MVD Diary - Bill Fleming

Surgery performed by:   Dr. Chris Honey
Surgical Location:         Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC (Canada)
Surgery Date:                December 09, 2002

Diary prepared by:        Bill Fleming
Date diary finalized:      January 14, 2003 (Updated 02/03/03)

 

Thursday, December 5, 2002 - Date of Departure:

 Drive Peachland to Vancouver over the Coquihalla/Okanagan Connector, noted for its nasty weather at this time of the year. Clear and Sunny all the way…bare dry pavement. Maybe it was an omen of good things to come. I bunk in with good old friend Tim.

 

Friday, December 6, 2002 - Pre-surgery Testing:

My appointment at the EEG Dept. was at 12:15. Technicians attached electrodes everywhere. Put something in each ear. There was white noise in one ear, and a constant tapping in the other ear, for quite a while. Then sounds were reversed. (I think this was a BSER). After an hour or so of testing, I was introduced to Dr. Charles Dong. He explained the results of my hearing tests. (23 dB threshold in right ear, and 28 dB in the left). (Apparently normal for a teenager is 10). He also said that the length of time it took sound to travel from my eardrum to my brain was faster on the left side than right. He said he would see me on Monday. He seemed very concerned and most competent.

Then I was off to admitting. They took blood samples and gave me chlorhexidine soap for my pre-op shower.

 

Sunday, December 8, 2002 - The Night Before:

The dreaded phone call to Vancouver General Hospital was made (I was warned that I was not sure of having surgery until they told me when to be there, because of lack of beds/nurses) and I was instructed to be there at 8:25 am. Whew!!

 

Monday, December 9, 2002 - "MVD-Day":

My friend Tim drove me to the hospital. Reported to admitting, 45 minutes early, and got started right away. After relegated to the hospital gowns, Tim wished me the best and away he went. I am on a trolley and into a waiting room. I had to wait about an hour, but they had put one intravenous in, so I really was a patient now.

A man came and rolled me to wherever they attached all the electrodes. He was cheerful and talkative, and I felt quite at ease.

Met the technician/nurse who also is a car nut, and we chatted quite a while. She of course was busy attaching electrodes everywhere.

Then Dr. Charles Dong (neurophysiologist) came in and both of them seemed very comfortable with each other…very friendly. The electrodes he attached to me were not what I expected. 4 big needles with green wires attached, 2 deep in my chin, and 2 in the center of my forehead. I remember saying to Charles when he inserted the first needle, “that wasn’t as bad as BOTOX”, but another and another and another…whew. He was in very close and made absolutely sure they were in the right place the first time, and actually tested to see if they were working…they were, thanks Charles. He said he would see me in the OR.

I remember having to wait quite a while before getting into the operating room. I went to the washroom, and what a sight I was, electrodes everywhere and the two wires coming from my forehead and the two from my chin. The surgery was scheduled for 11:25, and I remember going in at about 12:30. I had kept my glasses up to now, but from here on I cannot see very well.

Into the OR…much bigger than I expected…people everywhere busy, each with a special function. I met the anesthesiologist, a nice lady, but I can’t remember her name. A blur appeared at the foot of the bed and began speaking. I had no idea who it was, and blurted out I can’t see you. It turned out to be Dr. Chris Honey, the neurosurgeon. Some time during all this the anesthesiologist said “cocktail time Bill”.

Next thing is waking up. Nurse at the foot of my bed at all times. I am in recovery, I ask the nurse the time and it is 8 pm. "NO SPASMS".

Overnight is just a blur as I was given morphine for pain, which put me to sleep. I think they checked on me about every hour, asking who I was, what the date was and where was I. I recall during the night an alarm going off on one of my monitors. It turned out that my blood pressure had gotten high. I remember a doctor saying, no more than 140!! I remember breaking out in a total sweat at this time and a kind nurse keeping me cool, and rinsing out my mouth with some nice tasting stuff.

And that damn catheter…what a pain. My throat is a bit sore from intubations. I am also wearing the attachments/massagers that keep circulation going in the legs. I think about 11 pm I went for a ride to another department (NICU) to find that they were full, so back to recovery. They kept me there overnight. I asked someone about my operation and they said it went from 1 pm till 5 pm.

