Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kevinw on February 1, 2012 at 9:57am

I attempted to reply and it didn't show up, so I will try again. I apologize if I sent two responses by accident. Getting the head piece on doesn't really hurt at all. It did cause me to have a pretty rough time just because I had such a bad headache and back pain already, and not being able to move for a few hours was very uncomfortable to me. It was probably the worst day that I have ever had. But to answer your question - it shouldnt hurt at all getting the head piece on. Good luck, stay strong.

Permalink Reply by Stephanie on February 1, 2012 at 10:24am

I was fine when they attached the halo. However, I highly recommend asking for good pain killers and something for nausea when they are about to take it off. I have an extremely high pain tolerance and I would give the removing about a 15/10.

Permalink Reply by Gerry H on February 1, 2012 at 10:47am

Jami,
For me the day was a total fog. The 2 days after I was sore from the halo and angio. They will do their best to make you as comfortable as possible. Best of luck!

Permalink Reply by Linda on February 1, 2012 at 3:31pm

Hi Jami, I know exactly where you are coming from. I too am very scared about having the halo fitted and it's the thought of being awake that terrifies me! To be quite honest I am even scared at having the angio which is scheduled for next week. If they could put me to sleep for the whole lot I would be quite happy. So don't be embarrassed about being a baby coz I'm one too!! Hope it goes well for you. linda

Permalink Reply by Jami on February 1, 2012 at 8:47pm

Linda, I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Please update us after your surgery.
Hugs!

Permalink Reply by A Collins on February 4, 2012 at 4:49pm

I've had GK twice. The first time, the lidocaine shots to numb the pin sites hurt--they put something for pain in my IV during the 3rd lidocaine shot & that helped. The 2nd time, they gave me something in the IV before the lidocaine shots & it really wasn't bad.

For me, the removal was the worst part both times. I was the last of 4 patients both times (because I had the most complicated procedure both times). So....lidocaine shots & halo attachment at about 7 am & halo removal at about 3 pm. The lidocaine had worn off. Because I was the last patient to leave the GK unit to go to day surgery (and they had been there since 4:30--5:00 am) & were going off shift, I wasn't able to have any pain killer until getting to day surgery & eating something.

I also had a crani to clip two aneurysms a month after the first GK--and the halo attachment & removal is SOOO much better than a crani!

Permalink Reply by Kim on February 13, 2012 at 12:31am

Hey, I definitely share in your fear. I am terrified for being awake and I have a HUGE phobia of needles. I am in need of radiation and have to get a halo as well but the machine they use out here is called Brain Lab but I highly doubt the halo is any different. But dont feel like a baby! It is a legitimate fear! I'll be keeping you in my prayers and keep me posted for how it goes!

Permalink Reply by Gwen on April 2, 2012 at 9:49pm

Hello,
I experienced no pain. My doctor used pain medicine as well as numbing cream. I felt no pain at all! The head piece is a little heavy.

Permalink Reply by Dominic T Marr on April 11, 2012 at 3:12pm

It's a fascinating feeling. I think back on it as, basically, a privilege to have had such a strange thing done to my body. After some time I found the thing felt like an extension of my skull, how I imagine people with prosthetics might sense their prostheses. I had scalp injections at the pin sites - these anaesthetic injections sort of 'popped', and were more uncomfortable than the pins themselves I found. You have very little to worry about.
Like others have said, and I'm sure the staff would also mention, the oddest part is taking the thing off again. I can only describe it as a sensation of my skull expanding, and expanding, and expanding to about the size of the world. At the end of treatment day, it's very hard to say what is the result of drugs, pins, pressure, confusion or just totally justified exhaustion - so feeling rough is to be expected. It's an awfully strange thing to be putting a human body through.
I felt extremely emotional trying to sleep the night after my radiation.
Be well, be safe.
(And if in the meantime you already had the treatment, I hope you are recovered to full strength)