DISTURBING WORDS FROM OPTHAMOLOGIST.....PLEASE GIVE ME SOME REASSURANCE

[m4guzman]

Hi

My eye doctor was a jerk to.  he put in a plug to clog my tear duct.  But the time I got home I was in more pain then I was with the surgery.  When I called him to say my eye is killiing me, he said that He did not do anything that it must me something else.  Long story short, The plug came out and scratched my cornea really bad.  He swares it wasn't him.  Yeah right.  Anyway I am 4 months out and I just began to gt movement in my face three or 4 weeks ago.  I improve every day.  Have faith it will come back!

Marybeth

[Adrienne]

Laura Lynn,

I'm sorry, I can't speak for exactly what you are going through but I do know what it feels like to get a discouraging report from a doctor.  My GP made it seem like my life would be hopeless after my AN surgery.  He had an entire meeting revolving around "setting me up for what my quality of life will be like after AN surgery".  He scared the sh*t out of me with the things he told me were all but certain!  I felt like a hopeless case, and vowed to prove him wrong.

In his defense, he wasn't the most experienced in this area.......but still-sometimes they should offer more hope than doom and gloom (not asking them to lie, just asking them to focus on the positive).

Happy to report that I proved him wrong in all aspects, and I hope you can say the same soon.

(hugs)

Adrienne

[wendysig]

Hi Lauralynn,

What a horrible man -- I'm glad to hear you're dumping him.  Never say never and don't let anyone else convince you of it either.  Everyone heals at their own pace.  Do your facial exercises and keep your wonderful positive attitude.  Proving this idiot wrong is the best revenge.  Cheers to your daughter for telling him office even if she had to go through someone else to do it -- I hope he got the message!  Definitely let your neurologist know how this man treated you, he may be book smart, but he obviously is NOT a good doctor!

Best wishes,
Wendy

[Jeanlea]

Laura Lynn,

I also had total facial paralysis on my left side after surgery.  It took 3 months before I had even a tiny bit of movement.  Around 18 months I got quite a bit of movement.  I'm nearly 4 years out now and am still seeing small increases in my face.  I can smile pretty well now.  My friend told me that my faciall paralysis isn't really noticeable to her anymore.  At  my 6 month appointment with the doctor who did my surgery, he told me that my face wouldn't come back. At that point I had very minimal movement.  Hardly any.  I was devastated thinking I would be like that for the rest of my life.  Time has proven him wrong.  I don't think he was trying to be unkind.  He just didn't know.  I'm happy to be able to prove him wrong.  It will take patience and time, but you will do the same thing too.

Jean

[4cm in Pacific Northwest]

Oh Jean I just want to give you a big ole HUG.

I remember you responding to me, at my 6 month post op, and sharing a photo when I was so bewildered. That was so encouraging when I thought I was THE only one in the world going through this... and I was told that where I was at 6 months was where I would be. 2 year anniversary for me tomorrow... and more upper lip movement today than just 2 weeks ago..

You are such a sweetie to keep helping us.

As Pearly Whites (Phyl) puts in HUGGLES!

DHM

[lauralynn]

Big hugs to all of you that responded!  I'm feeling much better today and am more determined than ever to get my smile back!  I will continue my exercises....just last week I noticed my lower left lip started tingling....a little bit each day.  I had no feeling in it what so ever before.  So I know things are happening.  I know I took my smile for granted before and probably didn't smile as much as I should have.  Well when I start to get my smile back I'm going to have a big celebration party and I will smile so much everyday after that that people will wonder....why is that lady always smiling?    I want to add that I have an appt. w/ my neurologist this Monday and am telling him the whole eye doctor story and asking for a new ophthamologist.  I want someone else to look at my eye and explain everything to me.  That other jerk never explained, he went over things really fast.   I will keep you all posted.

Thanks again my AN Family,

Laura Lynn

[cherrypiper]

well dearlady . i got 20 months since my almond sized tumor was removed. now i'm 58 was 56 when they did surgery. They told me i would have a small "hair lip" but on old men it didnt look so bad..........

well let me warn you about a few things. the more you do those exercises, the better and quicker things will be for you. i didnt them religiously  for months. and saw nothing. BUT my family saw it, my co workers and friends saw it.

looking at my ugly puss everyday seeing what wasnt right, i couldnt see what was getting better.

exercises yes. do them until you can feel some tired ness. electro shock9 about 5 volts ) is another way they helped me to twitch those nerves and prove to my self we were doing something.

now i have a slight 1/4 inch droop in my rt eye (my an side) which i still cant "blink" i can close it and wink. my teeth are finally being fixed after a year. and my face i cant shave without 2 hanbds

BUT its all minor stuff.................and what i have face and rt eye wize at 20 months is light years ahead of where it was at 6 months

it takes time

[NancyMc]

