I went into Hospital on 8th April 2009 and was there for basically 7 days. The following is my time line on what I had done, what I experienced and how I progressed.

I will use day 1 as the date upon which I had surgery and follow the time line as OP +1. OP+2 etc

Remember that everyone's experience will be different, some stay shorter, some stay longer, some have complications, others like me thankfully don't.

I had Foramen Magnum decompression which included a craniotomy (removal of part of my skull) and a Laminectomy (removal of part of my top 2 vertibra).

OP-1
I arrived at the ward having phoned through previously to see if a bed was available. I was cross matched for blood type and DNA tested for MRSA. I was visited by the ward admin to check all of my details and to sign the consent form. I was allowed to eat an evening meal and was given tea and toast by the nursing staff at midnight. Then "nil by mouth".

OP 0
I was woken at 6.30 am, showered and changed, visited by a procession of registrars, anaesthetists etc then wheeled away to surgery by about 9.00am
I woke some 5 hours later in Neuro HDU felling rather groggy.
I had a saline drip, morphine driver and some other pain killer drip going on as well as the monitor leads and oxygen. My wife was with me, and as soon as I woke up they removed the monitors.
They were nervous about giving me a little water at first, but I needed it for comfort. I wasn't in pain, but did feel extremely stiff in my upper body, very dehydrated and obviously disorientated. The morphine was obviously working, and the other pain killer helping.
I drifted in and out for a couple of hours, eventually got water and started to take more control over where I was and what I was doing.
I still couldn't move very much, even though my head and neck were free to move, I couldn't even lift my head off the pillow at this point.
I had not yet managed to go to the toilet either until I managed a wee in a bottle at about 11pm. I had been threatened with a catheter unless I managed to go on my own.
I managed more water, but could do nothing else except drift in and out and get a rub down with a wet cloth to make me more comfortable. I slept a little over night, but the morphine was not working as well as I would have hoped. I was on the driver, and whilst asleep was not getting any benefit. It was an uncomfortable night.

OP +1

Still very stiff in the morning, nurses managed to change my bed sheets with me in them in the morning. No breakfast, just a cup of tea in a child's beaker as I couldn't move my head and neck enough to drink from a cup. Still feeling uncomfortable and fuzzy rather than in pain, but had no confidence in the morphine driver.

Senior registrar came round and changed me to Oral Morphine with Paracetamol in between. Started this at about 11am then morphine induced sleep.

Lunch time, tried food but my taste buds were on fire and all over the place, drank lots of water.

Visiting time came, first solid food (McDonalds!) and orange squash. Managed to get another body wipe down with help from my wife and changed my gown. Couldn't get Pyjamas on as I did not have enough body movement to get them on.

Managing by the afternoon to raise my head a little by using the bed motor to raise the back up and using both hands on the side of my head. Feels very heavy and large.

Managed to wee freely in the bottle, but hard to manage as I have to turn on my side to do it. Hard with a very stiff neck. Not yet been for number 2's and was being watched closely.

Another restless nights sleep, but had had a little food, lots of water and plenty morphine.

OP+2

Bed changed again in the morning, made myself a goal of getting off the bed to the commode against nurses wishes. Wife came in PM visiting and helped me get to the bathroom. Head still very stiff and heavy, very unsteady on my feet but made it. Cleaned teeth and had number 2's in the evening.

No massive changes, but getting stronger and feeling fitter as the day progresses.

Still on morphine and Paracetamol.

Another restless nights sleep.

OP+3

Woke up refreshed and ready for a new challenge. Ate some breakfast, starting to get hungry again. Fruit from the night before and plenty of water.
First visiting time wife came in and I managed to go for a stand up shower (no head wetting) but the first time I felt clean and refreshed. Shattered afterwards, but another goal out of the way.

Sat in bed listening to my MP3, reading the papers and a book, rather awkward, still very stiff and awkward, but could lift my head better.

Upbeat and refreshed in the afternoon, more fruit and water all day, getting more energy, was getting to the loo on my own slowly.

Still a restless sleep because of the discomfort.

OP+4

Moving around on my own now more and more, went for a shower again in the morning, now using my t-shirt pyjamas and getting changed in the morning. Not much neck movement but shoulders now relatively OK.

Realised that hospital food is crap. Got moved to a normal ward with TV.

Looking to get rid of Morphine now, so easing off. Using Paracetamol and Codeine. Started using bowel medication - feeling difficulties. Also anti-sickness tabs, I think the Codeine was affecting me.

Food still awful and taste buds strange. Enjoying visitors, but still napping during the day.

Visit from Neurosurgeon, can go home when ready!

Gave up at midnight and swapped Codeine for Morphine to get some sleep.

OP+5

Moving well now, although tiring. Showered and changed myself, walked to the hospital shops for a paper. Managed to go to the loo....hooray!

Managed all day on Paracetamol and Codeine, but was on the dot time wise. Perhaps I was moving too much too soon? Getting bored now and want to get out.

Enjoyed visiting again, but wanted to sleep the rest of the day. I think the walk was too much, but got me some fresh air! Good morale boost and another goal ticked off.

Visit from Neurosurgeon, can go home when ready! but advised to see physio - bank holiday weekend! need to wait until tomorrow.

Still not off morphine, a little nervous. Managed to go through the night without Morphine, although fairly uncomfortable.

OP+6

Rough nights sleep, movement much improved and legs much stronger, showered and changed, off morphine, had discharge doctor round to sort out my meds but was advised to wait until I had seen Physio. Physio visit, next to flipping useless - what had I waited for? They didn't have a clue what I had?

Stitches out in the morning, looking well healed and clean. Discharged mid-morning!

Very difficult drive home, felt every single bump and corner.

Have lost 2 stones in weight in 6 days!

OP+7 to +15

At home, very tired, uncomfortable, but eating well, drinking plenty of water and getting rest. The odd trip out to the doctors in the car but nothing far. Pre-op symptoms all but gone, no pins and needles or numbness, no real pain as I used to, feeling in one side of head coming back gradually and getting stronger. Developed sciatica due to laying in uncomfortable positions all the time. Increased Codeine and Paracetamol frequency.

Progressed for then on.

So, in Hospital for under 7 days, stitches out 6 days after the operation and well healed, no complications. Yours might well be different to mine, in time or content. All I know is that I came out earlier than I thought, could have come out a day earlier than I did and wanted to.
All I did was set myself simple little goals and then push myself that extra 10% each time.
It's no use going for it from day 1! You will either undo something or push too hard and exhaust yourself.
These people that say, "I came out after 3 days" are only on a hiding to nothing, you are in artificial surroundings cocooned by comfort and protection. Once you get outside, its totally different. Don't get me wrong, I am all for staying in for as little time as possible, especially with the risks of superbugs and things - but just take it easy and pace yourself.

Surgery? It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. Pain? None! More of a discomfort really, but lots of it. Worth it? For me yeah, as I am now no worse off than I was pre-op and I was going down hill fast before.

After care? Don't be silly, they didn't even take me to the front door in a wheel chair. I had no information other than the meds, no "what if I get a CSF leak", what if I have any concerns, what to look out for.......blah blah blah I just had brain surgery.......cool!

Other Links:

How I explained it to my young kids
Decompression scar or zipper
Does Chiari and Syringomyelia affect everyone in the same way?

Forum – Somewhere I can meet other people the same as me