MVD Diary - Doug Magnuson
HISTORY:
In the summer of 2002, I noticed a slight twitch near the right corner of my mouth. Over a short period of time, it moved to the area near my right eye. I was seen by my personal physician, Dr. Tony Amon in November 2002. He was somewhat perplexed by what he was seeing and referred me to a local neurologist who ordered a MRI. I was seen by Dr. Merlin Nelson and he immediately knew that I had HFS. He went over the various treatment options, Botox® and MVD. I opted for the Botox® at first. Upon having the first injections, the spasms completely quit, the next injections weren't quite as effective so I waited longer each time. I had approximately 5 injections over the course of being seen by Dr. Nelson. I might add that he was very cautious in where he placed each injection, staying away from the mouth area. I became dissatisfied with the Botox® and eventually, in 2008, I was ready for a MVD. I waited well over 1 ½ years after my last Botox® injection before I had surgery. In that amount of time my spasms became quite a bit worse, with continual blinking and pulling of the right corner of my mouth. I certainly was self-conscious of the blinking when I spoke with those who didn’t know my condition. The spasms were especially triggered by singing, smiling and driving.
September 4 & 5, 2008 - Consultation at Mayo Clinic:
September 17, 2008 - Pre-Op Evaluation:
We arrived at the Mayo Building for an Audiogram/Hearing Test. We then went to the Gonda Building for the Pre-op evaluation visit. We stayed with our niece and her husband who live near Rochester, they both work at St. Mary's where the surgery is to take place. Her husband works on the neurological ICU floor. He said that he had observed a MVD surgical procedure performed by Dr. Link and described what he had observed. He said that Dr. Link is an exceptional Surgeon.
September 18, 2008 - "MVD Day":
We were instructed to come to admissions at 10:00 a.m. We arrived early and it seemed like we had no sooner sat down to wait that the guide came to take us up to the pre-op room where I changed into the surgical garb, a shunt was placed in right arm. I was taken down to the pre-op waiting area where I was met by the head surgical Operating Room nurse, as well as the anesthesiologist. I was amazed at how many people were either coming, waiting or heading off to surgery. I was asked if Dr. Link had been in to visit? He arrived shortly after that to mark the incision sight. He said "as long as I'm here, I might as well take you down to O.R. myself". He then wheeled the gurney out of the station and headed down the hall towards O.R. He joked that him wheeling me to OR was the most dangerous part of the whole procedure. (that certainly lightened up the moment. We got to OR and moments later I was asleep. I don't have any recollection as to what time I awoke to someone calling my name. I was then taken to the neurological ICU, while on the way into the room I had just a brief bout of nausea and that was it. I began to blink, purse my lips and I suddenly realized that I was "SPASM FREE"! I didn't have as much as a twitch or flutter, I was so grateful to God that he had gotten me through this and had guided the doctor's hands to a successful surgery. My wife was allowed to come in to see me and we were both so thankful for the positive results. We were also grateful for all those that were praying for a successful outcome.I don't recall getting much sleep while in ICU, it seemed like they were continuously coming into do the neurological checks each half hour and later on the hour.
September 19, 2008 - Day 1 Post-Op:
Dr. Brett Ball (surgical resident) came in early in the morning and removed my head wrap. Dr. Link came in later and determined I was able to be moved to the regular floor. I was served a light breakfast, wasn't really interested in eating much. The cathater and the line in my wrist were removed and then I was taken up to the regular floor.My wife and youngest son came to visit (he had arrived from college). I was watching the Ryder Cup at the time and we then watched the movie "The Shooter." I walked the floor a couple of times, just a little dizzy, not bad. I still didn't have much of an appetite. I didn't sleep all that well. I made the mistake of not reporting a couple of bathroom visits to the nurse, she didn't think that I had emptied my bladder enough. She then ordered someone from urology to come up and reinstall the cathater, which occured about 4:00 a.m.. I learned my lesson and reported all my trips to the bathroom from then on.
September 20, 2008 - Day 2 Post-Op:
I had a restful night but my neck was still a bit sore. Dr. Ball was in to check on me. While there, he drew a diagram showing what they had done inside my head. Dr. Link came in also and he said that I could go home today if I felt up to it. He said that there isn't a lot more that they can do for me here that I can't do for myself at home. I explained to him that I was experiencing some fullness in my ear. He picked up the telephone receiver and held it up to my ear, I could hear the dial tone and he said it was most likely just fluid that had built up after surgery. I had a little breakfast, that didn't taste too bad. My wife came in with our son, of course I was watching the Ryder Cup (the US team was winning!) again. I told them that I could go home today, yippee! I went for a couple of laps around the floor and the Doctor's wrote up my discharge papers. I was out of there and on the way home shortly after noon. The ride wasn't really appealing, thank goodness for sunglasses.
September 21, 2008 - Day 3 Post-Op:
We had friends stop for a visit, still not much appetite; nothing seemed to taste good yet. I did take Oxycodone for a few days, mainly to lessen the pain so I could sleep at night.
September 23, 2008 - Day 5 Post-Op:
Appetite was much better. I finally got to enjoy the food that was dropped off by friends.Continued to walk longer distances based on how I felt. I am amazed at how quickly I have recuperated. I have been completely "spasm free" since my surgery and for that I am ever grateful. I am so ever thankful for the HFSA website as it's been a wealth of information. It is very important to go into this situation with as much knowledge as you can and that is what the website is all about. I am so glad that I elected to have the surgery. I have not one regret in waiting the time that it took to lead up to making the decision to have the surgery. In my opinion, the surgery and recuperation has definitely been a textbook experience
I have a follow-up visit with Dr. Link on December 9, 2008.