Laura Lynn,
After all you've been through, your poor body needs to take one step at a time.  The hospital and rehab experience would have set me way back, but you just marched outa there ready to take on the World.
I'll blame the tumor (and the fact that your signature is a little out of date!, Hunnie) . . . did you ever have your GK, and are you scheduled for your BAHA?  I don't remember your sharing the radiation experience, or did I miss the thread.  My apologies if I did.
Keep up the good fight.
Report the guy to his professional organization!
Kudos to your daughter.
You'll get there.  Just keep trying to smile.  It's good exercise.
Nancy

[Keri]

Hi Lauralynn,
I'm so sorry for what you've gone through and agree with the sentiments of everyone here. Your attitude and spirit are great! I hope you can find a new doc soon; one who will really help and be understanding.
Keri

[lauralynn]

Hey everyone,

Just saw my neurologist yesterday and filled him in on the ophthamologist story.  He was disgusted of course and commented that he had some other complaints recently.  I believe he is taking him off of his referral list.  He recommended another eye specialist whom I am seeing tomorrow (Aug.26).  I'm anxious about meeting him and anxious to get some answers.  My neurologist reassured (just as my AN family has) that I will smile again.  He said if I don't show any improvement by next April (whilch will be a year) he said I will have the option of having an outpatient procedure done that involves taking a nerve from the tongue.  Has anyone had to have that done?  Forgot what it's called.  I'm determined to get my smile back on my own.  I've been doing my facial exercises daily as much as I can.  My younger kids commented to me (my 10 and 8 yr olds) told me my bottom lip is looking better.  I looked in the mirror...and I said, "you know....it is starting to look better."  My 8 yr old asks if I feel anything in the top lip yet.  I tell her no, but she believes the tingling in the top lip will be next.  I have many of you praying for me, friends and family praying for me....so I know it will happen and when it does I'm having a big party!  It's going to be the happiest day in my life when I can smile again. 

Laura Lynn

[leapyrtwins]

Lauralynn -

glad you're seeing another ophtamologist today - and that your neurologist is removing the first one from his referral list. 

I'm hopeful your smile will return on its own with just the facial exercises you are doing. 

The surgery you are referring to is called 7-12 jump and several on the forum have had it; including my two partners in crime Kaybo and Lori67.  Kaybo went on to have T3 surgery - which worked wonders for her.  Lori just had 7-12 in October and is very pleased with the results.

Jan

 

[Mickey]

I believe in you Laura! On a positive note being around local AN meetings for the last couple of years I have seen very much improvement on our AN patients at our approx. 6 month get togethers. Best wishes, Mickey

[mimoore]

Oh Laura Lynn here's a big ole cyber hug for you! <squeeze>.

I too had to endure a very insensitive ophtamologist. I asked for his experienced response in regards to facial nerve recovery. He was quite negative and made some comment that next I would ask for stats. He said not to get my hopes up. I had an ENT who was so comforting during my desperate feeling days. She said that it is enough to have to deal with having an AN and then to get through surgery to only have to deal with complications. It is as if you are treading water and just cannot get to the other side and be done with this. I cried because I felt she used an analogy that made me feel she understood. He last words were don't give up. When you have complications from surgery you need some HOPE to move forward. Not false hope  but negative people should not be in positions where we as patients are hanging on their every words looking desperately for some hopeful words.

I honestly feel that part of the fact that I fell so far into depression following my surgery was first of all I was not expecting facial paralysis (they were not sure I had an AN so my research was all over the map) and secondly I encountered some negative medical professionals. I took their words which now I know was foolish. I am getting my face back and if your nerve was not cut you do have HOPE and believe in yourself. Be strong Laura Lynn, pick yourself up dust yourself off and show your daughter the strength that you do posses. Some days you just may need to dig a wee bit deeper to find it.

I protect myself from negativity I repeat this to myself: I choose to surround myself with people who make me feel good about myself and eliminate those who do not!
Michelle 
I understand.

[4cm in Pacific Northwest]

BIG Gianormous Cyber Hug to Laura Lynn!

I know the recovery road us rough at the moment. You will come out of this fiasco stronger- and most of all in character.

Hang in there!

HUGS.

DHM

[Jim Scott]

Laura Lynn ~

Thanks for the positive update.  I'm pleased to learn your neurologist was disgusted by the clueless ophthalmologist's behavior and unnecessarily negative feedback.  Removing him as a referral is the logical thing to do.  I hope that by now, you've had a successful consultation with a 'new' ophthalmologist who will impart some encouragement instead of discouragement. 

The nerve graft (the '7-12 jump', as Jan accurately described it) is a relatively common procedure to reanimate the face.  If it becomes necessary, the folks here who've undergone the procedure can tell you how it goes and what to expect.  Of course, I hope your facial paralysis is, indeed, temporary and you won't need the nerve graft.  Still, it's good to know that it's available. 

I can only agree that the day you can smile again will be the happiest day of your life - and I'll add that a lot of folks you've never met (forumites) will be sharing in your joy on that day. 

Jim