my sister is going to have brain surgery

[Bertha Venation]

She has trigeminal neuralgia, an extremely painful facial nerve condition, sometimes called "the suicide disease" because the pain is unbearable. It's caused by a blood vessel being up against the nerve. It's frequently misdiagnosed as, among other things, dental problems. I know of someone who had seven teeth removed before having TN diagnosed.

The surgery is called microvascular decompression. From Wikipedia: "In this procedure, the surgeon enters the skull through a 25-millimetre (1 in) hole behind the ear. The nerve is then explored for an offending blood vessel, and when one is found, the vessel and nerve are separated or "decompressed" with a small pad, usually made from an inert surgical material such as Gore-Tex. When successful, MVD procedures can give permanent pain relief with little to no facial numbness."

Although our budget is upside-down, I'm going to try to make it home for this. It's scheduled for May 17. I'm terrified. But then, I'm a big worry wart.

When my sister told me about it, she said, all excited, "And guess what I get?!" I said, "a popsicle?" She laughed. "No, I get a titanium plate in my head!" Woo hoo!

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Many prayers for your sister and you. *hugs*

[Bertha Venation]

23. thanks, GPV

:hug:

[Tuesday Afternoon]

2. good vibes for your sister and you too, Bertha

:hug:

[Bertha Venation]

24. thank you, T.A.

:hug:

[a kennedy]

3. prayers and positive vibes.....

:hug:

[Bertha Venation]

25. many thanks, a kennedy

:hug:

[MissHoneychurch]

4. Sending Vibes

to you and your sister.

Best of luck to her :hug:

[Bertha Venation]

26. thank you, MIss Honey

:hug:

[rurallib]

5. boy I sure hope everything turns out well

And buy her a popsicle to help her recover.

[Bertha Venation]

27. *grin* I will, rurallib

and thanks.

[BlueIris]

6. Good luck to your sister.

Sounds unpleasant.

[Bertha Venation]

28. thank you, Blue Iris

She is tough.

[Deep13]

7. Good luck! Glad she will get relief from that horrible condition. nt

[Bertha Venation]

30. thanks, Deep13

[tigereye]

8. I wish her well, Bertha

[Bertha Venation]

31. many thanks, tigereye

[redqueen]

9. Glad it's just the blood vessel thing, and not something more serious.

That's an extremely painful condition, she has my sympathy.

Hope the surgery's successful and her recovery is quick. :hug:

[Bertha Venation]

32. thank you, redqueen

:hug:

[auntAgonist]

10. I'll keep a good thought and send best wishes

for your sister's successful surgery and uneventful recovery. :hug:

I hope you're able to make the trip K!

:loveya:

aA
kesha

[Bertha Venation]

33. dearest kesha

:hug: thank you :loveya:

[joeybee12]

11. Here's good vibes and hugs coming your way...

:grouphug:

[Bertha Venation]

34. thank you, joeybee

:hug: :hug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

12. May her relief be quick, total and permanent!

Good vibes to her, and to you...

I hope you can make the trip too...

:hug:

[Bertha Venation]

35. hear, hear!

Thank you, Peggy. :hug:

[NewJeffCT]

13. Sounds like she has a good attitude about it

Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

[Bertha Venation]

36. She does indeed.

Thank you, New Jeff.

[lizziegrace]

14. I wish her all the best Bertha

and I'd like to know how the procedure goes for her. I need to have it done. I had root canals done in 14 teeth before I was finally diagnosed. I can't remember the last time my face didn't hurt.

:hug: to you and your sister.

[Bertha Venation]

37. I'll surely keep you posted, LG

:hug: :loveya:

[lizziegrace]

54. I would give anything to be able to have that surgery

I know there are risks, but to not be in constant pain would be heaven on earth.

I hope she finds blissful relief. :hug:

:loveya:

[Bertha Venation]

72. I would too, my friend.

[hippywife]

15. Hope all goes well for her, K.

Am I misremembering or did she have some type of brain surgery a couple of years ago, too? I bet she'll be glad to have you there with her. :hi:

[Bertha Venation]

38. thank you, Hippywife

No, that wasn't my sister . . . I know she'll be glad I'm there. I missed her hysterectomy a few years ago. Or, as we referred to it, the Rusty Spoon Engagement (as her frequent cry to her doctor was "you take it out or so help me I'll do it myself with a rusty spoon!").

[Orrex]

16. I've heard that this condition is almost supernaturally terrible

Best wishes to your sister for a full and speedy recovery!

[Bertha Venation]

39. thank you very much, Orrex!

[kimi]

17. Bless her heart, I hope this all goes perfectly for her

Sounds like after all that torment, she deserves it. I really hope you get to go home and be there with her. Good wishes to your whole family!

[Bertha Venation]

41. many thanks, kimi

:)

[graywarrior]

18. Hugs to your sister.

One of my neighbors is going through the same thing.

