1 month post retrosigmoid surgery update

[Phillies]

Hello,

I had my one month follow up visit with Dr. Sisti yesterday. I had the retrosogmoid surgery done on 7-15-11. My balance is only off about 5 to 10 percent and I can hardly notice it. I'm back to running and I'm returning to work in a week. I still have my ear ringing when there is noise but the doctor thinks that will go away. The hearing nerve was preserved during the removal of my 2.5cm AN but still no hearing. The doctor says I have until November for the hearing to return and he gave me a "moderate" chance of it returning. I'm not going to expect it to return so I won't be upset if it doesn't come back but I pray everyday that is does. Considering every doctor I went to, including my doctor originally gave me only a very small chance of saving the hearing on a 2.5cm tumor to now hear I have a "moderate" chance of getting some hearing back is pretty amazing. And even if it doesn't come back, I'm sure having a working hearing nerve might somehow help when it comes to getting a hearing aid of some kind.

[Anasazi42]

Congrats Phillies! You are now an ANer in the land of posties (post-surgery). I'd like to welcome you. I'm a relative newcomer myself having had my 3 cm AN removed on May 12, 2011 in a 9 hr retrosigmoid surgery. Really pleased to hear your recovery is going so well and that you don't have significant balance issues. As for the hearing, it's good that the surgeon thinks you could still regain it. Go with that! If a year goes by and you don't regain it, it's not so bad. You get used to it and it isn't that noticeable except in some situations. Now I haven't returned to work yet, so I don't know if it will be an issue there. But, I doubt it. I had significant hearing loss BEFORE I knew about the AN and i would just tell my coworkers to deal and to stand on my left side!

[Jim Scott]

Jeff ~

Thanks for that update and congratulations on an outstanding recovery!  Your experience is definitely an encouragement for those now facing AN surgery.  I hope some hearing does return but, under the circumstances, keeping your expectations low is probably a good idea.  Meanwhile, I can assure you (based on my experience) that you'll probably continue to improve in other areas, including balance.  I'm also at approximately 80-85% of my pre-AN equilibrium (5 years post-op) and with only a very rare exception, don't have any balance problems in my everyday life.  I have the impression that you may do even better.  Again, congratulations - and thanks for sharing your positive surgery update.

Jim

[leapyrtwins]

Sounds like a great recovery 

Congratulations!

If the hearing doesn't come back, you might want to consider a BAHA; you don't need a hearing nerve for that.

Best,

Jan

[Heidi in Omaha]

Congratulations! So happy for you! Thank you for posting such an encouraging story. My tumor is about the same size as yours and I will have the same procedure done next month.

[Phillies]

Thanks. And I started back at work yesterday too.

[CHD63]

Great quick recovery!  Gives others hope when things seem so dark.  Thanks for sharing your success story with us.  Stick around to help others.

Clarice