MVD Diary - Elizabeth Clark

Surgery performed by:   Dr. Jonathan Chilton
Surgical Location:          Research Medical Center, Kansas City, MO (USA)
Surgery Date:                 December 13, 2005

Diary prepared by:         Elizabeth Clark
Date diary finalized:       January 15, 2006

 

Tuesday, December 13, 2005 – "MVD DAY":

 Pre-Op - at Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri. (USA). The nurse started an IV and I was visited by an Anesthesiologist who took my medical history. My vital signs were taken and I gowned up for surgery with the ever fashionable elastic stockings.

Wheeled to the Operating Room - where I was welcomed by several nurses and the attending Anesthesiologist. There was a large bank of monitors to one side of the room with a nurse in front of them. There was the instrument nurse, a nurse by my side and a nurse working with the Anesthesiologist. One nurse said they had started the IV and then they placed a clear plastic mask over my mouth and nose and told me to breathe deeply.

Next I was waking up in Recovery - Surgery was over. Another nurse was asking me my name and if I knew where I was and what year it was. The first thing I focused on was the wall across the room with a large round clock. I remember saying, "thank you Lord for bringing me through this surgery."

My mouth was very dry and I asked for a swab. The nurse swabbed my lips and mouth and told me I could swallow this stuff. "I don’t think so," I said, but thanks anyway. She then gave me ice chips, which felt much better.

Not sure when I learned the surgery was successful, I think the doctor came in to see me in Recovery, I remember he told me it had been a very large compression and that the spasm was as bad as it was going to get.

Next stop ICU - As I started to regain complete consciousness I began feeling around to see what had been done. I had a large bandage over the incision that was behind my left ear. I didn’t feel much pain on the left side of my head due to it being numb. I had more headache pain than anything else. I also experienced a lot of muscle pain in my upper arms and shoulder. When I later discussed this with the doctor he told me that due to my size I had to be positioned carefully and then restrained so I would be in the proper position at all times and not have the weight of my upper body straining forward. Later on I was advised that my head had been in a vise type device. I did have three very tender spots on my skull.

While in ICU I noticed I had a lot of monitors attached to me. My blood pressure was low for almost 24 hours and my oxygen level was border line. Nurses kept reminding me to breathe deeply. Apparently I was catheterized while in surgery because I noticed they came in to drain the catheter bag. I still had my IV and an ‘artery’ catheter in my right wrist that had been stitched to my skin.

My daughter spoke with me briefly and told me that doctor said my surgery ran about 3 ˝ hours and I came through it perfectly. Thank you Lord!

They asked me to rate my pain on a scale of 1-10. At the highest level of pain they gave me Morphine. When the level was lower than 7 they gave me Darvocet. I had one very painful headache while in the hospital. It encompassed my entire head and throbbed at the top of my skull. I had to sleep that one off. I have had two more headaches like that since I have been at home.

 

Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - Day after surgery:

 On the neurological/orthopedic floor - The next day I noticed the numbness around the incision going away. I started experiencing twinges of pain and soreness at the incision site. On this day the doctor came to visit and removed my bandage and said it was healing nicely and I didn’t need a bandage any longer. Dr Chilton told me I had about a 4 inch incision and he drilled a hole slightly smaller than a silver dollar. Originally Dr said the hole would be about the size of a quarter. Must have been inflation? Oh and I was also to start getting up and moving around.


Getting up and moving around was somewhat wobbly at first. I did experience dizziness. I also noticed I had lost a bit of my hearing. Felt like I had been on an airplane. Sometime later I started getting that ‘earache’ noise in my head. (like air rushing through my skull).

I was very sensitive to light and sound. Dr said that was normal and would eventually go away. The nurse removed my catheter and I was free to roam. But I didn’t roam very far. They brought a commode to my bedside. After I started getting steadier I was able to walk to the bathroom. I asked them to stop the Morphine because I didn’t feel like it let me rest and it kind of left me feeling depressed. I used Darvocet from then on and was able to rest for longer periods of time.

 

Friday, December 16, 2005 - Day 3 Post-Op:

 Released to go home - The ride home was awful. The light, sound and motion were very hard on me. I kept my eyes closed for most of the drive. I needed help getting up the front steps due to being lightheaded. Once in my own bed I realized I was exhausted.

I slept on my back for the first two weeks and am now able to sleep on my side. I do need good neck support while sleeping otherwise I wake up with a headache.

 

Monday, January 09, 2006 - 4 Weeks Post-Op:

 I returned to work - happy to be productive once again. At this time I only need to take Advil for pain, can sleep pretty comfortably and only experience a little bit of unsteadiness (usually when I am very tired). I am getting stronger each day, I am very pleased with the results of my surgery, my doctors and the care I received.

 

Monday, January 16, 2006 - 5 Weeks Post-Op:

 First week of work: -
  • Monday evening: went home and took a nap before I went to bed.  
  • Tueday evening: had to rest before getting my dinner.   
  • Wednesday evening: had to rest before my daughter gave me my dinner.   
  • Thursday evening: had snack and went to bed.   
  • Friday evening: took shower, ate take out, went to bed.   
It was an exhausting week, I realize now I should have taken at least 2 more weeks sick leave. While in the hospital I had kicked caffeine and stopped using products containing aspartane. I have opted for more vegetables than meats and carbs. I am adding a multivitamin to my diet this week (had previously taken vitamins prior to surgery).

Overall, I am feeling very good. Some muscle weakness in my legs from low activity level. Have had very mild headaches. Wound is healing nicely, and is beginning to get itchy. My hair is growing back over the scar.

.

Permission granted the HFSA to post MVD Diary on website.
Elizabeth Clark, January 16, 2006

 

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