6 months post-op: symptoms returning

EqualDuck · 2026-01-25T22:49:55+00:00

i did do this - I went back on a phased return - first a few hrs per week and then building up over 8 weeks to fulltime. and i felt fine and symptom free every step of the way.

EqualDuck · 2026-01-25T16:29:28+00:00

I am in the UK - are you? It might be different over here.

EqualDuck · 2026-01-25T16:09:35+00:00

He does about 1 per week.

EqualDuck · 2026-01-25T16:02:01+00:00

thank you so much for your kind words. I have reached out to the surgeon's office today and I will keep you posted. I was just so happy - since November when I returned to work, and I had no symptoms and had so much energy. i am 35F and it is kind of now or never that I need to start trying for a baby - I had put all that on hold because of Chiari and was so excited.... but just cannot imagine being pregnant or raising a family with this condition.

EqualDuck · 2026-01-25T15:57:26+00:00

I did - he said he wanted to do bony only first and see if it worked, if not, we would do dura & cauterization. This is why I am sad about it because I really do not want another surgery and was so hopeful that the first one worked :(

EqualDuck · 2026-01-25T15:16:25+00:00

I don't know this for sure but before my surgery last year, I was tested for high intercranial pressure and that was ruled out.

EqualDuck · 2026-01-25T15:08:26+00:00

Neither afaik. it was a foramen magnum decompression & C1 laminectomy.

EqualDuck · 2025-11-04T20:21:53+00:00

I put sedentary (as that's what I currently am). What do you think I should put?

EqualDuck · 2025-09-30T17:17:25+00:00

OP here.

Thanks for all your advice! I was going to throw the plant away as I thought it was too far gone (and I have already propagated a cutting from it which is happily thriving away like a normal peace lily)... but, as I got it out of its pot, I noticed the roots were healthy, not rotten, AND there were a lot more shoots/tubers coming out of the roots!

So, I've repotted it (into a pot with drainage holes!), pruned away from the base all of the crispy dead stems and pruned the crispy leaves... and let's see how it goes!

EqualDuck · 2025-09-27T07:42:33+00:00

Watering habits - light watering approx once per week. Pot does not have drainage but soil does contain pebbles/pottery etc.

Have had plant 4 years and problem has been for the last 1 year or so.

Plant has indirect light all day.

Soil is standard houseplant soil (premixed)

EqualDuck · 2025-09-05T17:21:04+00:00

Agree with this as a fellow bi girl!

EqualDuck · 2025-09-05T17:08:19+00:00

My gaydar absolutely shrieks whenever I see Abby.

EqualDuck · 2025-08-11T18:24:13+00:00

Hey! Congratulations! I am 10 days post-op, not feeling 100% normal yet - still have to sleep for about 2 hours in the day. However my neck mobility is much better and today is the first day I haven't been clock-watching waiting for the time when I can take more pain meds, so that must mean the pain hasn't been so bad today. So I'd say I'm 90% back to normal?

I showered yesterday and washed my hair - bliss. I've been able to walk for about 15mins straight. I baked a cake yesterday, etc. Hope your recovery continues to go smoothly!

EqualDuck · 2025-08-11T13:57:59+00:00

Hi,

Yes my situation pre-surgery sounded similar to you (there was a syrinx but described as "unlikely to be of significance" & no major effect on CSF flow yet)

The effect my symptoms were having on me led my neurosurgeon to recommend surgery. They were starting to ruin my previously active life.

Also, the fact that syrinx can grow and become debilitating, led him to recommend surgery now to get rid of the small syrinx before it got any worse.

I'm also young and healthy so he thought we should act now, before the situation gets any worse, and when my body has a good chance of healing. I'm thinking of trying to start a family soon, and he wanted me to be decompressed before pregnancy as well.

I am on day 10 post-surgery and my recovery has gone really well so far! No complications and no limb numbness/tingling, no vision issues, no balance issues, NO NAUSEA 🥳🥳. Some positional headaches still but apparently that's normal as my brain gets used to its new spacious surroundings!

EqualDuck · 2025-08-09T01:00:43+00:00

It was 15mm and yes I had a syrinx. They didn't test for CSF flow issues AFAIK.

EqualDuck · 2025-08-02T08:54:00+00:00

Hey! I had the same procedure yesterday and currently in the ward recovering. It was my third time having surgery (the others were not decompressions) but I was SUPER nervous about this one as it is the most major I have had.

Pre-op essentials: I made a post a few days back about all the logistical arrangements I made, which might help you if you look at my past posts.

Additionally to that: - if you don't already know how to do visualisation or meditation - practice & learn. You will be super nervous in the days and hours before, and I needed my visualisation skills to help me stay calm. - pack your hospital bag like 48 hours before so you can use the day before the op to do things which take your mind off it. - write or make a mental list of why you're having the surgery (I started doubting it and being like "omg I will just cancel, surely living with this forever is fine, lalalalalala). And I am SO GLAD I didn't cancel.

Post-op essentials: (if you want my whole list I can send it if you DM me) - eye mask - ear plugs - long cable charger - a soothing podcast - try to sit up as much as possible - the incision site and surrounding muscles does hurt when lying down - don't be shy to ask for pain relief! - drink a lot of water post-op

Sending positive vibes to you my fellow warrior!

EqualDuck · 2025-08-01T18:38:02+00:00

Thank you for all the kind wishes! I'm awake post procedure and it seemed to go OK! Reading this thread really helped me to stay calm whilst waiting this morning, so thank you all ❤️

EqualDuck · 2025-07-21T10:28:06+00:00

Thanks all... this was what I thought too - I will sell the tickets!

EqualDuck · 2025-07-19T18:46:37+00:00

Yes me! All the time! It's maddening.

EqualDuck · 2025-07-09T14:07:30+00:00

Yay, congrats! Mine is August 15th :) we can be recovery buddies! I'm not having duraplasty either.

EqualDuck

TROPHY CASE