So...I survived my surgery and arrived back home yesterday.  I ended up only having to have one side done - a great surprise.  However, since the surgery, I keep second guessing things I'm feeling and wondering what is serious or not.  Has anyone else had similar experiences?  Some numbness in the left side of my mouth (had right side done) and a bit in my arm and leg on the left side but can still move and no drooping, impairment, etc. with anything.  So...is this normal or is this when I should go to the hospital?  Know I can't go to the hospital daily but also don't want to let something go and have it end up being permanent.  Thoughts?

Best wishes to you and happy to hear surgery went well and you are back home.

I would be interested in hearing about what to expect after surgery. My son was recently diagnosed and we are still waiting to hear about what needs to be done for him.

My son had his surgeries on the 20th and 26th of April.  He had both sides done a week apart and after the first (the right side) he had some droopiness with the left side of his mouth for awhile.  It cleared up and we were told it was normal.  He also has had random numbness in his arm and sometimes his leg.  He had the surgery on both sides and after the left side he has speech issues which haven't cleared up completely yet.  We have been assured many times that this is all normal. 

I know how you feel about worrying if it is something to head to the ER about.  We have made the rule to give it an hour and if it is still as bad or worse then we will go.  So far it has either completely or nearly completely resolved by the time an hour has passed.

Congratulations on your successful surgery and you're still being here.  I may be in surgery  soon...do they shave my scalp and bandage my whole head up ?  Will I feel like I can think better right away  with more blood being in my brain?  How many years  does  someone with MoyaMoya live after successful surgery?

Sandy, every surgeon is different but I  have never seen anyone get their entire head shaved.  It's usually just the area of the incision.  My daughter didn't have any hair shaved at all. Not one single hair.  Her surgeon said studies he's seen don't show that shaving decreases infection so he doesn't do it. As for being able to do everything right away...you have to remember that surgery is serious stuff and your rain will take time to heal.  My daughter went back to school a few weeks after her surgery.  she still tired very easily and had some cognitive issues which have improved over time.  Again, everyone's brain is different and will heal differently.  I guesss I'm just trying to say that you will  be fine, just don't expect too much too soon.  Let yourself heal.

Hello,
I had my surgery Oct. 2009. I still have issues with memory and concentration, but I am far better than before my surgery. I had severe dizziness to the point that I could not walk without falling to the floor and I could not sit up without support. That resolved itself after my surgery for about 3 months. I do have bouts of dizziness but nothing like before. They did not have to shave my head, I still don’t grow hair about 1/2 an inch from my incision but I have so much hair you cannot even tell. I had a bad reaction to the anesthetic after my surgery so I was puking all night but that had nothing to do with the surgery itself. I had swelling around my eye on the side of the surgery but that went down within a week. My mother and I always wait if the symptoms stay for a couple hours then we call my neurologist, if he says to come in or if the symptoms stay or get worse to come to the hospital. The surgery severly impoved my way of living.