Hi All,
I wanted to give a quick update! Today is 5 weeks since my translab surgery. I go back to work next Monday and am feeling a little nervous! I still tire easily, but other than that I am feeling great. I am very grateful for my recovery and wish the same outcome for everyone after surgery. I am cleared to run again, but will have to wait to swim until all sutures are out and my incision is all healed. I was up and walking the day after my surgery with no balance issues and have continued walking since. Most days I still have the "surgery hangover" where I feel a bit foggy, but I know that will go away eventually. I am out and about and driving and could not feel more grateful!
I still have tinnitus, but it is very tolerable compared to before surgery. Before, it was very loud and the pitch would change. It was super annoying! Now, it stays a constant, low buzz. I'll be trying out acupuncture this summer to see if it helps. Another AN'er mentioned it helps her, so I may as well give it a go. I lost quite a bit of my hearing before surgery, so losing my hearing in one ear has not been terrible. It has taken a little bit to get used to, but I have accepted it and just dealt with it. My face is still temporarily paralyzed, but I have no doubt it will make a full recovery in a few more weeks. It's so much better than the first week after surgery. My eye is blinking and closing on its own, so that works for me! It was not doing that 2 weeks ago. The doctors said it will take at most 3 months for my face to come back fully, but anticipate it will not take that long for me. I trust them! All of this is worth being tumor free!
Good luck to everyone reading this!