The MVD Surgery was a Success

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I live in Cleveland Ohio. My Surgery was to take place at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh Pa. Jan 4 the time was here.

and I was ready, the Van was load up and me my husband my Mom, my Aunt who had came here from Alabama, and my son was on the road headed to PA I had a 2:00pm appt.We arrived at the hotel about 12:30pm We arrived at AGH at about 1:45pm after sitting there for about 1 1/2 I was told I had to a hearing test at 3:00pm I just kept praying please God no attack! I was told I did good with the hearing test, they said people are having attacks to were they cant even do the test. after the hearing test I was sent back to the waiting area to meet with Dr Sekular, Now let me tell you I am a person who believed I have faith with all my heart (Walk by faith not by sigh) my attack was so bad I did want to live my life any more, I am a very active person and I have a lot to live for.

Finally Dr Sekula came in young dr not even 40 I would guess, before he could say one word I felt a clam and cool that came over me. I was going to be ok. I was not scared my Family was more scared than I was, All I know was if this is what it was going to take to be pain free I was ready, I had done my reschearch and found that Dr Sekula, was one of the top Surgeon in the world. He explain to me he had perform over 700 of these type of surgery. After asking me a few questions he said the Odds was in my favor. That was all my family need to know. So the surgery was set for Jan 6,

Jan 5, my husband call the hospital after 1:30 and was told I had to be at the hospital at 8:30am because my surgery was set at 10:30am.

Jan6 was here surgery date had arrive

at this time my sister and my cousin and daughter was on there way. which is only a 2 hour drive they arrived in 1 hour my cousin has a truck and had her foot on the gas ped doing 85mph all the way there, (lol).. Thank God we did have to go to the hospital to see them..

I was taken to a room were they was prepping me for surgery, and let me tell you all the staff at the hospital was great! At this point it was 1;00pm the nurse came in and said they was running behind. it was not until about 2:00pm before I was wheel down. But before That my Aunt placed bless oil on my head and gather every one around my bed, nurses and all, and said the most wonderful prayer any one could say. My cousin was crying up a storm. my husband was so said, so I never looked upat either one of them. The man wheeled me out of the room I throw thumbs in the hear and I was ready. God had brought peace apron me.

Now I am in the waiting area which was another hour I think it was maybe 5 minutes to 4:00pm and I was off to the operating room, the last thing I remember was placing and mask over my face. After the surgery, I was woke up by the nurse who said I did great! I was picture prefect! But I can tell you one thing I had the worst Headache you can imagine It felt like some one had bust me in the head with a slug hammer (lol)

When I was able to go to the bathroom I noticed the sore in the middle of my forhead, I was told thats were they had placed a needle in the middle of my head to control the brains waves or somthing like that. They might have been the reason for the headache, After the receover room I was placed in my own room,

I had a room by my self and my husband stayed in the room over night (My Family never left my sights) about 2:00am I told the nurse I wanted something to drink she gave me a ice chip which made my nausea and I started to throw up. My vision was also very blurry Now that scared me. I was giving some type of pain medication, but I felt like it was making me sick so I option not to take any more meds, The nurse said I was the 2nd person to option not to take medication, I just waited the pain out. I admit the first 2 days was ruff but tomorrow will come and you will have another day behind you.

While in surgery the Dr came out and talked with my family he told them I had a real bad case if TN, he said the nerve that was damaged for some reason it was swelling he asked my husband did I have high blood pressure? which I dont, also there was an arurey that was wrap around the damaged nerve, The dr told my husband surgery was the best choice, no medication would have ever help.

They kept asking did I have any numbness in my face I said no, the dr told me I have a 80% chance TN will never come back.. He told me to open my mouth wide and show him my teeth and give him a pretty smile.

I am doing very good I am pain fee, Now I know every one tn is different for every one, but you have to have a positive outlook that is what every one feel that really help me also alone with prayers, also please do research. If you are continue to take medication and it is not working you have to think of another options. Keep in mind med only code the problem not cure it, surgery often time with cure the problem. Like the dr told my husband med was not longer an option it was a waist of time. After 6 months of this monster, I beat it WITH A POSITIVE OUTLOOK I BEAT THE ODDS.. AND YOU CAN TO.

Ask God for direction and he will guide you I promise you. Good luck to all and feel free to ask me any questions. God Bless..

Diane

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Diane,

I am SO HAPPY for you!!! You must feel wonderful. You dodged a bullet - now you can live each day recognizing what a treasure you have.

((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))

Lily

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Hi Lilly, Thank you for the kinds words. I have been reading about people who had the surgery and the after after effect, I really consider my self luck. Althought I still have headaches but I know they will go away soon, so I will keep hang in there, Thank you

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Diane what a blessing you shared my walk with my large family that ( just saying my children and my Hubby) Our walk with the Lord our faith is so strong. I know at one point I was thinking about surgery. For now I will wait till my Daughter does the Chemo for her MS. Which in its self has been a long road for her and our entire family she was only 21 when we were told she had MS. She ran two restraunts and was planning to go back to collge get her degree and then join the Navy or Marines. That has all change and never can be. Our Faith in Our Heavenly Father has truely helped us all with her walk and mine.

Thank You for sharing your Blessing and family emotions wonder love and support you have.

God Bless,

Gina

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Hi Diane,

I am so happy for you. I am praying your pain will not return. And I’ve read that when an artery is found to be the culprit rather than a vein, then your chances for success are greater. You didn’t wait long to have surgery and I think will be helpful in your recovery.

By the way, where does your aunt from Alabama live? I live in Madison near Huntsville.

Please keep us posted on your progress.

