear it with your dr. I was told NO motrin for awhile bc it causes bleeding!

also, stay off all herbs three weeks prior, and no motrin either....

good luck!

one last comment....how long does it take for the pluggedness post op to go away??? i am still so plugged and on day 10. will vertigo be the only thing that releases it???

Hate to tell you...a year later and I still have some pluggedness (is that really a word?!!). Now it's minor but for the first 6 months it was obnoxious. The plugging is different from a "full ear" that I would get before vertigo attacks and this also doesn't affect my hearing like a "full" ear does. But you know what? Plugged ear, ocean sounds in the ear..all good cuz it's NOT vertigo

Have a great day to all

Miriam

miriam, wonder what that is??

hope i get all the hearing back!!! that is what i care about