Personal HFS History - Shabeeba Hannan
My spasms first started around 10 years ago when I was in medical school and then disappeared for about 3 years to reappear again with more severity. Along with the facial spasms I also got tininitus. By that time I had trained to be an Ophthalmologist and the spasms where making it very difficult for me to carry on with my chosen profession more so because giving Botox® injections was a part of my job! Some of my patients would notice that I had a similar condition and empathize. I was taking Botox® injections every three months and even managed to get married without the spasms showing in the photographs! I was also taking Carbamezipine just to get a good night’s sleep without having to wake up with severe spasms that would last for as long as 3 minutes.
I was under the care of Mr. Easton at the Oxford Eye Hospital who suggested having MVD and referred me to Prof. Hugh Coakham at the Frenchay hospital at Bristol who has outstanding success rates in the UK. After I saw Prof. Coakham and he explained the operation to me I was willing to go for it immediately. The possibility of being spasm free outweighed all the risks and possible complications. He organized an MRA, which showed the offending vascular loop impinging on the right facial nerve. I had the MVD on the February 03, 2004 and woke up "SPASM FREE"! I couldn’t believe it. It feels so nice to be normal again, to be able to talk to people without hiding the right side of my face with my hair or turning away. Simple things like seeing the dimple on my right cheek reappear made me so happy and I am once again able to give to the world my warm smile that my friends found so endearing a long time ago!
I had very mild spasms on the 2nd day and some double vision, which disappeared by the 4th day. There is some residual hearing loss, which is gradually improving. I am back at work and have been absolutely spasm free! Thank you Prof. Coakham and thank you all for the support.
Permission granted the HFSA to post Personal HFS History on website.
Shabeeba Hannan, June 05, 2004
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