Do tears return???

[moe]

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

[Ellenmn]

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]

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
Maureen

[mimoore]

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 

[luv2teachsped]

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

[nancyann]

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...

[joebloggs]

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!

[denisecarey]

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

[tenai98]

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

[iamjlee]

it does produce tear if i eat something sour or spicy :'

[alicia]

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?

[4cm in Pacific Northwest]

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

[mimoore]

Interesting!!!!!

[ombrerose4]

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 

[cyrmom2]

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.