finally got decompressed!!! life can be good?

hey guys, so i’m (22F) officially one week post op from my sub occipital craniectomy, and cervical laminectomy (decompression lol, but i’m trying to remember the big name of it) i firstly want to thank anyone/everyone in this community for all the assists and encouragement they have given me. i felt so lost before and this sub was super helpful for me.

my family and i drove on down to Dr Greenfield last sunday, and i got my procedure done bright and early monday morning. and guys i will tell you right now, this is the best thing that has ever happened to me. i haven’t been nauseous or throwing up in a WEEK. which was my “worst symptom” (headaches were excruciating but easier to “push past,” than throwing up 6 times at day. especially at work) they did a great job with the surgery, and i felt immediate relief. like day of after i woke up, i already felt better. is my neck a little sore? yes but i have never felt this good in my entire life. i don’t know how, i don’t know why, because this surgery doesn’t work like that for most it seems. (i promise i am not trying to brag. i am just so grateful and happy and i needed to share with people who understand this) he said as soon as he opened me up, and moved the first piece there is instantly movement of fluid and a change on the inside. he said it was BAD bad when he got in there lol. i even walked from my ICU room to my “main room” the night of. my nurse was with me i wasn’t alone, and she was even hesitant when i asked but we did it!

my main discomfort/pain is literally my direct incision site. like yes my neck muscles have been sore, and my shoulders too from being so tense but i can’t figure out how to lay down most comfortably to sleep still. its healing great and looks fine, nothing is wrong with it but it just is so damn uncomfortable. he had to use thicker stitching than he planned because my skin was too thick lol so maybe that’s part of it, but i’m not sure. if anyone has tips for this part that would be great. i’m just worried that if it’s uncomfortable to lay on then that means i shouldn’t do it- even though she told me it was okay- i don’t want to screw anything up back there.

everyone at greenfields was helpful and kind and so amazing, dr greenfield himself even called me the night i was discharged (new years day) on his personal phone to check on me because he wasn’t at the office when i left.

sorry this is so long but TL;DR guys relief IS POSSIBLE. you can have your life and live it well. my decompression went great, but any tips for relaxing/laying comfortably would be great! 💜💜