There’s been a couple posts from the past, I know, but hoping there may be some more stories. Reading personal experiences, good or bad, are oddly soothing for me.
I’m having MVD this coming Thursday. My surgeon specializes in TN but he made it sound a lot more “easy” than the person stories I’ve read. My surgery is at 6am and he expects me to be ready to go home by noon the next day. Worst case I stay until noon Saturday. I haven’t read a single story where the person only stays one day. Has anyone actually left that early?
Just looking for everyone’s surgery experience if you’d like to share!
Hi Miranda
I have MVD on both my right and left sides. Both times I spent two nights in the hospital. The first night was in ICU, and the second in a step down room. Although I did feel better than I expected too after surgery, I can not imagine going home the next day. Despite what your surgeon predicts, I suggest you see how you feel after surgery, and try to stay the extra day.
Best of luck with your surgery! Please keep us posted.
Christine
Best of luck on your upcoming MVD surgery. You are giving yourself , imho, the best shot at long term pain relief. You are fixing the problem. Not masking it with Meds.
My story is easily found on the site. I could have gone home after one night but I opted to stay an extra day to be sure. No worries and pain free since 7/17/2012.
Hi Miranda. In the nearly 20 years that I've been writing for and providing support to chronic face pain patients, I've talked with a lot of people on both sides of an MVD. My guess or impression from literally thousands of conversations is that the average in-hospital time for an MVD is around three to four days. I've talked with people who left within two days, and with others who had complications from the procedure and stayed two weeks to resolve those complications. The "big issues" to watch for in the immediate post-MVD period seem to be CNS fluid leaks, and secondary infections of the surgical incision site (~10% of cases seem to have these issues). Both of those issues should be caught early by any properly trained surgical and after-care team. And your surgeon should provide you with a phone contact for follow-up questions or concerns once you're home.
Others please feel free to add your own experience to this thread.
Rick, I just went to your profile to fin your story and relished, for whatever reason, I have been unable to open that link all day. I tried multiple times reading another thread as well. So, for the moment, reading the title as a positive experience helps already
I’m scheduled for MVD on Friday 9/11/15. My neurosurgeon is projecting one night Neuro icu and one night regular room. No guaranties as to length of stay. It’s patient and complications dependent
Neurosurgeon is dr Richard bucholz of St. Louis
Rick, I just went to your profile to fin your story and relished, for whatever reason, I have been unable to open that link all day. I tried multiple times reading another thread as well. So, for the moment, reading the title as a positive experience helps already :)
Hi, I had my MVD done on a Monday and was released on Thursday. Stayed Wednesday night due to low blood pressure. Pain for incision area and where head restraint was placed otherwise no TN pain.
Hi! I had my MVD a while ago but I stayed several days with one day in the Neuro icu.
I detailed the entire MVD experience including the timeframes (hubby posted some updates while I was in surgery) Mytnjournal.blogspot.com is where my full story exists. I hope this helps. I even have a MVD packing list on what to bring.
I was one night in ICU, and I think 2 nights in a ward. Mainly to ensure no fluid leaks, no fever and blood pressure ok. I had to be able to walk up the hallway ok on my own etc before I could be discharged.
Let me know how it went. Dr. Efron is doing mine coming up. He gave the same "it's easy" speach. Still, I got good vibes from him and his background is excellent. He also has good reviews online.
