Author Topic: Surgery a success 12/8/2015! 33/M New York 2.4 CM AN  (Read 4922 times)

Eddie

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Surgery a success 12/8/2015! 33/M New York 2.4 CM AN
« on: December 12, 2015, 11:54:57 am »
Hi Everyone!

I just got discharged from the hospital yesterday around noon and i'm recovering nicely. The pain is definitely a lot less painful that i imagined. (heck my root canal hurt more than this).

I had surgery at New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York with Dr Michael Sisti and he did an amazing job! I was able to have 100% tumor removal (2.4x 2.4x 2.2 CM - may have grew slighly before the surgery as the MRI scan is based off July 2015) He was able to save my facial and hearing nerves, however; my ear is a bit muffled and full right now due to the swelling. I might not be recovering my full hearing, but i'm hoping for the best. He also said i didn't have any brain damage, but i will have some dizziness and head aches since my brain is back in it's original position.

I just wanted share my side of the story and if anyone has any questions please feel free to reach out to me. I know first being diagnosed i was really scared and anxious and the forums usually had more scary posts than positive.

-July 2015 - Woke up with congested left ear and lasted about 2 weeks - then came Tinnitus
-9/16/15 - ENT doctor diagnosed with Tinnitus
-10/2/15 - MRI Scan reveals 2.4 X 2.4 x 2.2 cm AN
-12/8/15 - Surgery NYP Dr. Michael Sisti
-12/9/15 - 100% tumor removal all nerves saved :D

SlaJ83

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Re: Surgery a success 12/8/2015! 33/M New York 2.4 CM AN
« Reply #1 on: December 13, 2015, 02:05:49 am »
Eddie,

That is wonderful news! I'm glad everything went well!

I'm new to the forums after being diagnosed with a 3.5 cm AN on my right side on 12/01/15, I'm scheduled to have emergency translabyrinthine on 12/16/15. It's all happening so fast and I'm extremely nervous.

I wasn't trying to hijack your thread though. Just wanted to know what surgical process you had done? Thank you and I hope your recovery continues to go smoothly!

Eddie

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Re: Surgery a success 12/8/2015! 33/M New York 2.4 CM AN
« Reply #2 on: December 14, 2015, 12:31:06 am »
Hi Slaj, i'll shoot you a pm.
-July 2015 - Woke up with congested left ear and lasted about 2 weeks - then came Tinnitus
-9/16/15 - ENT doctor diagnosed with Tinnitus
-10/2/15 - MRI Scan reveals 2.4 X 2.4 x 2.2 cm AN
-12/8/15 - Surgery NYP Dr. Michael Sisti
-12/9/15 - 100% tumor removal all nerves saved :D

Mei Mei

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Re: Surgery a success 12/8/2015! 33/M New York 2.4 CM AN
« Reply #3 on: December 22, 2015, 07:32:56 pm »
Congratulations for having all of this behind you and welcome to the world of Post Ops.   Continue in good health!
1 cm Tumor RetrosigmoidSurgery on Jan 12 at Johns Hopkins
Drs. Niparko and Tamargo
35dB loss pre surgery and now SSD
Post surgical Headaches and Tinnitus
Dr Ducic Georgetown Excision Surgery May 2011
Dr. Schwartz GW  Titanium Mesh  March 2012
Drs Kalhorn/Baker, Georgetown Removal of Titanium Mesh

GP9

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Re: Surgery a success 12/8/2015! 33/M New York 2.4 CM AN
« Reply #4 on: December 26, 2015, 11:52:33 am »
Eddie, that's great to hear that Dr. Sisti did such a great job. I like him because especially when he teams up with Dr. Isaacson, it's like listening to Tom and Ray on Car Talk, on the radio. They are funny. It gives the feeling that everything is OK, and it's like a walk in the park.

Watch his office. The New York office doesn't run very well. I had gamma knife about five years ago. After a year I had a MRI. That was done at my local hospital Upstate. I didn't hear anything for a while and called. The receptionist snapped that Dr. Sisti was on vacation.

A couple of years later I had another MRI, again  in Saratoga. I never heard anything. The report was sent by the hospital, and I mailed the CD-ROM This past fall, I was due for another MRI. The office said that I never followed through the last time. I never called because of being snapped at by the receptionist.

