Author Topic: Having a facial nerve graft surgery in less than two weeks  (Read 3549 times)

ToyYoda

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Having a facial nerve graft surgery in less than two weeks
« on: August 26, 2017, 09:49:47 am »
Hello all!  I'm almost 6 months removed from the retrosigmoid approach and had many complications, including facial nerve paralysis. 

After a followup in early August, my ENT noticed my paralysis was not improving.  He and my facial surgeon put me as a 6 on the House Brackmann scale, meaning basically no movement on my left side of the face. 

My facial surgeon has now scheduled a nerve graft surgery for September 7th.  The details are at the following link: https://www.facialparalysisinstitute.com/treatments/masseter-facial-nerve-transfer/

The paralysis also has affected my vision on the left side and my eye is constantly needing drops and cannot close on its own.  A gold weight in the eyelid did help a little but it still does not fully close.  I'm hoping to get back some of my movement and my eyelid to close on its own.
Retrosigmoid craniotomy - April, 2017
Gold weight, left eye -  May, 2017
Facial nerve graft - September, 2017

Kathleen_Mc

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Re: Having a facial nerve graft surgery in less than two weeks
« Reply #1 on: September 01, 2017, 02:11:19 am »
Good luck on OR day
1st AN surgery @ age 23, 16 hours
Loss of 7-10th nerves
mulitple "plastic" repairs to compensate for effects of 7th nerve loss
tumor regrowth, monitored for a few years then surgically removed @ age 38 (of my choice, not medically necessary yet)

alabamajane

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Re: Having a facial nerve graft surgery in less than two weeks
« Reply #2 on: September 01, 2017, 07:57:49 am »
Best wishes for a very successful surgery!
 I hope it greatly improves your quality of life as well,,,

Jane
translab Oct 27, 2011
facial nerve graft Oct 31,2011, eyelid weight removed Oct 2013, eye closes well

BAHA surgery Oct. 2014, activated Dec. 26

ToyYoda

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Re: Having a facial nerve graft surgery in less than two weeks
« Reply #3 on: September 01, 2017, 08:01:01 am »
thanks!  I'll be replying here after surgery and in the following months for progress!
Retrosigmoid craniotomy - April, 2017
Gold weight, left eye -  May, 2017
Facial nerve graft - September, 2017

vickieastwood

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Re: Having a facial nerve graft surgery in less than two weeks
« Reply #4 on: September 02, 2017, 02:40:05 pm »
Good luck with your surgery! Keep us informed how it goes.

ToyYoda

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Re: Having a facial nerve graft surgery in less than two weeks
« Reply #5 on: September 11, 2017, 11:50:27 am »
Had my post op appt to remove sutures and drains from each side of my face today.  Now, we wait.  It will be upwards of 6 months before I start to see any sensation or tingling in my left side.  While this second surgery was the smaller of the two, it actually ended up being longer in surgery (6 hours for the retrosigmoid approach vs. 7.5 hours for the nerve graft surgery).  I'm feeling quite tired today but nothing compared to the first surgery.  Thanks for all the well wishes!
Retrosigmoid craniotomy - April, 2017
Gold weight, left eye -  May, 2017
Facial nerve graft - September, 2017

alabamajane

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Re: Having a facial nerve graft surgery in less than two weeks
« Reply #6 on: September 11, 2017, 01:41:35 pm »
Thanks for posting and well wishes for a speedy recovery from this last surgery !!

Jane
translab Oct 27, 2011
facial nerve graft Oct 31,2011, eyelid weight removed Oct 2013, eye closes well

BAHA surgery Oct. 2014, activated Dec. 26