jbahr last modified: January 4, 2010
Personal Information
Login: jbahr
Name: JoAnn Bahr
City: Hartland
State: Wisconsin
Country: United States
Gender: Female
Marital Status: Married
Occupation: homemaker
Age at HFS Onset: 38
Side Affected: Left
Year of HFS Onset: 1999
 
Treatment History
Symptoms Experienced: Started with an eye twitch in left eye that would not go away. Spasms moved to upper left cheek and then whole left side of my face was affected.
Medications Tried: Tried anti-seizure meds but had extreme dizziness
Alternative Treatments Tried: Tried acupuncture after being off Botox for one year. I had no improvement. Treatments were expensive and not covered by insurance.
Tried Botox?: Yes
Still Using Botox?: No
Botox Comments: Was on Botox treatment on and off for seven years. I had some relief when the symptoms were concentrated in my eye and cheek area. When spasms moved to cheek, lip and lower chin area, Botox injections were hit or miss as to effectiveness. Largere doses were needed and left the left side of my face with a "frozen" look that I did not like and looked very strange in pictures. I have been off Botox for over one year.
MVD?: Yes
Number of MVD's: 1
Date of Last MVD: December 1, 2009
Doctor's Name: Dr. Michael J. Link
Facility MVD Performed: St. Mary's Hospital
Rochester, MN (USA)

Spasm Free?: Yes
Any MVD Complications?:
Comments: MVD Comments: Update as of 01/04/10 - As of today I am declaring myself spasm free. I have no complications from surgery. My hearing is intact, no vertigo, no nausea and no facial paralysis. I do have that full feeling in my left ear, but Dr. Link is confident that will go away in time. It clears up a little when I blow my nose or cough, so I think that it will clear up soon. I’ve had HFS for ten years, a long time to have the facial nerve compressed.
http://www.hfs-assn.org/members/jbahr
Control Panel

The Hemifacial Spasm Homepage