Well surgery is done. All went well and i feel pretty good. The vice like pressure on the base of my neck has lifted. The numbness in my R index finger is still there but with only codydromol in me im almost pain free. Ive got creaking in my neck which im told will go in time. I had a drain in my neck but not much came out and its now been removed.

Still a little woosey from the anaesthetic but drinking plenty of fluids. Not much sleep last night as stats every 2 hours and an olympic class snorer in the bed opposite me.

Ive had my do's and dont's from the physio, who said she wouldn't be referring me for local physio just gave me excercises to do. Very basic up/ down/left/right.

All in all im so happy its done and so far so good. Ill update in a few days.
Simon

Fantastic. Sounds like you are doing ok apart from the snoring. :)

Take it easy with your neck though, you may find up-down-left-right is good as a starter but the muscles in your neck have been messed with and the new gear in there has made significant changes. You may/will find that once you are up and about a bit more you get the burning muscle sensation across your neck and shoulders, up-down-left-right wont be sufficient for this. :)

Glad you're doing well. Keep us posted. :D x

Simon,
Just take things easy, I just had to put a posting on Clares thread to remind her that the anaesthetic stays in the fat of your brain for six weeks so you're getting the benefit of that at the moment as far as the pain issue is concerned.

I'm pleased your surgery went well and the vice like grip at the base of your neck has gone, just take things easy and remember "Slow and Steady Wins This Race"
best,
Alastair :D

DAY THREE

Had a very restless night, waking everytime I moved. The most painful thing is swallowing. This is very painful but was told to expect this.

Strangely enough having slept for so long on my back now I cant. It seems that when I need to swallow saliva I cannot swallow completely. Some seems to just sit at the back of my throat - so laying on my sides is the only way.

I need to drink quite a lot, and as a result I am passing a lot of urine which I suppose will help to flush through my system.
I am constipated as well so have started the Senacott laxatives.

Im only using Co-dydramol at the moment and think I need to add in some Bruphen to top it up.

I realise that I need to take it really easy I don't want to mess it up now. Just wondering about the wound dressing and when I should change it. Ill try and get a photo when I do it.

Regards Simon

I found it difficult to get comfy, day 3 was my worst to be honest - i had reduced the painkillers and it was making a difference. The nurses said that with our type of surgery getting into a good comfortable position was very difficult. They said they found that moving the position of your head every 30 mins or so showed greater comfort. They put it down to everything being messed about with in your neck and that part of you being very mobile and having regular functions (swallowing / easting )

I also found I needed loads to drink, the pain in my throat and the lumpy-ness was reduced if I kept it well lubricated. It does mean you wee more but that will help with the constipation. Have you been given any codeine tabs? I found they were great. I continued to used them for 2 weeks after the op, increasing the time between taking them. Now I just take paracetamol when I feel I need to. Sometimes I only need 2 tabs all day. :D

The dressing can stay on for a good few weeks, it only needs changing if you see any fluids have come through it, it starts to peel away or loses its stickiness. I changed mine 4 times over a 2.5 / 3 week period, 3 of these changes were just because I wanted to look at it ad take pics!! hehe! :) There are pics of my scar in my diary thing if you want to look and compare. Be good to see yours when you get chance to upload.

DAY 4

A very restless day, just couldnt seem to get comfortable. Swallowing still painful but getting a little easier. The wound is really good im amazed as it is just a thin red line. Ive taken a pic and will need to work out how to upload.
Pain seemed to be across the tops of my shoulders today but still managing with co dydramol and bruphen. Neck feels quite fragile but full range of movement in all directions even if it is still quite stiff.
Still feel the need to drink plenty of waterand have a healthy appetite.

My dressing keeps on coming off as well, it maybe the hair growing on my neck not letting the adhesive stick. To the men and and any hairy women out there - how long before you started shaving again?

DAY 9

I've got to say that I am feeling far better than I thought I would so early on. Its day nine and currently only have to take pain killers about once maybe twice a day. I feel so much better, the radiating pain down the nerves in my arm have gone completely and the vice like pain in my neck has also disappeared.

What I have got is tenderness to the traps in my neck/shoulders, and get this when I extend my head backwards. My neck feels weak but seems to be getting better every day.

I am taking it really easy being careful not to lift or strain. My neck is still tender and swallowing food can odten take a couple of attempts. It is still swollen inside and I just need to be aware of it. I sometimes forget and catches me out if I tip my head back to drink out of as bottle and then try and swallow (V painful)

I had my stitch out today which caused the nurses in my surgery some confusion. My scar had about an inch and a half of clear 'gut' protruding out of each end with no obvious knot or bead on either side.

The first nurse looked at it and said "OH I HAVN'T SEEN ONE OF THOSE BEFORE", she then called the Sister who looked at it and said more or less the same. After a short discussion amongst themselves the decision was made to pull it out. A couple of tugs later and out it came (not a pleasant feeling). There is was a single length with a few coils in the middle.
The scar is looking fine and the nurse was happy with the progress.

When I work out how I will post some pics of the scar.

I'm delighted that things are going so well for you, just try and not overdo things when you feel like doing handsprings and cart wheels :D

Sounds like you are doing very well and making great progress. :D

Your traps will be quite tired and you may get that muscular burning feeling if you over do it. I was getting it if I was up and about too long but it has almost gone completely now. The physio did a bit of work on them and said it was totally normal and that if I had said I was getting no pain at all in my traps then she would have known I was just lying down all day! lol

I am on 1 month appointments for the physio now and I am 7 weeks post op, today in fact, so stick with it and don't do too much. It will get better all by itselef but until then just listen to it when it screams for you to have a lie down. hehe!

I practised tipping my head right back while in the shower, let the hot water run on your neck to warm the muscles up first and then practice tipping your head back. I am now able to tip my head right the way back - it feels like my head is touching my shoulders. So you will definitly get there. :)

I 'pinged' something in my neck a few times from doing things while my head was tipped - like pull a funny face at my brother while head was turned to the side....felt like the internal stitches were being ripped out. :/ It was fine though...I think. hah! :)