My MVD is 6/17 and I'm scared and excited at the same time. I'm 48 years old and just ready to get this over with. Tn has made my life hard enough and I want to fight back anyway I can. Work hasn't made things any easier either, they are trying to get me decleared unfit for duty. I'm a police officer so its hard enough to do things, I don't need the added stress.
If any of you can think of anything to make everything easier after I get home please reply. In advance, thank you. I've never had an operation, let alone brain surgery, so your thoughts and prayers really mean a lot to me...Houston Man
Hi Houston Man, it is nice to meet you. Surgery is always a big deal and brain surgery is especially daunting. Regardless of what some folks may try to tell you it is a very big deal and I respect your choice. After my MVD surgery last fall I found it helpful to sleep in a recliner for a few days. It was easier than sleeping flat on my back. I also kept a good supply of natural ginger candies close at hand to help with the nausea. My biggest issue was the bowel obstruction which came 13 days later. My husband and I were so caught up in my head care that we completely forgot about the lower half. The sleepy meds also put your bowels to sleep and that combined with pain meds can really cause trouble for the bowels. Be sure to get a stool softner and /or laxative before leaving the hospital. Drink plenty of water and eat healthy things like fruits and veggies after surgery. Your body will need time to “wake up” and begun functioning normally after several hours of surgery. All the best and keep us posted.
Houston- you have a big job ahead of you!! Going into my MVD, I had 3 c- sections, and another surgery. There is a definite awareness of allowing all those people to poke, prod, and help you in ways that you haven’t experienced since you were a toddler!! My advice is, just roll with it!
Remember, it’s technically “only” cranial surgery! Haha!
Seriously, take it easy, you might feel totally normal, but your surgery site is a stationary area ( your head) and it’s hard to remember that you need to heal. It’s important to take it easy, have food prepared and easy to get at. Not high or heavy. Tylenol can be a great post- surgery pain management. The great narcotics that you take home can be good, but also don’t let you feel normal.
I went in with a positive frame of mind, but with no expectations . I wasn’t disappointed, and could deal with challenges. I was mentally ready for anything that got thrown at me.
Wishing you a short surgery, smooth recovery and no complications!!!
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions . 9 months, pain and pill free. Type 1 TN pain for 5 years.
1) Having made your decision to go ahead with the surgery, try to keep a positive frame of mind and realistic expectations, understanding and accepting the risks. If you don't know what these are, then some research would be good. I think a calm state of mind pre-surgery is always a good thing.
2) Have someone you know and trust agree to come in an talk to you post surgery, before you wake up. I didn't plan for this myself, but someone came in and did that for me and it was a great comfort to me.
3) Drink LOTS of water, minimum 2lt a day post surgery.
4) Bring some ginger cookies (or fresh ginger slices) in with you, and let them be the first thing you start to nibble on post surgery. Ginger is well known to combat nausea, and nausea is quite common post surgery. Do not worry if you find your appetite is gone, you won't suffer any ill effects from not eating for a few days, as long as you drink plenty of water. If you have any excess weight as I did, this is a good time to kick start a weight loss program, or just a few days of fasting.
5) Catch up on all your lost sleep in the days post surgery, you will continue to heal while you're sleeping.
6) Headaches post surgery are quite common for a few days, so don't be alarmed if you get some of those.
Wishing you all the very best and many pain-free days ahead.
I agree with all of the above! I was diagnosed with TN in Jan. 2012. I had my MVD on Dec. 5. After 3 months, I am pain free and am about to drop the last 200 mg. of Tegretol. At the time of surgery, I was on 30 mg. of Baclofen and 800 mg. of Tegretol daily. I think the suggestion of ginger cookies is excellent. Immediately after surgery, I had some nausea and wouldn't eat anything, especially since it would come upon me very suddenly. Because of the nausea, I wouldn't take the oxycodone they offered, but only the IV pain med. What I discovered the next morning, from my outstanding Critical Care nurse, was that nausea feeds on itself. She wanted me to take the oxycodone because it leveled off the pain. The IV med worked quickly, but also wore off quickly. Once she convinced me to eat a little (tea, broth, toast), the nausea disappeared, and I was able to take the oxycodone. From that time on, I improved rapidly. Once home, I only needed pain meds for about a week and a half and was decreasing them after just a few days.
Also, I literally could not lift my head off the pillow for about 18 hrs. after the surgery. I was a little panicked. But it got better.
I don't have a recliner at home, so I slept sitting up for the first 4-5 nights at home. A recliner would have been perfect.
Definitely have stool softeners/laxatives at home. Even with them, it was almost a week before things returned to normal!
And the best advice of all ~ listen to your body and rest as much as possible. I followed that advice and was able to return to work (high school special education teacher) after 5 weeks. One other thing that I'd read a lot on this site, and I'm finding to be very true, is that it takes 6 months to a year for all of the effects of surgery to go away. In my case, parts of my scalp are still numb; I have some numbness in my lip, tongue and chin; and my hearing is still not 100%.
Best wishes for your surgery and recovery. Use this site to post whatever questions you have. There aren't many other places that have so much information. People are always willing to help!
Thank you everyone so much for all the helpful suggestion and advice. I am sure in the weeks and days to come I will be pestering you with more questions...
Houston man, just wanted to let you know I’ll be thinking of you, sending positive thoughts for a great outcome!
Definitely post as soon as you’re able too!
Most important tip I can pass on to you, take care of you and let your body guide you in the recovery process!
Mimi
Houston Man i have 1 question. why is it so far away? I had mine with in 2 weeks of requestiong it. back in 2011.
its a piece of cake operation. unfofortunately it only lasted 6 months, so now i am requesting another one, i go for my MRI tomorrow, and hopefully he will ok the 'redo' and ill be in the hosp asapp.
Just know it will be over before you even know it. goodd luck (sorry my typos - its the heavy meds) lol
The timing is at my request. The doc could have done it the same week it was ok'd but I have work and other things to get in line before I can be down that long. I'm a police officer and the doc said he won't allow me to go back to work for 6-8 weeks so I have to plan for that much time off. Otherwise I would have done it sooner. Last wed/thur/fri was so bad I would have considered doing it to myself if it would have stopped the pain.
Wishing you all the best houston man! I'm still in the "exploring what path to take" step; and with today's severe pain, I'm really wanting permanent relief. Ultimately, I'll probably go with the MVD surgery too, but I can surely understand the combination of excitement and fear you are experiencing. I totally agree with Maur that keeping a positive attitude is really important. Also keep visualizing yourself coming through the surgery totally successfully without complications!
houston man said:
The timing is at my request. The doc could have done it the same week it was ok'd but I have work and other things to get in line before I can be down that long. I'm a police officer and the doc said he won't allow me to go back to work for 6-8 weeks so I have to plan for that much time off. Otherwise I would have done it sooner. Last wed/thur/fri was so bad I would have considered doing it to myself if it would have stopped the pain.