Now it has been over a month. I mailed the CD registered mail, so I would have proof. I'm not worried because my mother-in-law is a nurse here. She had a doctor friend look at the image, and he said that everything looked good.

Be sure to stay on top of the office. I have another reason to be in New York on Monday. I may drop by to see what's going on. Hopefully this will get back to Dr. Sisti, so he can take appropriate action.

Bellium

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Re: Surgery a success 12/8/2015! 33/M New York 2.4 CM AN
« Reply #5 on: January 06, 2016, 04:06:48 pm »
Hi Eddie,

So glad I found your post! I am 30 years old and was diagnosed with a 3cm AN on 11/18/15 and now have surgery scheduled with Dr. Sisti on 1/19/16. Would love to speak to you about your surgery and recovery.
3/2011 woke up with left tinnitus and hearing loss - diagnosed with SSNHL, no MRI. Hearing returned with steroids.
11/4/15 woke up with left facial numbness
11/18/15 MRI showed 3.5cm AN
1/19/16 Surgery with Dr. Michael Sisti at Columbia
Left SSD, vestibular rehab, no facial nerve issues

mcrue

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Re: Surgery a success 12/8/2015! 33/M New York 2.4 CM AN
« Reply #6 on: January 10, 2016, 05:26:16 am »
Congratulations!

I don't know why you would have any brain damage?
5/19/2015 - 40% sudden hearing loss + tinnitus right ear

6/26/2015 - AN diagnosed by MRI - 14mm x 7mm + 3mm extension

8/26/2015 - WIDEX "ZEN" hearing aid for my catastrophic tinnitus

12/15/2015: 18mm x 9mm + 9mm extension (5mm AGGRESSIVE GROWTH in 5 months)

3/03/2016:   Gamma Knife - Dr. Sheehan

rm516

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Re: Surgery a success 12/8/2015! 33/M New York 2.4 CM AN
« Reply #7 on: January 25, 2016, 10:27:45 pm »
I had similar success with Dr. Sisti ! My tumor was really big 3.2x3.2 cm but still Dr. Sisti saved my hearing to the same pre surgical level ( ~50%). However, my tumor removal was sub-total (~70 %). Surgery and outcome was super success.
Now, trying to get appointment for my 2nd year follow-up but his assistant (Mary) is really making the follow-up visit very difficult.  I have been waiting for over 23 days, just to get approval for MRI from insurance through her, (excuse after excuse) still no word. His assistant (Mary) is the only bad thing about this wonderful doctor. ::)
Diagnosed AN in 2008,  3.2 cm CPA round, retrosigmoid surgery performed by Dr. M. Sisti, Columbia Pres.Hospital  NY, in Jan 2013, After surgery no major issues, Hearing retained (>50% ). However, 2 YRs post surgery MRI shows a further decrease in the size of residual AN! No GK or any therapy needed.

Eddie

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Re: Surgery a success 12/8/2015! 33/M New York 2.4 CM AN
« Reply #8 on: January 29, 2016, 10:45:37 am »
Just wanted to post an update:

I'm almost 2 months post-op and today i've completed a full week back to work. I've started working but irregular hours (10am - 4:30pm) so i skip the rush hour commute, but i expect to be back to working 9-6pm hours in the upcoming week since i have a desk job.

Recovery is going well. I'm still experiencing some dizziness, metallic taste, and my incision area is constantly itchy. The Dr. informed me that the itch is from my body getting use to the foreign object (titanium mesh) and will get better over time. I'm taking long walks during lunch and when i get home i'm walking my dog outside. I've also resumed gym activity and doing some moderate-heavy lifting exercises. I notice some exercises makes me more dizzy than others so i'm avoiding those for now, but it feels good to be able to "pick things up and put them down." - Planet fitness commercial. :P

My ear congestion is alot better - or i'm just getting use to it now. I still have about 50% hearing in my surgical side ear and i'm still adjusting to that and i will be returning back in June for a MRI scan in hopes that there is no regrowth.

Dr. Sisti (Columbia University - NYP) has been amazing throughout this entire process!
-July 2015 - Woke up with congested left ear and lasted about 2 weeks - then came Tinnitus
-9/16/15 - ENT doctor diagnosed with Tinnitus
-10/2/15 - MRI Scan reveals 2.4 X 2.4 x 2.2 cm AN
-12/8/15 - Surgery NYP Dr. Michael Sisti
-12/9/15 - 100% tumor removal all nerves saved :D