Hi all,
My Dad is scheduled to have an MVD next week and I’m wondering if anyone has any advice on what we can do to prepare, what to expect etc. I couldn’t find a guide on this site for MVDs, but if anyone has any advice, I’d really appreciate it!
He is still recovering from a DVT and PEs and a severe allergic reaction to Tegretol. We are hopeful this will alleviate a lot of his pain.
Cheers,
Piny.
You can search the group tab …for aussie group here…
But i think about the same
In US is one night in intensive care
One night in regular room…
Then go home and sleep for 2-3 weeks!
At home
Some sleep with special pillows or recliner chairs as neck and headache can be verrry uncomfortable.
Have some easy made meals for him… No straining or bending !
If there is residual TN pain…get lidocaine patches for face
Sometimes takes weeks or months for TN PAIN to get less.
Takes a whole year for everything to get back to normalish.
Sometimes older people need help…laxatives at home after surgery…pain meds can constpate.
Hope this helps!
http://www.livingwithtn.org/group/mvds?commentId=2413731%3AComment%3A259355
Hi Piny,
The above link has a wealth of information as well as personal experiences.
Have a look through for some great tips and a general sense if what to expect.
Sending positive thoughts for your Dad’s surgery!
((. Hugs. )) Mimi
Piny - . I am 3 weeks post op. I had my fears, as most everyone else. But, I knew that it was that, or continue losing a peice of my life, month by month. I was on Tegretol, actually, I still am since I'm in process of still being weaned off of it. (it important, since it can cause seizures, if going off it too quickly) My surgeon agrees with this, plus for the first 2 weeks, he wanted me to continue taking the dosage that I had been, until the nerve had time to settle down after the surgey. I had been on 1000mg, and a week or 2 before surgery, I brought myself down to 800mg. At that point my pain level was constant anyway, but I wanted to get a jump start on the weaning off process. I'm down to 400mg now.
As KC mention - Following surgery, recovery is in ICU, then if all goes well, the next day you go to a regular room, where I was until the next morning, when a flood of people came to evaluate various things. (OT,PT,nurses, doctors,techs,the anesthia doctor) Then I was released. I was shaky when walking, so they sent me home with a walker (which I only used 1 day, didn't need it after that) These same people saw me while in ICU as well, but some were mainly concerned because I couldn't raise my right arm - but little by little that returned to normal, before they even moved me into the regular room. I didn't expect to come home so fast, so that was a pleasant surprise.
After getting home, I had to sleep with my head no lower than 30 degrees. I don't think that that was even for a week. Ihad bought cans of soup, and had froze a few meals - but I was able to do some cooking 2 days later. It was just very imoprtant not to bend. So, as long as I kept my head up...I can't say that I actually had a headache - to me, it felt more like pressure in my head (which I still have a little bit of those feelings) and soreness at various parts of my head and where the incision is. Nothing in comparrison to that TN pain. Which, by the way - I knew within minutes of waking up after surgery - that it was gone! I read somewhere on here, that having a pillow for the ride home, would help. It may have a little, but I live some 2 hrs away from the hospital that I had my surgery at. What would have helped more...would be having no bumps in the streets. haha - I know, impossible. So, I'd brace myself and lift up off the seat a little, when I saw one coming. I had learned that from the TN pain though, because it always triggered shocks, etc for me before.
This is too long, since it's all so fresh
. But from the time I woke up after surgery - everyone I know - has welcomed me back. I was able to talk, laugh, touch my hair - things I hadn't been able to do for many months since all the meds they kept trying, had me so....not me.
Feel free to "friend" me, and if I can help in any way, at any time....I'm not a doctor, I only know how my continued recovery has made a world of difference for however long it will last (hopefully the rest of my life)
Best wishes, prayers, and lots of hugs, to both you and your dad. Remember, think positive. Any outcome, is better than living with TN and that drugged up feeling, while still being in pain.
domelover (Noreen)
Thank you so much everyone! My Dad is going in tomorrow. I’m a bit nervous but it’s helped me to read your experiences 
Kc dancer Kc - thank you for the tips on the pillows, I’m not sure if they took one with them, but I will ask my mum tomorrow!
