MVD Diary - Olga Valle-Herr

Surgery performed by:   Dr. Peter J. Jannetta & Dr. Kenneth F. Casey
Surgical Location:         Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA
Surgery Date:                May 20, 2004

Diary prepared by:        Olga Valle-Herr
Date diary finalized:      March 22, 2005

After my decision was made to have the MVD, I chose to travel to Pittsburgh PA (USA) since I had done some research on Dr. Jannetta. When I went for my consultation, I felt I couldn't be in better hands, so my surgery was done on May 20th, 2004. I praise Dr. Jannetta and Dr. Casey for their expertise, their concern, and their advice. Unfortunately, I had serious complications. Although I was "SPASM FREE", I was told I had facial palsy on the HFS side, substantial hearing loss and constant ringing in my ear, plus blurred vision of my right eye. Although the surgeons believed my paralysis would go away in a few weeks, it did not. I was given the best of help and care at Allegheny General Hospital, but after being in intensive care for three days, I was transferred to my own room where I stayed another three days. I had headaches (to be expected) and I was very unstable on my feet. I also felt like my head was too heavy for my body, so I would lie down often. My incision never gave me problems, I'd only feel some tingling and pressure. I lost ten pounds the first week since I could only eat soft foods due to my difficulty chewing because of the paralysis. I had trouble drinking my beverages as I tended to dribble. I continued to lose another thirteen pounds, but I sure didn't mind that. I'm pleased to say I've been able to maintain my new weight.

My eye became extremely irritated because I couldn't blink at all. The drops didn't help much and as days went by, my lower lid drooped more until I had to wear an eye patch day and night. My eye also began to tear constantly -- almost like the tears didn't know where to go. The Opthamologist I went to see in my hometown recommended stitching the corner of my upper eyelid and inserting a gold weight inside my upper eyelid. I was devastated and I went back to Pittsburgh for another evaluation with Dr. Casey. (Dr. Jannetta was out of town) He and Dr. Jannetta offered to open me up again to see if repositioning of the pads would relieve some pressure and maybe the paralysis and hearing loss would have a better chance to recover. They said it might still take up to a year before I could see any improvement. I could not see myself going through the trauma again knowing I could also come out worse or have a stroke, but I told them I would think it over.

I knew I had to do something about my eye and Dr. Casey gave me the name of one of the best plastic surgeons in San Antonio, Texas, much closer to my home. I made an appointment with him and he said he could help me but only with the approval of an expert in the field of nerve regeneration. After consulting the nerve regeneration doctor, and after doing her own testing on my face with another EMG and Audiogram, she approved the implanting of a weight in the upper eyelid to help close the eye and avoid a possible cornea infection. The plastic surgeon did the surgery in November, 2004. He used a platinum implant and stitched the outer corner of my eye. He assured me it would not only help me blink and close my eye but that it would also look very normal. It was done on an out-patient basis and although I was bruised in shades of black, purple, pea green, and finally yellow, I was very pleased with the results. I no longer needed to wear the eye patch and I was lucky that my eye did not become infected. I continue to see the nerve specialist every three months and also the plastic surgeon on the same day that I see her. The worst news I got from her is that my hearing will most probably be permanent and a hearing aid would not work in my case because I can hear but cannot distinguish words. I felt a great sense of loss when she told me this.

She gave me facial exercises to do at home and I do them daily plus go for facial massages. There is more movement now around my cheek area, and I can finally flare my right nostril. Every time the doctor asked me to flare it, I'd try harder than a bull facing the toreador, but I failed the test. Now, I can flare both nostrils. She was happy to tell me that there is new activity and regeneration of nerves on my paralyzed side. I also have gone for speech therapy as I had difficulty pronouncing many words. I have greatly improved on that also.

I had also hesitated to write to the group since I was in a very depressed state and was taking anti-depressants. I took them for three months and they did help me, but after three months I decided I could handle it on my own. Thank God, I have -- with His help and all of the prayers from my new circle of friends from HFSA plus the support and care I received from my family, relatives and other friends.

My journey continues, but the sun shines brighter every day. As long as I know God is the captain of my ship, I know He will lead me through the storms that may come along. I have gained strength because of Him and know he will lead me to full recovery some day. I miss my old smile, but each day I thank God for any progress that comes my way. I am so grateful to be free of the "demon" that used to torment me so as it danced over my face. As a writer, I have been able to express my feelings on paper whenever I feel the need. This has been quite therapeutic and better than crying at my worthless "pity parties".

Do I have regrets about having the MVD - no. Although I went through a very traumatic time dealing with the complications, I am still amazed that those spasms are gone. I knew I had to do whatever necessary to get rid of them. Most of all I thank this outstanding group of caring people I met when I clicked into the HFSA website. Lori Krol who greeted my daughter and I when I first went for a consultation to Pittsburgh, I will always remember with great fondness. She made us feel at ease and I felt like I had known her for years. She's just that type of person. I only wish I lived closer to people like this so we could see more of each other.

I also give thanks to Beverly Cox who graciously offered to help me in any way when I visited San Antonio for my doctors' visits. I will never forget her kindness and generosity, and I feel privileged to have met her and now consider her my own "guardian angel" and a friend I am proud to have.

To all of my HFS friends, I couldn't have done it without all your support. It felt so good to know there really were others who were walking in my shoes. I no longer felt like a freak and your advice was always comforting to me. If I can answer any questions you may have, please feel free to email me through the group or privately using my own screen name.

To others contemplating MVD surgery, I wish only the best outcome for you and that someday soon you also will be able to say loud and clear, "I AM SPASM FREE".

 

Permission granted the HFSA to post MVD Diary on website.
Olga Valle-Herr, March 22, 2005

 

Back to top

HFSA HOME

Home | Alternative Treatment Exp.| Ask The Docs | Bell's Palsy Exp. | Botox® Personal Exp. | Botox® Usage | Chat Room | Contact Us | Contribute | E-mail Archives | HFS Histories | Important Dates | Informational Pamphlet | Join Us | Links | Medical Advisory Board | Medical Terms | Members | Membership Summary | MVD Diaries | MVD Surgeries | Organizational Structure | Pictures | Site Map | Site Policy


Copyright © 2001, The Hemifacial Spasm Association (HFSA) Rev. 040901