MVD Diary - Sharon Erwin

Surgery performed by:   Dr. David Masel
Surgical Location:         Sierra Medical Center, El Paso, TX (USA)
Surgery Date:                December 09, 2002

Diary prepared by:        Sharon Erwin
Date diary finalized:      January 12, 2003 (Updated 02/03/03)

THE JOURNEY BEGINS

 

Thursday, November 21, 2002 - First meeting with Neurosurgeon:

 I am going to begin my journey with the first appointment I had with the neurosurgeon that I hoped would rid my body of the “spasm demon”. After researching the problem on my own and finding out that I might have to go to another area for the surgery, I realized that in order to have my insurance pay for the surgery, I would have to have a referral.

My appointment was for late afternoon, but it ended up being early evening before I was seen. This man must really be in demand!!

I sat in the exam room looking at all of the posters on the wall. Wondering if this spasm and twitching would ever really stop.

Dr. David Masel and his PA, Joe, entered the room with the medical information I had brought from one of my neurologists. As he entered, he asked me how long I had HFS. I guess it was very obvious. We talked and he read and we talked about other things like my job. He then asked me when I wanted surgery. He said, “Would Dec. 30 be OK?” I really thought in my mind that I would have to wait another 6 months before we would be able to do it. I asked him about the wait after Botox® and he stated that as long as he could see movement in my face that it wasn’t necessary. He was very impressed with the “homework” I had done on this condition. Thanks to the association, I was able to understand and discuss everything thoroughly.

I told him I would get back to him the next day, I needed to discuss things with my school and family. As it turned out, he couldn’t schedule me for that day.

 

Saturday, November 23, 2002 - MRI Day in El Paso:

 Well, my last MRI was too old for his liking. I am now on my way to El Paso for a new one. I am so glad they could do this on a Saturday. What luck. Things are really moving fast.

 

Tuesday, December 3, 2002 - Scheduled MVD:

 I had to have it done, if possible, before the end of the calendar year as our insurance companies were changing and I knew that would really be a big mess. The scheduling office got back with me and told me that the only date available was Dec. 9. That seemed awfully soon, but I told them to put my name in that time slot and I would get back with them if it wasn’t possible.

 

Wednesday, December 4, 2002 - Final Arrangements:

 I have arranged with the school for a substitute teacher, I have been in contact with the disability insurance, and school district employees benefits office. I guess we are on our way.

 

Friday, December 6, 2002 - Pre-op formalities:

 Said good-bye to the students and told them I would see them after the holiday break. I am sure they weren’t too sad to see me go for awhile. Went to the hospital before going home to see a friend and to take care of all the necessary pre-op stuff.

 

Sunday, December 8, 2002 - First meeting with Neurosurgeon:

 I am so lucky to find someone who could do this now and also close to home. I guess the “BIG” guy above really is in control. How often we forget. I was really not able to sleep that night. I had worked in getting everything in order financially and legally. I had packed my medications they told me to bring and arranged for my best friend to take me to the hospital the next morning. I didn’t want my parents to have to get up so early. I have to be at the hospital at 5:30 a.m. That means we need to leave at 4:30 a.m. Of course, I could not sleep. The spasms were terrible and the anxiety added to the problems.

 

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

 This is the “Big” day. Took my shower and washed my hair. I had my beautician cut it short yesterday. That way it wouldn’t look so odd when they shaved the side.

Arrived at the hospital and admissions at 5:15 a.m. they wouldn’t open the office until 5:30 a.m. More anxiety!! They soon took us down to the pre-op area where they would take blood and other things. My surgery is not scheduled until 9:30 a.m., so why am I here so early. Was told that was the way Dr. Masel likes it.

My friend had to leave and go to work, but said he would be back to see me during surgery or just after. Don’t have any glasses on so can’t read, now I am just bored and of course, I am getting hungry. Tried to rest, but am too nervous. Thank goodness, our associate pastor comes to visit and stays with me until they take me to surgical “holding”.