 

Tuesday, December 10, 2002, The Day After:

Directly to the ward about 11 am. I had a visit from Dr. Constantoyannis, Dr. Dong and Dr Honey. He said he had found an artery over the nerve, and was just about to finish when due to intra-operative monitoring, he realized there was another problem. He had to be more aggressive (go deeper), and said the hearing which was also being monitored, dropped off to nothing while he was there, however returned when he finished. He said something about air cavities in my ears, which he washed out. They were very happy to see me SPASM FREE, but cautioned that I may experience the odd one. They assured me that my hearing would return. I think I asked then to have the leg massagers removed.

A nurse brought me a tray of breakfast. I touched the apple juice to my lips, which almost turned my stomach, but was able to drink the whole cup of coffee (horribly addicted), but ate nothing.

Asked to have catheter removed, and it was, with much leakage. To replace my wet gowns they offered me some hospital pants and shirt instead of the gowns. How nice that was!!

I can’t remember what happened at lunch, but at supper I ate about ½ of what I was given, I think. I’ve been given morphine and Tylonol #3 (codeine with Tylonol) any time I asked. By about 3 pm, I wasn’t asking for morphine.

 

Wednesday, December 11, 2002 - Two Days Post-op:

Ate a full breakfast. Dr. Constantoyannis (neurosurgical fellow) came to see me and when asked if I could go home, said that Dr. Honey would have to give the OK, but he could see no reason why not. Dr. Dong and Dr. Honey concurred, and by 12 noon, my discharge papers were on the bed. I had to ask to wait there a while as my son wasn’t due in from Regina until 3:45, and couldn’t be to the hospital until 4:30 or so.

I hung around as long as I could, got dressed, and away I went, down to the main entrance to wait for my son. It was so nice to be in public SPASM FREE.

My son Craig arrived and we continued the cab ride to my friend Tim’s apartment. Then went out for a seafood supper in North Vancouver.

 

Thursday, December 12, 2002 - Three Days Post-op:

Up early, lots of coffee, Yukon breakfast at the Tomahawk restaurant, and uneventfully home. I cooked supper...roast chicken etc…..I really have no appetite problems. I even had a little glass of red wine. Very little hearing in the left ear, as it feels full.


 

Tuesday, December 17,2002 - Eight Days Post-Op:

Took my son to the airport today...the first time I had driven since the MVD. All went well except, turning the neck and head was a bit painful. My hearing is still markedly affected in the left ear. It feels ¾ full. Speaking of full, my gastrointestinal tract started to work again. I understand that is a side effect of morphine and codeine. This problem was minor and caused no discomfort.

 

Wednesday, December 18, 2002 - Nine Days Post-Op:

I went to my family doctor and had my stitches removed. He had no idea I was having the surgery, until he looked in the file. He was happy to see that the surgery was successful, but I think he was unaware of the operation and the success rate. He did mention that usually it takes about 6 months to be back to 100 % after surgery of this type.

 

Thursday, December 19, 2002 - Ten Days Post-Op:

I took my last Tylonol #3 for a headache. I took no further painkillers.

During this period, there is not much to tell, except that my hearing has improved markedly. There is still some congestion, or something that makes it feel ½ full. I can pop the left ear and hear perfectly.

Other symptoms which were mostly mild include, tired, vertigo, hearing or sinus problem, eye infection (from trying to wear contacts again), mild headaches, brief stabbing pains in various locations of the head, unable to move head fast or have below body, vivid dreams, a numb ear and scalp above ear, and rarely a sort of muscle vibration in the cheek.

I overdid a hike in the mountains one day, and didn’t feel very well (headache) for about 2 days after. I also discovered that I had to keep my neck and ear warm otherwise my neck would stiffen up. I can’t work on my classic cars, as getting up and down from underneath them causes my head to ache, and the balance problems.

 

Monday, January 13, 2003 - Thirty-five Days Post-Op:

I called surgeon today, and made an appointment for February 4, 2003. I specifically asked about the advisability of travel to Mexico, and also of having dental work done. I got an OK on the dental work but a NO on the travel, at least until he sees me.

I am basically feeling good, though a bit fragile, with all above-mentioned symptoms diminishing daily. SPASM FREE !!!!!!!

Several people, including my son have mentioned that I look totally different since the operation.

It sure feels different and will have a great impact on the rest of my life. I read or heard somewhere that “You are your face”, and it is mostly true………..except for those suffering from HFS. However, it is the way the world perceives us. My face did not reflect the real me for 17 years. What a relief to be spasm free, and have a face that works.