The symptoms below warrant a call to your surgeon. If you are calling outside of normal business hours and can’t reach your surgeon or the program coordinator in a timely manner, please contact the nearest emergency room.
deterioration of vision (blurred, double, loss of peripheral)
signs of infection (noted above) are thought to be present
continuous faucet-like nasal drip or drainage of salty-tasting fluid down your throat
continuous nosebleed or clear fluid coming from your nose
clear or bloody drainage from your ears
sutures come apart
abdominal pain
persistent or worsening headaches not relieved with over the counter medication and/or a nap
jerking/twitching of your face, arms, or legs
difficulty or discomfort when moving your neck, face, arms or legs
loss of bowel/bladder control
vomiting
significant changes in your behavior, your ability to think, increased confusion, and difficulty concentrating
fever of 101 degrees or greater, especially within the first three months of surgery
extremely clear urine
large amounts of urine
excessive thirst
depression or severe anxiety
excessive sleepiness
significant fatigue that doesn’t improve
immediately if any of the following occur:
sudden increase in swelling at the surgical site after the swelling had begun to subside
fever or chills
colored drainage from incision
temperature greater than 101 degrees without other signs of illness
reddened skin near your incision(s)
Surgery Wound Care
You will not be able to see the incision in your nose.
Stents, nasal packing, and gauze dressing under your nose may be used to absorb nasal drainage and will be removed at the discretion of your surgeon.
Keep your abdominal incision clean and dry. Showers are typically approved by your surgeon within a day or two after surgery.
Recovery Diet
Frequent small meals (4–6 per day) are suggested with a moderate amount of protein in each to assist in the healing process. Specific instructions will be communicated to you while in the hospital.
Avoid straining hard for bowel movements for 3 months. Use stool softeners immediately after surgery, and include plenty of fluids and fiber (fruits & vegetables) in your diet. Contact your primary care physician to help manage constipation problems.
ituitary Tumor Surgery Recovery Lifestyle
Start Light Activity During Pituitary Tumor Recovery
Each person recovers at a different rate after a neurosurgical procedure. We encourage you to be aware of and honor your physical and emotional limitations. It is, however, important to get out of bed and move as soon as possible after surgery to avoid developing problems such as blood clots or pneumonia.
Light activity: Start light activity for the first few days you are home and then gradually increase activity with short walks (with assistance if you feel unsteady). Get plenty of rest
Work: Plan to be away from work for 2-4 weeks if you have a sedentary job and 6 weeks if you have an active job.
Normal daily activities: Resume normal activities (including sexual activity) after six weeks unless otherwise advised by your surgeon.
Lifting weights: Ask your surgeon for specific limitations on weight lifting, swimming, and any other activity involving great physical exertion. Typically you are asked to avoid lifting more than 10 lbs or bending past your wait for 12 weeks.
Pressure on face/exertion: There is a small risk of developing a delayed cerebro-spinal leak (CSF) and meningitis following your surgery. To diminish this risk try to:
Avoid direct firm pressure on the face for at least 4 weeks.
Nose blowing, or sneezing with mouth closed should be avoided for at least 12 weeks after surgery.
Try to sneeze with your mouth open for 12 weeks to avoid generating high pressure in your head.
Smoking: Smoking delays healing and can cause a wound infection. Reducing this activity or stopping completely will improve your chance of a speedy recovery.
Driving: Is not recommended until you have:
Stopped taking narcotic pain medications
Experienced no visual problems that affect your
ability to drive
Complete awareness of your surroundings
Total control over your fine motor movement and
regained your strength
Sleeping: Sleeping with your head elevated on pillows may help decrease headaches. Keep it elevated at least 30 degrees for 10 days after surgery if you were told there was a cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) leak after surgery. Use a humidifier at night to keep your nasal membranes moist if needed.
Bathing: Showering is appropriate upon approval from the surgical team. Do not immerse (bath, pool, hot tub, etc.) the surgical sites on your head or abdomen in any body of water until the sutures are removed and cleared by your surgeon .
You may experience the following after pituitary tumor surgery:
Swelling & bruising around the nose and face. This should subside within a few weeks.
Nasal drainage: You should have a small amount of bloody nasal drainage after surgery typically lasting 3 weeks. If you notice a constant faucet-like drip of fluid from the nose or a salty taste down the back of your throat, please call us immediately as this may be cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF) leak. When you start to blow your nose, 12 weeks after surgery, you will notice drainage of mucous and blood. This is normal. Secretions will pool in your sinuses overnight so you may have more drainage in the mornings.
You may have a decreased sense of smell for a few weeks to a few months following surgery. Since your sense of taste is largely influenced by your sense of smell this will also be affected during this time period. Numbness of the upper teeth is common in patients undergoing transsphenoidal surgery and usually resolves within a few months.
Sinus congestion, which may cause headaches for several days, should go away once the swelling subsides. Nasal sprays, such as Ocean Nasal Spray, can help relieve some of the crusting in the nasal passages and is recommended 5 times per day as needed to clear nasal passages after the packing is removed. Nasal washes help drain your sinuses and are advised to start 4 weeks after surgery. Ask your surgeon before taking antihistamines as they may cause excessive dryness. Do not insert anything else into your nose for 3 months.
Nausea: Post-operative nausea may be related to your pain medications. If possible, take your pain medication with food. Eating small, frequent meals and avoiding spicy or fried food may decrease feelings of nausea.
Fatigue: It may take 6 weeks or more for your energy level to return to normal. You will probably feel fatigued for the first 2 weeks then notice a gradual increase in energy thereafter. If you experience extreme fatigue notify your doctor as he/she may order blood tests to evaluate your hormonal levels.
Constipation: This is a common problem after surgery. It is helpful to increase water, fresh fruits and vegetables, fiber, and bran in your diet. Also, take over-the-counter docusate sodium tablets, 100 mg 1 to 2 times per day to keep your stools soft. You may decrease the amount taken if your stools become too soft. If constipation is not relieved with these measures, you may take Milk of Magnesia, 1 to 2 tablespoons every 12 hours. If this doesn’t work, it is recommended that you use a Fleet enema or rectal suppository to assist with the evacuation of the rectum. This is preferred over heavy straining. If an enema or rectal suppository is not successful, please notify us.
Visual changes: It is normal for your vision to wax and wane for 3 to 4 months after surgery. Contact your surgeon if you notice sudden changes such as blurry or double vision or diminished peripheral vision.