I am wheeled to “holding” about 10:00 a.m. My family is already there waiting for me. Things progress pretty fast now. The anesthesiologist comes in and explains what he will be doing and asks about medications, etc. Then the audiologist comes in to check her equipment with my hearing on the right ear. I am so glad to find out they will be monitoring this to.

They wheel me into the OR. The anesthesiologist puts in the IV and tells me that I will begin to relax and enjoy the sleep. That was the last thing I knew before I came to in ICU. I don’t remember the recovery room. I only remember my sister talking to me with my best friend there also. I am getting sick from the anesthesia, they give something to help that. The nurses usher the family out because my blood pressure is getting too high and have them go home and wait for awhile. Dr. Masel comes in to check on me and I realize for the first time, I am SPASM FREE. He says he’ll be back in the morning to check on me and leaves me in the good hands of the ICU staff. This was my first experience of having one-on-one care. Also, I had all male nurses. Great odds for a single woman. Too bad I don’t feel too great.

I have a massive headache! They have a headgear over my incision area and ear. I think it looks sort of like one-half of a wrestler’s headgear. I bet I look a site. Good thing there aren’t any mirrors. They were good to keep the drugs coming, so I slept a lot. Early morning, or late night, I don’t know…my IV in the left arm blows. I have a lot of fluid in it. it really hurts. The nurses come and try to get another one going. My veins look great, but they roll around and they have a hard time getting it going again. A new “saint” comes in and does the trick. Ice packs on the other arm to get the swelling down.

I still don’t know if it is the same day or what, but now I am very thirsty. They don’t want me to drink anything because of the nausea. JUST GIVE ME ICE!!!! That is the best ice I have had in my life!!

The traffic is heavier in the hall. I am aware of a lot of people moving about. What are they doing? I think they are filming a commercial? I guess I look pretty funny, because everyone who walks by looks in the room. My hearing is OK, but it sounds like I have water in my right ear. Popping noises.

 

Tuesday, December 10, 2002 - The Day After:

Well, I guess it really is another day. Dr. Masel had come in to see me and has Joe, the PA, to take out the drain tube from behind my ear. There doesn’t seem to be must fluid in the bag, so they tell me they are going to move me to a regular room as soon as there is one available. Joe removes the tube and stitches the incision closed. That stopped the water noise for awhile. The ear still has a “stopped-up” feeling, but I can hear.

I finally get some liquid food. Broth, Jell-O, Tea, great meal. I was so hungry.

Since I was able to keep it down they felt I would be ok on the surgical floor. They finally wheel me to a “regular room”. I had requested a private room, and most of them are on that floor. I am glad for the privacy. Slept a lot the rest of the morning. Woke up once to see my best friend with a great smile on his face. I think he was laughing at my headgear. I had a couple of other visitor’s but was really not up to much visiting. The headache was pretty intense.

I don’t know about other people who have undergone surgery, but the medications you get can leave with some pretty strange thoughts. It seemed to be very noisy in the hallway all night. The hospital is not a place to get a lot of sleep. They keep coming into take vitals, and give meds. I was thankful for the pain medications.

 

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

I was greeted pretty early by Dr. Masel and Joe. He wanted to know how I was doing and was there anything I needed. He looked at the incision site and asked if I wanted to go home. Of course, I said yes, but wanted to know if that was going to be OK. He said sure, he’d get the paper work going and I could leave when all of that was done. Oh, he was kind enough to remove my headgear. I was growing so fond of it! HA!

The nurses' aid came in with breakfast. Great, real food. My stomach was in shock. I couldn’t eat all of it.

The aid came back and asked if I was ready for a shower. You bet! The best thing next to the ice chips the day before. After I showered, I began trying to get in touch with family so I could go home. My sister called about 11:00 and I told her to hurry and come to get me. She was surprised that I was going home so soon. Me, too. I got all of my follow-up orders and prescriptions for pain meds. Dr. Masel was going to London for the holidays, so would not see him until the 31st.

