Almost two months ago, I was diagnosed with a right side 1.7 AN. My symptoms are odd - facial tingling and numbness, but only very very mild hearing loss in the upper pitches. We met with multiple specialists in Charlotte, NC and at MUSC in Charleston, SC. The surgeons in Charlotte reluctantly recommended surgery. Dr. Paul Lambert (did his fellowship at House) did an exam, looked at my scans, talked to me, looked at my scans and then asked if I was leaning any particular direction for treatment. I told him I was hoping for radiation, but that I wanted to make a wise choice. He was the doctor I trusted - I was going to do the treatment he recommended. (Even though surgery had significant drawbacks, particularly a likely loss of good hearing.) He thought for a minute, then looked up and said "I'd like to do radiation. We're really pushing the envelope on the ages we start using radiation. 5 years ago, I wouldn't think this is how we'd go -but let's radiate it."
I'm sitting in my waiting room with my frame attached and MRI done. Now his team is planning away. I am so so glad I was a candidate for radiation. This process has been remarkably easy so far. That could be because of the Ativan. It could also be because this team is fantastic. If any ANers in the Carolinas, I'd highly recommend Dr. Paul Lambert at MUSC. He does both surgery and gamma knife.