Liz

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Hi Liz, Thank you for the prayers, YesI learn that the artery is not worst as the vain, I only had TN for 6 months, There is no way I could have live another day or month with this kinda of illness, thats why I don;t understand why people wait so long.. In my opinion if you are taking meds for a year and they are not working You might need to seek other alternatives. My dr here in Cleveland was not helping me becasue I dont think they are all that fimiliar, they only thing they knew was to keep giving me med's "Glory be to God" I am still doing well no attack! The Headache coutine to go away each and every day.

So thank you once again, By the way my auntie live in Montgomery Ala. Have a wonderful day. Love and Hugges Diane

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Hi Diane,

I am so..... Happy for you!!! So glad to hear you are free of TN. I do believe in the power of prayer and asking God for direction in our lives. Enjoy being pain free!!! Take Care, Linda

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Hi linda I hope your husband is doing better. I did noties you had the mvd surgry? How r u doing? Are you pian fee! Thank you diane

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Hi, Diane

My husband is doing better with each day but, he doesn't seem to think so. I think a little of depression might have started to kick in. He as always been such a very busy independent man and one who likes to take care of others and be in charge and that part has really been tough him and for all of us. Also he has never been sick before other than the flu are maybe a virus.

I did have MVD surgery on Aug. 30th last year. I am doing good. I have been pain free but I am still on medication. My Dr. wanted me to stay on it for 6 months to a year. I am though, just taking 400 mg of carbamzapine daily. I do think I could get off of it, but I still have numbness in my tongue and in my lips. My head where my incision is gets sore from time to time. I guess to, I am still just a little afraid. My surgeon said I had a vien laying on the artery and at one point it was pitching it in a V pattern. He said he packed it good and I shouldn't have any problem's but the nerve was very irritated and it would take a while for it and the incision area to heal. That is why he wanted me to stay on the medication for awhile. He said I could have some strikes before it had time to heal. I was very disappointed but I was also taking a lot of medication to control the pain and he told me I really needed to wean down slowly off of it to. I am so proud to hear your surgery was successful! Are you taking any medication's now? Linda

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Hi linda after this coimg saturday I will ber medication fee. They only reason I am still on med is becasue I am being wingerd off. The dr said there was an aruret that had wrap it self around the damaged nerves he told my husband while I was in surgery no meds would have done any ise for me. Every now and then I feel a litlle prusserm nothing major. I understnad about being scare but I guess in time it will come to pass.
How long did you have tn ?

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I had TN for about 3 years. Then I finally decided to see a Neurosurgeon when the attacks came so often and lasted so long. I was also taking a large amount of medication every 6 hours to stop them. I really didn’t want to have MVD surgery because I was so afraid. But after the surgeon looked at my MRI he said that MVD was the best way to fix it and hopefully for good. It has been 41/2 months now and I have been pain free ever since. I first had no side affects from the surgery, then I noticed the tingling in my face where the nerve runs was still there, oddly enough, that disapeared and then my tongue on the end of it became numb. Then later around my mouth and my lips mostly would become numb. The surgeon told me I might have to live with those side affects and if so , I am getting use to them. I was walking one day and noticed that I could hear a clicking noise coming from my incision, so I called my surgeon and he said that was probably the bone rubbing and ask if I had been doing a lot of walking, I said yes! a lot and he told me to slow that down for a while and give my self time to heal. My head still gets sore from time to time where the incision is though. My surgeon told me it would take at least 6 months to a year to fully recover has for has the incision growing back and healing completely. He did tell me I would probably wean myself off all medication in less than 6 months and hopefully would never see him again as a patient. It does take awhile to mend from the surgery, i thought in a month I would be going strong but do give yourself time to heal and enjoy just being pain free. By the way , how long did you have TN. It is hereditary in my family on my Mother’s side. There are 7 of us who have TN some typical and some atypical. What is so scary to me is the fact that my older brother and sister have atypical (on both sides). Linda

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Hi linda I only had the classic for about 6 months.
Can I ask you when did the numbness ocurred? Was iyt a month after you
Has surgery? Omg I pray the god this will not happen to my kids. I only have one sister and 2 kids
After surgery I only had a real bad headache . I had my surgery in pittsburgh.
And I live in cleveland. Since I vd been home last sunday I have not left the house,
I will not picked up any thing heavey. I am schedule to go back to work on march the 7th so I just rest every day. And read pray and medatate.
I am a fashion designer, my 1st show is in march in chacigo so I want to be ready. I pray to god I have side effect.
I don’t think I will have the attack again and I pray for every one who is going through this all over the world.
I don’t think my dr here is clevaland that finiliar with tn the only thing they knew was to just keep you on meds.
I told my dr I want to have the surgry. I never that that it was barin surgery, all I know was there was no way I could live another month with this monster.
The my dr tell me will be a good caandate for the surgey. I was just taking waaay to much medication.

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Hi Diane

Congratulations on being pain free. Doesn't it feel wonderfull.

I had MVD in May 2009 and have been pain free since. My only advice is to take it easy, rest alot, do not bend over and pick up anything. The headaches will go away. Wait until you are off all the meds and life gets back to normal.

So happy for you.

Connie

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Hi Diane glad every thing turned out well for you and you are pain free . pain free sound’s so wonderful hope the headach is gone also soun’s like your family really was there for you.Heal and continue to get better every day. Enjoy beeing pain free. Prayer’s sent

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Thank you Shirley, I wash the best for you also.

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Diane,

I am always so happy when I hear someone has found a way to "BEAT THE ODDS", as you put it. Thank you for sharing this inspirational post. Best wishes for a prosperous and continual pain free future!