We headed home around 12:00 noon. Didn’t even get another “meal?” in the hospital. We stopped at Burger King on the way out of El Paso. It was a tiring ride home as we live an hour away from El Paso. I stayed at my parent’s house for the next week. We thought it would be best for me not to be alone.

I did a lot of sleeping in the recliner. At night, we had put a foam wedge on the bed. It helped to have my head elevated.

 

Friday, December 13, 2002 - Four Days Post-op:

The pain in my head is different. I think I have developed a sinus infection on top of the surgery pain. I also begin throwing up again. I couldn’t figure this out for awhile, but just decided to stick with the bland diet, tea, toast, and 7-up. I really seem to be dizzy.

 

Saturday, December 14, 2002 - Five Days Post-op:

Today is a little better. Not as nauseated. Keeping up with the bland diet. I don’t feel too good and do a lot of sleeping.

 

Sunday, December 15, 2002 - Six Days Post-Op:

Today is Sunday, it has been almost a week since the surgery. I sure wish I could wash the hair I have left. I am vomiting again. So I begin to figure out that I have vertigo in conjunction with a sinus infection and the fluid in my ear. My temperature is staying between 99 and 100. I will call the doctor first thing in the morning. This has me concerned.

My mother picked up some medication from the pharmacy for motion sickness. This has certainly helped, so I feel certain the nausea is from the vertigo.

 

Monday, December 16, 2002 - Seven Days Post-Op:

Dr. Masel’s office want me to get to a doctor about the temp. and vertigo. I finally get into see my parent’s physician (all of doctor’s are in El Paso and I don’t feel like making that trip). He says I do have a sinus infection and gives me some antibiotics and decongestants for the drainage. I keep taking the motion sickness meds because it really does help. I am able to eat more substantial food now.

 

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

I have decided I need to go home to my own bed. I think I will sleep better. I actually live next door to my parents, so I have someone to check on me. Mom insists on bringing me food. It was good to be at home, but really couldn’t sleep as well as I had hoped. I am having to keep up the pain meds for the headaches.

The rest of the month was fairly uneventful. I have had the vertigo off and on during this time. The medication I got earlier seems to help. I don’t continue to vomit, but do feel nauseous and have had a lot of stomach cramping.

 

Tuesday, December 31, 2002 - Twenty-two Days Post-Op:

Well, I get to get the staples and stitches out today. My neighbor is going to drive me to El Paso. They said that I couldn’t drive until I had my follow-up visit.

I am kind of leery about the staples coming out. The head sure seems to be sensitive. There is still the surgical tape over the staples and stitches, so I haven’t been able to see what it really looks like. I have a camera ready for pictures of the incision site as soon as they take that off.

Joe won’t take the picture until he cleans up the area. The only thing that hurt was the surgical tape coming off, and the nearby hair being pulled out with it. Joe took out the staples, cleaned the area and took the picture. The incision site is very numb. I am wondering how long that will last. The outer part of my ear is also numb. At times it burns, so I am realizing that the nerves are trying to heal.


Dr. Masel wants to see me in about six weeks. So I make that appointment. He give me release papers to return to work on the 9th of January. I still have not gotten a lot of my strength back yet.


 

Sunday, January 5, 2002 - Twenty-seven Days Post-Op:

I have been working on getting ready to go back to work. I have to see my regular physician tomorrow. I am still having problems with the vertigo and sinuses. But, the sinus stuff is a common problem for me.

My hair is really growing back in. I hope to get a trim on the other side this week to even out the “do”.

I have sent some pictures with this diary. They are of before and after face shots and the incision site after the staples were removed. I hope this has helped some of you to know about the surgery. It has given me my life back.

God bless all of you that have gone before us and have helped develop this website for those who need to know.