Mimi - thank you for the link and positive thoughts I was looking for this kind of information so this is very helpful thanks!
Noreen - wow, 3 weeks ago, you experienced all of this so recently then! I’m glad you got the movement back in your arm. Thank you for sharing your experience, it just helps so much to know what to expect and the support of others who understand is so valuable.
I am hoping that everything goes ok tomorrow!
Cheers,
Piny.
If your father has a history of DVT, make sure he has pressure stocks on his legs. When I had my surgery, I had leg massagers hooked up to a compressor. Pain meds and the medicines to put people to sleep can cause severe constipation, I am proof of that.
All the best to your dad.
Sarah
Sarah - I too, am proof of that constipation business. The hospital wanted me to continue on softners, that they gave me throughout - but even though I don't like prunes - I went that route after getting home. The less meds, etc that I could take, the better. Even the slightess bit of a strain, caused pressure in the head - which was a very strange feeling. How things connect in our bodies, goes un noticed, until times like these.
I'm one month, post op - and down to taking 1, 200mg Tegretol and one or two Aleve. Plus, the magnesium and Vit D, which I think were low because of the amount of Tegretol and other meds I was on. I'm hoping to be done taking meds all together very soon. I just always have to remind myself still, to take things as slow as I can for now. But, happily doing well. I was even outside in the wind yesterday.
Piny - know that I'm with you and your dad in spirit, and wish him all the best throughout.
Let us know!
In my thoughts and prayers!
Wow - I never would have thought of the issue with constipation and head pressure, but of course that makes so such sense!
Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers!
My Dad has come through the operation ok He has some pain in the back of his head (understandably), And he has some numbness around his mouth but he was able to eat something and all his vitals are good! He is in ICU overnight, so hopefully if his CT scan is ok in the morning, he will be allowed back on the ward
Has anyone experienced the numbness and had the feeling come back? I know it can be a complication of the surgery, but I’m wondering if it’s sometimes not permanent…
Hello Piny:
I didn't experience any numbness - but it makes a lot of sense. There are a lot of nerves near where the MVD would have been performed. It is likely just a temporary thing, and should clear up in a couple of months.
It has been a long struggle for me, but I would do it all again in a heartbeat. Of course I dont need to now, but if my GN returned - I wouldnt hesitate.
Smash
Hi Piny, So happy that the surgery went well. You may already know the results of the CT scan by now. But, I couldn't raise my right arm because of the numbness it seemed to have. I don't remember even having the CT scan in the morning after - but it came out fine and within 24 hrs later, the arm issue was all back to normal. Hopefully, it's the same with your dad. If not yet, it will be. I've read that alot of people have a numbness feeling at one place or another...but most seem to have the feeling come back sooner or later. My doctor had said that all the strange feelings inside my head within this past month, are all just from all the trauma that nerve has been through, throughout.
I'm at 1 month recovery, and haven't taken any Aleve this week and am down to 200mg of Tegretol. Day by day, I feel like myself again. It's great! Like so many others...I'd do it all again if I had to.
You will soon see this in your dad. Each day, will be better than the day before. It's almost like being re-born. :)
Piny said:
Wow - I never would have thought of the issue with constipation and head pressure, but of course that makes so such sense!
Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers!
My Dad has come through the operation ok :) He has some pain in the back of his head (understandably), And he has some numbness around his mouth but he was able to eat something and all his vitals are good! He is in ICU overnight, so hopefully if his CT scan is ok in the morning, he will be allowed back on the ward :)
Has anyone experienced the numbness and had the feeling come back? I know it can be a complication of the surgery, but I'm wondering if it's sometimes not permanent...
How is your dad doing Piny?
Hi Noreen, he’s going well so far - thanks!
He still has numbness on his mouth, so I imagine it will be hanging around for some time now. But his relief from the TN pain is excellent - he is feeling very good. The incision is very large - I don’t think I was expecting it to be so large. Do you know how big the piece of bone is that they remove? For some reason I thought it would be relatively small…
I'm thinking mine was about a half dollar size??? I'm not sure but mine seemed to be a shorter scar in length than some pictures I've seen here.....My incision was about less than 2 inches
I think the incision is not indicating what size of bone they take... somebody can correct me.