Whether they are the painful variety or not, hemifacial spasms are disruptive and interfere with your day-to-day life. However, you’re not alone. Thousands of hemifacial spasm sufferers go through the same thing on a daily basis. Fortunately, with recent advances in neurosurgery, you no longer have to compromise. You can now lead a pain-free, drug-free life with the help of microvascular decompression — a procedure that will not compromise the function or vitality of your seventh cranial nerve.
You’ve done the research, talked to the experts and made the decision to proceed with hemifacial spasm surgery. Now you need to start looking forward, which begins by preparing for your upcoming procedure. While microvascular decompression (which involves placing a small Teflon sponge between a nerve and a blood vessel) is not as invasive as many other procedures, it still requires preparation beforehand. As such, there are several things you need to take into account before, during and after to make sure everything runs as smoothly as possible.
Get To Know Your Providers
The most important part in starting the process for surgery is to find providers you trust. Doctors and staff who care about each individual patient are much more likely to give you a great experience from start to finish. A successful hemifacial spasm surgery is dependent on a cohesive working relationship between everyone involved. The key players, of course, are you, your surgeon, your facial pain specialist and your GP. It’s essential you feel comfortable with those providing your care. Be sure to ask plenty of questions — it’s not even unheard of to ask for referrals to past patients who can provide some insight into their experiences. If anything raises a red flag, question it. This is, after all, your body you’re entrusting to someone else.
Take Care of Yourself
Getting adequate rest and nutrition leading up to your hemifacial spasm surgery will allow you to heal more quickly and thoroughly. Talk with your doctor about sleep aid options if you suffer from insomnia or restless sleep. Make sure you’re eating a balanced diet and staying hydrated. Moderate exercise (as approved by your doctors) can also help in many ways, including stress reduction, improving blood flow and regulating your metabolism and sleep patterns.
In this vein, it is also important that you take adequate time off from work or family activities for recovery. Consult with your healthcare team to get a recommendation on what would be an adequate recovery period. The beauty of microvascular decompression is that, in most cases, the results are almost immediate, so you won’t be contending with extended periods of pain.
Enlist the Help of Family and Friends
Don’t be afraid to ask for help in the days leading up to your procedure, as well as those after. Your job after surgery is to rest and heal so you can resume your normal activities. Make arrangements to ensure you will get the rest and help you need while healing from your hemifacial spasm surgery. In many instances, you will be discouraged from lifting heavy objects or partaking in strenuous activities. Ask friends or family to help with specific tasks, such as taking the trash out or cleaning.
Pre-surgical Checklist
Here is a basic checklist that will ensure your hemifacial spasm surgery goes as planned. You may want to add or remove some of the items from this list, but it will help you get ready and be fully prepared before you even step foot in the surgical center.
- Notify all of your doctors, including your surgeon, of any allergies you might have — this includes food allergies (some drugs actually contain common ingredients found in food, such as eggs), latex, environmental allergens and, of course, drug allergies. Make a list of all the drugs you’ve had any sort of reaction to. Also, let your doctor know if you’re pregnant or think you may be pregnant.
- Create a list of all drugs and supplements you are currently taking. This includes analgesics, antacids, vitamins and herbs. This will help your doctors and anesthesiologist choose the best drug protocols for before, during and after your procedure.
- Be sure to mention any blood clotting conditions you might have or may have experienced in the past, or if you take any blood thinners. Your doctor may ask you to discontinue these prior to your hemifacial spasm surgery.
- If you’re given a special shampoo to use prior to the procedure, be sure to fully follow the instructions for use.
- Pack a bag with everything you’ll want for a few days during your post-procedure stay to keep boredom at bay during your hospital stay.
- Arrange to have someone pick you up from the hospital. You’ll still need some downtime once you get home.
By being well-prepared for your hemifacial spasm surgery, you’ll emerge on the other side with nothing to worry about, except a little R & R and a life potentially completely free of your hemifacial spasm symptoms. Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have general questions about hemifacial spasm surgery or specifically about preparing for this life-changing procedure.
