MVD Diary - Francois Robinson
Wednesday, March 28, 2006 – MVD Consultation:
First Visit to neurosurgeon Dr J du Plessis in Pretoria, South Africa at 10:00 AM. It’s been about 10 weeks since my first Botox injections and my spasms are back with increased intensity. Doctor du Plessis decides to send me for a MRI scan. At 02:00 PM I’m back with Dr. du Plessis with the MRI scan results. After about an hour’s consultation, discussing the pros and cons of a MVD the Doctor sent me home to decide when about the MVD. On my way home I decide to go for the MVD as soon as possible. At 04:00 PM the same day I phone the Doctor and tell him about my decision. After that I phone my medical aid to get authorization for the operation. Quite a difficult task to explain to these what HFS is and that the MVD is the only cure for it. It takes me three day to get the authorization I’m scheduled for my MVD on 04/03/06.Monday, April 3, 2006 – "MVD-Day":
Admitted to the hospital at 6:00 AM and scheduled for surgery for 4:00 PM. At 12:00 Noon, there was a cancellation in the theatre and the Doctor decided to operate sooner. At 5:00 PM I was in the Intensive Care U with the biggest headache ever. Slept the rest of the day and night and only wake up the next morning. Headache is still there.Tuesday, April 4, 2006 – 1 Day Post-Op:
Completely awake now with a headache. At 2:00 PM they move me to a general ward. "NO SPASM".
Wednesday, April 5, 2006 – 2 Days Post-Op:
Big headache, but still Spasm Free. At 4:00 PM the spasms start to return but only a small twitch on my upper lip. At 8:00 PM I speak to the Doctor and he explains that it is the swelling of the brain and it can take anywhere from two weeks to two months for the swelling of the brain to go down. Headache is still there.
Thursday, April 6, 2006 – 3 Days Post-Op:
Twitching is still there as well as the headache. It’s the first time that I'm allowed the get out of bed and I couldn’t walk, completely off balance and the headache is still there.
Friday, April 7, 2006 – 4 Days Post-Op:
Wake up "SPASM FREE" this morning. Headache is still there but it is controllable with the painkillers. at 10:00 AM the Doctor said I can go home.
Friday, April 14, 2006 – 11 Days Post-Op:
Still spasm free, headache controllable with pain killers, but still off balance (vertigo) struggle to walk.
Friday, April 21, 2006 – 18 Days Post-Op:
Spasm free, headache gone, still a bit of off balance problem.
Friday, April 28, 2006 - 25 Days Post-Op:
Spasm free, no more headache or balance problems. Even visit my brother in law on his farm.
Thursday, May 4, 2006 – 31 Days Post-Op:
Spasm free. Start working on my hobby, woodworking, building furniture out of wood. I have decided this morning to build a bar for my entertainment area. Monday. May 8, 2006 will be my first day back at work.
July 2006 – 3 Months Post-Op:
Spasms return for about a week and then disappear again. Contact doctor and he said that it is still in the healing process and I must give it some more time.
November 2006 – 7 Month’s Post-Op:
Spasms appear again for a couple of days but slowly decrease until they are gone again.
April 2007 – 1 Year Post-Op:
Very faint spasms start again and, in two weeks time, grow to full spasms and ultimately become even more aggressive that before my MVD.
October 03, 2007:
Visit Dr. J. du Plessis again and he recommends that I try Botox again to see if it will work this time. Well I didn’t want to and we discuss the possibility for a second MVD. My MVD #2 is scheduled for October 29, 2007 at Eugene Marais Hospital, Pretoria (South Africa).