Thursday, September 22, 2016

My Brain Surgery is Soon

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) appeared on my face three years ago, affecting the nerve that comes from just above my ear and branches in to 3 nerves onto the left side of my face.  An attack feels like an open electric cord is touching my face.  I never know when it is going to strike or how long it may go on.  The pain is so intense that it is called "The Suicide Disease."

An MRI was sent to UVA (University of Virginia) and reviewed by a panel who then sent it on to specialists.  The MRI shows that a nerve and a blood vessel are crossing and rubbing against each other.  In order to correct this,  I will be having brain surgery on Wednesday, September 28, 2016.   

Yes, you read correctly.........brain surgery!!!!!  Am I scared?  You'd better believe I am!  They will drill a one-inch hole through my skull behind my ear.  Then, using micro probes, they will go in and insert a piece of Teflon between the blood vessel and the nerve to stop the rubbing.  They will then put a titanium plate over the hole.

Does this indicate to you how bad the pain from the TN is?  Letting someone drill a hole in my skull!!!

The result?  I will get out from under these ever threatening pain attacks.  AND I will be able to stop the 3 prescriptions (with their numerous side effects) used to avoid and treat attacks.

I would appreciate your prayers as I go through this Microvascular Decompression Surgery in trying to escape this Trigeminal Neuralgia pain.  Pray for the surgery process to go well, for speedy recovery, and that this will end my TN pain.

2 comments:

yrdsale4me said...

My prayers are with you!

Unknown said...

I am so sorry that you have been going through all this. I hope the surgery was successful and your recovery is progressing well.
My thoughts and prayers are with you!

Sara Zimmerman