Author Topic: Do tears return???  (Read 16074 times)

moe

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Re: Do tears return???
« Reply #15 on: July 18, 2009, 08:46:31 am »
Hi Ellenmn,
I too had the nerve splice (12/7 transposition) and have had partial results. Some muscle tone around the upper cheek, chin, but nothing around the cheek, lip area. And just a little eye movement. Funny how everyone has different responses to that surgery.
Sounds like you are having good results so far :)
Have you noticed mouth/lip movement?

I'm 18 months post surgery (12/7) so am looking forward to more surgery to help things along.........not sure what ??? f/u in one week.
Maureen
06/06-Translab 3x2.5 vascular L AN- MAMC,Tacoma WA
Facial nerve cut,reanastomosed.Tarsorrhaphy
11/06. Gold weight,tarsorrhaphy reversed
01/08- nerve transposition-(12/7) UW Hospital, Seattle
5/13/10 Gracilis flap surgery UW for smile restoration :)
11/10/10 BAHA 2/23/11 brow lift/canthoplasty

Ellenmn

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Re: Do tears return???
« Reply #16 on: July 18, 2009, 10:20:30 am »
Moe
No I haven't noticed any mouth/lip movement yet. Just the eye and some tone in the face around the cheek. Before the surgery my cheek was starting to sink in  and now it looking more normal. People tell me that it's really looking good and that they can hardly tell that the right side is paralyzed but believe me I can still see it and pictures really prove it. (they look horrible)

moe

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Re: Do tears return???
« Reply #17 on: July 18, 2009, 11:28:19 pm »
Funny how we always look more terrible to ourselves. I'm the same way. We are more aware of the difficulty in facial movement/talking/eating/smiling.
So at rest- yes, we may be looking better to others.
My affected cheek is still sunken in. I think I need a muscle transposition there! We'll see what UW says.
They have a specialty nerve clinic which I can't wait to get myself into :-\
Let me know more about your transposition results.
Sorry about the hijack :o
Maureen
06/06-Translab 3x2.5 vascular L AN- MAMC,Tacoma WA
Facial nerve cut,reanastomosed.Tarsorrhaphy
11/06. Gold weight,tarsorrhaphy reversed
01/08- nerve transposition-(12/7) UW Hospital, Seattle
5/13/10 Gracilis flap surgery UW for smile restoration :)
11/10/10 BAHA 2/23/11 brow lift/canthoplasty

mimoore

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Re: Do tears return???
« Reply #18 on: August 05, 2009, 03:56:34 pm »
14 months post op and no tears for me either. Went to see the movie My Sisters Keeper (quite the tear jerker) and I only cried out of one eye, which made me cry more.  :'(
Strange thing though, when I am gradening, working out or cleaning the house my nose and eye run (oh so attractive!).
Come on tears!!!
Michelle  ;D
Retrosigmond surgery on June 4th, 2008 for an AN. 100% hearing loss and facial paralysis (was not prepared for facial paralysis). Size: 2.3 cm, 2.1 cm, 1.8 cm. some tumour remains along facial nerve. Pray for no regrowth. Misdiagnosed for 10 yrs.

luv2teachsped

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Re: Do tears return???
« Reply #19 on: August 08, 2009, 07:59:38 pm »
Hi there:
   Four years post op, plugs in my AN eye  and nope - no tears.Saves on kleenex when I cry! I still have to use refresh pm periodically, as I have allergies and very dry eyes. Good Luck!
Brenda
3cmx3cm/translab 5/05
University of Michigan
Dr.Telian and Dr.Thompson

BAHA implant-4/07, processor on 8/07

nancyann

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Re: Do tears return???
« Reply #20 on: August 08, 2009, 09:20:09 pm »
It's so weird how we can have opposite post op issues - my AN eye tears so much I had a pyrex tube put in to drain the tears, & Brenda, you had plugs put in to
capture tears !   When it's hot out (I live in Miami for ---- sake), my AN side nostril drains & tears fall like buckets down my cheek - the pyrex tube can't keep up with them !
Life after AN surgery...
2.2cm length x 1.7cm width x 1.3cm  depth
retrosigmoid 6/19/06
Gold weight 7/19/06, removed 3/07
lateral tarsel strip X3
T3 procedure 11/20/07
1.6 Gm platinum weight 7/10/08
lateral canthal sling 11/14/08
Jones tube insert right inner eye 2/27/09
2.4 Gm. Platinum chain 2017
right facial paralysis

joebloggs

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Re: Do tears return???
« Reply #21 on: August 09, 2009, 04:28:10 am »
That is weird that some have too many tears and some none!  I'm almost 5 months out to the day and still no tears.  My eye is wet enough not to need any eye drops or anything (there was a week or so length of time about 12 days post op where my eye stopped closing and I needed drops, but steroids fixed all) but if I'm watching a sad movie or something the eye doesn't cry.  In a way it's good because I can discretely get rid of the tears from the one eye without my boyf noticing and teasing me about crying!  Always an upside!
Right sided AN 2.7cm at last MRI.  Hearing loss/facial numbness.  Translab scheduled March 11th 2009.  Translab at Royal Melbourne Hospital, Australia successful!  Total tumour removed, SSD, no facial issues, numbness has left the building, balance issues but they'll get better and I'm loving life!

denisecarey

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Re: Do tears return???
« Reply #22 on: September 16, 2009, 08:49:25 am »
hi

I can blink but have no tears in right eye, no drops so far (i suppose i dont need them?) but I only had surgery 12 days ago so cant say whether they will return.

Denise
age 36, live in UK
3.8cm AN diagnosed March 09
Retrosigmoid  3 Sept 09 at Heath hospital CARDIFF
debulked tumor facial nerve intact
headaches, balance issues and ssd

tenai98

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Re: Do tears return???
« Reply #23 on: September 16, 2009, 09:00:16 am »
I'm five months post op and no tears but on several occasions I woke up with a pool of "moirsture" sitting in the corner of my AN side..I've only had one opportunity to cry and no tears on left....I never had to use any form of drops in my AN eye....and having facial paralysis, I had no problems with blinking....
JO
14mmX11mmX11mm left ear
TRANSLAB 04/07/09 2cms at time of surgery
Dr. Benoit and Schramm, Ottawa Civic Campus
SSD ,some facial numbness
Baha surgery sept 22/09
residual tumor 13mmX7mmX8mm
2016 new growth.  25mmX21mmX22mm
cyberknife on June 7

iamjlee

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Re: Do tears return???
« Reply #24 on: September 22, 2009, 04:10:54 pm »
it does produce tear if i eat something sour or spicy :' :o

alicia

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Re: Do tears return???
« Reply #25 on: September 23, 2009, 09:21:10 am »
I have no noticeable facial issues and no tears.  I cried last night and began to wonder - if i can't produce a tear on that side...should I be using drops?  My eye is not uncomfortable ever and it closes completely, but maybe there is still a lack of moisture?
02/16/18 III to IV post GK Facial Paralysis
12/13/17 Gamma Knife
05/19/09 Translab Larger than expected - Drs used the word "tangerine"   House - Friedman and Schwartz
04/02/09 Diagnosed Left AN 3.2cm x 2.6cm x 2.7cm

4cm in Pacific Northwest

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Re: Do tears return???
« Reply #26 on: September 23, 2009, 09:49:18 am »
It is my understanding that hydration tearing and emotional tearing are different.

I do not need drops- but that eye will not cry (with onions or sad movies) yet my exams show the cornea is fine and well hydrated.  ???

So I do not worry about it.

I am sure there is a scientific explanation. Maybe someone will chime in here.

DHM
« Last Edit: September 23, 2009, 10:17:05 am by 4cm in Pacific Northwest »
4cm Left, 08/22/07 R/S 11+ hr surgery Stanford U, Dr. Robert Jackler, Dr. Griffith Harsh, Canadian fellow Assist. Dr. Sumit Agrawal. SSD, 3/6 on HB facial scale, stick-on-eyeweight worked, 95% eye function@ 6 months. In neuromuscular facial retraining. Balance regained! Recent MRI -tumor receded!

mimoore

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Re: Do tears return???
« Reply #27 on: September 23, 2009, 01:42:26 pm »
Interesting!!!!!
Retrosigmond surgery on June 4th, 2008 for an AN. 100% hearing loss and facial paralysis (was not prepared for facial paralysis). Size: 2.3 cm, 2.1 cm, 1.8 cm. some tumour remains along facial nerve. Pray for no regrowth. Misdiagnosed for 10 yrs.

ombrerose4

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Re: Do tears return???
« Reply #28 on: October 26, 2009, 08:14:46 pm »
Four and a half weeks post op and my eye feels drier every day. Saw my eye doctor 2 weeks ago and he said everything looked fine and that it could take up to 12 weeks for tears to return. I use drops and ointment all day long with some temporary relief, but by evening I am extremely uncomfortable. I am getting frustrated and depressed because of this. Also by the end of the day my eye feels like its drooping (top lid) and it looks a bit droopy too. Feeling cranky  :(
Retrosigmoid 9/24/09
AN 2.4+ cm left side
Mount Sinai Hospital, NYC (Dr. Bederson and Dr. Choe)
BAHA surgery 1/4/2010

cyrmom2

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Re: Do tears return???
« Reply #29 on: October 27, 2009, 10:31:00 am »
I'm 9 weeks post-op and no tears yet.  Good to hear that hydration tearing and emotional tearing are different.  I've needed eye drops more in the past few weeks - probably because of the cool windy weather and dry heat.  Also, I still need my external weight and eye drops when I blow dry my hair and attempt to put on make up.  Hopefully it is the recovery process that is making me look and feel like I've aged 10 years in a few months.
diagnosed 7-27-09 4 cm CPA
12 hr translab 8-25-09
Dr Chicooca & Dr Welling at OSU/The James
sliver of tumor remains on brain stem
left SSD & facial paralysis (was 6/6, 2-3/6 at 9 weeks, 1/6 within 4 months) 6 month MRI on 3-17-10.