Every thing has been done that can be done to prepare for the MVD surgery. I need to be at the hospital by 6 AM and as we live about 2 1/2 hours away that meant getting going really early. We thought it would be more comfortable at home than staying in a motel the night before. Charly my husband and I were both very nervous.
On my pre-op visit just a few days before I was give two packets. Both contained a sponge with antibacterial soap and a nail cleaner. One was to be used the night before the surgery and the other the morning of the surgery.
Neither Charly nor I could sleep. I had packed my bags days before. I was going prepared for several days just in case. I think I packed for 5 days. Gosh I hope I didn't forget anything.
We talked all night long. Finally I went and took my other shower with the foul smelling stuff they had given me. I thought I might sleep on the way to the hospital but I didn't. I dozed now and then.
We got to the hospital in plenty of time and checked in at the desk on the surgery floor. I got my name bracelet and was told what to expect and where to go. We were sent to a waiting room with several other people. Most were patients of Dr. Nanda, but none were for the same surgery I was having. Shortly thereafter we were sent across the hall to watch a film about being put to sleep. When that was over the anesthesiologist came in and explained it all to us and wanted to know if I had any questions.
After another spell of sitting and waiting we were sent to another room where they had four beds. One of the beds had someone in it. I was given two gowns and told to put them on and get in a bed. Two gowns because one covers the front and one to cover the back.
I was there just a little while and the nurse came in to take my vital signs. Of course I got my little blue bonnet. She told us they would come for me soon and they did.
This time I am in a hall. There is a lot of traffic here and Charly could not come this far with me. He had kissed me and wished me well at the double doors.
Things speed up. The guy who puts you to sleep came and talked to me a long time. Then he put a needle in my arm for the IV. I think I must have been given a sedative at this point because I felt a little drowsy. He told me what to expect when I went into the operating room. In no time at all and I was rolled into the operating room. I am guessing that is what it was but it looked awfully small for a surgery room. There were several people around me doing different things. I wanted to know everything that was going on. I asked a lot of questions. They were very polite and answered them all. I was positioned just so on the bed. I remember thinking, I wonder if they will put that vise on my head while I am still awake. They didn't.
Now I had tubes, lines and hoses running everywhere. All kinds of monitors and gauges. Someone is putting something into my IV and I could feel it taking effect almost immediately. I was glad because I did not want to be awake when they put my head in the vise.
The next thing I remember is being in a different bigger room with a nurse right beside my bed asking me if I was in pain. I was not, in fact I never did have a lot of pain afterwards.
For awhile things are a bit hazy. When I wake I see my Charly who says "Hi sweetheart". I say "Hi" and he gives me a kiss. I asked him is it over and he said yes it is over and you do not have any spasms. I said "Oh I'm glad".
I wake and there is Dr. Nanda and Charly. Dr Nanda is telling Charly I said I would not miss the spasms. That bit comes from reading the e-mails and someone said they would not miss the spasms one bit. Dr. Nanda also said it only took 45 minutes to do the surgery. It was an enlarged blood vessel pressing against the nerve that was the culprit of all my misery.
I wake more and more often. Not sure how long I was in recovery or ICU but it was not days. They finally put me in a room. I still have the IV. Charly has brought my buckwheat neck pillow and that works just great as my head won't have to lay flat against the pillow.
Charly has to go home every night as we have a little toy poodle, 2 cats and some fish that want their attention every day. When Charly is there I can walk outside but they will not let me go by myself. I take very little pain medication and I'm ready to go home. I had gone in on a Monday morning and about noon on Wednesday Dr. Nanda said I could go home. Charly had not made it to the hospital that day yet. I met him in the hallway and said "I am ready to go home, they have released me". I felt really great but a little tired. I did not have to take much pain medication after going home. I did have to rest a lot.
The only real problem I had was dizziness, which I had some before the surgery but now it was a lot worse. I had to take Dramamine for a time as it would make me sick to my stomach. That finally eased to about the same as it was before the surgery. My balance problem has gotten worse but Dr. Nanda said that is not from the surgery. I am waiting for an appointment to see a Neurologist for that. I have a few small twitches around my eye at times and some on my lips. Some days I do not have any. For me that means SPASM FREE. Before they were almost constant. If things stay the same as they are at this moment I will be happy and forever grateful for the HFS support group for allowing me to be a part of it and finding out there is help. Also to Dr. Nanda I am grateful he had the know how to do this very delicate surgery.
Ann Ehlen, December 04, 2002