[Bertha Venation]

42. Oh, no. I'm so sorry to hear that.

The disease is nefarious. My best wishes for your neighbor, and thanks for your hugs to my sister. :hug:

[old mark]

19. Best wishes to you all - may she have a fast and full recovery, even

with the plate.

mark

[Bertha Venation]

43. many thanks, old mark

:)

[zanana1]

20. I'm so glad she'll be free of that hellish condition.

My BIL had it for years. He was in agony. He's been pain-free since his surgery and his disposition is 100% better. When somebody is in that kind of pain, you have to cut them some slack.
I'll be thinking of your sister and I wish her a rapid recovery. She's been through hell.

[Bertha Venation]

44. thank you very much, zanana

I'm glad to hear your BIL is well. Thanks for your good wishes for my sister.

[Demoiselle]

21. All the best. Prayers and vibes. Everything's gonna be fine.

It is amazing what they do these days.

[Bertha Venation]

45. many thanks, Demoiselle

[Odin2005]

22. Good luck!

[Bertha Venation]

46. Thanks, Odin!

[applegrove]

29. vibes to her.

[Bertha Venation]

47. thank you, applegrove

[Capn Sunshine]

40. whoa, sending best of vibes

holes in head are best done sparingly I say. Good luck to your sis.

[Bertha Venation]

48. *grin* thanks, Capn Sunshine

thanks for the little giggle, too.

[proteus_lives]

49. I hope it turns out well for her.

Good thoughts.

[Bertha Venation]

50. thanks very much, proteus

[sakabatou]

51. Good luck for your sis

[Bertha Venation]

62. thank you, sakabatou

[Dystopian]

52. Bertha...

:hug:
Will be thinking of you and your sister...
Wishing her the best...
And my wish for you is to make it home to be with her...
With happy ending...no more pain...peace of mind.


peace & love to you~

[Bertha Venation]

63. many thanks, Dystopian

:hug: :loveya:

[SeattleGirl]

53. Good vibes to your sister, Bertha.

Hope she sails through the surgery with flying colors!

[Bertha Venation]

64. SeattleGirl

thank you :)

[RainDog]

55. best wishes for your sister

I have that same neuralgia. it started when I was 12. mine is very sporadic, tho, so if she deals with this all the time, I'm sure the surgery will be very welcome for her.

from what I know, this is a very successful treatment. even so it's scary.

but the pain is really unbearable, so I hope all goes well for her and she will soon be pain free.

[Bertha Venation]

65. I'm sorry to hear it, RainDog

So sorry. :hug:

Thanks for your wishes for my sister. I wish you the best.

[latebloomer]

56. Sending vibes that the surgery goes well

and brings the desired result!

:hug:

[Bertha Venation]

66. thank you, latebloomer

:hug:

[bigwillq]

57. Sending out my best vibes.

All the best to her. :hug:

[Bertha Venation]

67. thank you, my friend

:hug: :loveya:

[DoBotherMe]

58. Best wishes

To your sister for a speedy recovery. Dana ; )

[Bertha Venation]

68. Thank you, Dana

:hug: Love your username. :)

[DainBramaged]

59. When is she going to have it and where do you have to go???

:hug:

[Bertha Venation]

69. Originally scheduled for May 17, but

when she was in the surgeon's office, she forgot about some projects at work that have to be done by the end of June. So it might not be until July. If you'll pardon the vulgarity, that is a big fat shit sandwich.

I have to go home to California (I live in Maryland).

:hug:

[DainBramaged]

75. Are you flying or driving??? At least there is a little time to plan.

:hug:

[Bertha Venation]

77. I will need to fly.

Can't get enough time off work to drive. It surely would save money, though

:hug: thank you, dainbramaged

[Skittles]

60. Kim, may I ask why they are waiting until May

[Bertha Venation]

70. I don't know why the wait until May, but now it looks like

it might not be until July. While in the surgeon's office my sister forgot about projects at work that have to be done by the end of June. That this is elective surgery is unfathomable to me. :(

[tango-tee]

61. I know someone who suffered from this,

and the pain must truly be excruciating.

Sending my very best wishes to you and your sister, for a successful surgery and speedy recovery! Vibes going out...

[Bertha Venation]

71. many thanks, tango-tee

[Flaxbee]

73. all my best to your sister, Bertha.

:hug:

Didn't she have some (rather scary-sounding) laser procedure last year? And it didn't work well enough so now surgery is indicated?

I really hope this alleviates all of her pain. Sounds frightening, but worth it.

How long is her recovery time?

[Bertha Venation]

78. I don't remember exactly when it was, but yes, she had

gamma knife surgery, a radiation treatmemt. It worked for a short time.

Recovery time for this surgeryy is about three weeks. 3-4 days in the hospital.

:hug: thanl you, my friend

[fizzgig]

74. my best wishes to your sister

i hope this brings her relief :hug:

[Bertha Venation]

79. fizzgig, thank you.

:hug:

[TheCentepedeShoes]

76. Sending good vibes

and a hug :hug: for both of you for her successful surgery and your safe trip

[Bertha Venation]

80. many thanks, Shoes

I appreciate your good thoughts and dig you username

:hug: