AN Left EAR TRANSLAB

[Alfa_beta]

Hello Everyone;

Nice to be in touch with u all, All thanks to the owner of this site.  I have a little dilema, i had a translab surgery on Sept 09 07, the neurosergeon extracted a 1.9 cm Schwanoma from my left ear.  As usual i have complete loss of hearing and i also have left side facial plasy i.e. unable to blink completely and no movement on my left cheek.  I have been patching my eye every night and put eye drop every couple of hours.  I had an appointment with a facial nerve specialist and he tried stimalating my facial nerve but he told me that my facial nerve is not responding and he told me the condition i nowhave  is called bells palsy, i did not have any facial paralysis b4 the surgery.  However on the good side i have noticed improvement on my face, i.e. i can eat without the food falling off from my mouth i can drink without the water dribling off my mouth.  I had my surgery here in Edmonton AB, Canada.  Any one with a similar condition like mine out there.

Thanks

Abey

[nancyann]

Hi Abey - nice to meet.   There are several of us who ended up with facial paralysis.   Most have had great improvement - but it can take over 2 years (that's the tough part, having patience).    I unfortunately had my facial nerve cut & re-anastamosed, no movement so recently had surgery to help my face look more 'normal.'
Do you know if your facial nerve was cut, or just stretched during surgery?  Those with a stretched nerve have the best results.  Glad to hear you ARE seeing improvement, that's a good sign that your nerve will continue to improve.

It's only been 4 months for you, but you should see your neurosurgeon or neurologist about this (if you haven't already).   Also, once movement starts, you may want to see a facial physical therapist to help 'retrain' your facial muscles, prevent synkenesis (abnormal muscle movement).

It's also very important to keep your cornea from drying out - sounds like you're doing everything right with the drops, etc.   I & others have found that using an eye lubricant (though it does cause blurriness) works best - I personally use Refresh PM eye lubricant (you may want to use it at night only, as some do).

Does your upper eyelid close?   Many of us have had gold or platinum weight implants put in the upper eyelid to help with the 'blinking' - it can be removed once movement comes back & you can blink on your own.   You would want to see an opthomologist who does these procedures.  It also gives the eye a more 'normal' appearance.

Hope this helps some.  Let us know if you need anything else & keep us posted on your progress. 
Always good thoughts,  Nancy

[Ellenmn]

I had the tranlab on the right side. I have the right side paralysis and had the gold weight put in my eyelid. They say that the nerve wasn't cut so the face should recover. I had my surgery June 28, 2007. Because my lower lid didn't move I ended up getting a cornea ulcer and had to use an antibiotic ointment 4 times a day and wear an eye patch. In November the lower lid started to move a bit and now my tears are working over time. I still don't see anything in the rest of my face but it's a start. As for you're situation Bells Palsy seldom last forever. It can be short lived or last for several months. I have known several people that have had it. Most you can't tell they ever had it but one has some lasting effect in her lip, but the eye is fine. I’m not sure they would try and put a weight in the lid until the Bells Palsy is better. I wish you the best of luck in your recovery

[lori67]

Hi Abey.  Lots of us with a similar condition - unfortunately.  As Nancy said, you should find out from your surgeon if your facial nerve was cut during the surgery or just stretched or manipulated.  If it was stretched, chances are you'll get movement back - but it does take a lot of patience while you wait for that to happen.  Mine was apparently stretched to it's limiits, so I had no movement for about 8 months.  Then just little flickers here and there.  I still can't blink, but I can sortof wrinkle my nose and manage a fairly decent closed mouth smile.  

Most of the exercises for Bell's Palsy will work for us too - but you have to remember the cause of our facial paralysis is different than the cause of true Bell's Palsy.  It''s a good idea to see a facial physical therapist who can monitor any improvements in function and also give you exercises to do to get the movement back and to limit the synkinesis.

Hang in there.  Recovery can take a long time.....we all have had no choice but to learn a little patience.  What a way to learn!!
Lori

[nancyann]

Hey Ellenmn:  My neurologist told me I have Bell's Palsy due to the post AN surgery (as opposed to other causes of Bell's Palsy),  & unfortunately I have had no movement.  My House Brackman scale has remained at a 6 (total paralysis). 
Seems like once again we get different information based on who we talk to.

[Ellenmn]

Nancy i didn't know they called yours Bells Palsy. I guess you can just forget I said anything.

[nancyann]

Hey Ellenmn:  I would have never thought of it as Bell's Palsy either had my neurologist not told me.   That's the diagnosis they use for billing too.
And then different medical people give different info.  Geez, that alone can make us dizzy!!

[lori67]

I think true Bell's Palsy refers to a virus that settles in the facial nerve.  Because the nerve is not actually severed or stretched - it's just "sick", most cases resolve over a few months time.  What we have is a Bell's palsy type thing, but it's caused by trauma to the nerve, not a virus.  Because of that, it takes a longer time, if ever, to get function back.  At least that's my understanding of it.  That's why in true Bell's, the PT can use electrical stimulation to try to get that nerve going again, but if you try to do it with a traumatic injury, like after AN surgery, you run a risk of severe synkinesis.  With the viral thing, the nerve will go back to stimulating the correct muscle, but when the nerve has to heal from trauma, the wiring can get crossed and start moving things you don't want moving.

I know this sounded logical when i was thinking it in my head - I'm not sure it did when I typed it...     

[nancyann]

So Abey - have we confused you more?   WELCOME TO OUR AN FAMILY !!

[lori67]

Nancy - I'm pretty sure I confused myself on that one!!

I hope we get a chance to meet someday - I think we'd get along great!  We'd be very confused, but there's nothing wrong with that, right?

Lori

[nancyann]

I'm hoping the PBW can find us all an island to live on - no work, all play.....

[lori67]

I'm all for that!  Let's make sure there are palm trees and warm water.  And an endless supply of eye drops.. and straws.

[yardtick]

I want on that Island too!!!!  Let me know what currency we need and I'lll take it from there.  I order Canadian and US $ every Monday before 10:00 am.  Delivery is Thurs 9-9:30 am. 

Capt Deb some of those armed guards are as hunky as Mike Holmes!!!

[lori67]

We'll make our own currency - how 'bout seashells?  Maybe coconuts for the big bills.

[Alfa_beta]

Hi Nancy & AN Crew;

Thanks alot for the Info i am so pleased to meet u all, i can finally say i am not the only person who had this Alien on me. According to my Neurosurgeon the facial nerve is still there as he did stimulate my facial nerve b4 patching me bak up and he said that my facial nerve did respond.  So lets keep finger crossed and hopefuly the bells palsy i hav will go away with time.  I will definately try the ointment u recomended i am currently use refresh lacri-lube ever night b4 i patch my eye. Thanks for all your support

kind regars

Abey