Please share the process of Micro-Surgery

[shanne]

Dear all,

I am a newly diagnosed AN patient with a 2.9cm x 2.3cm AN on my left. Doctors are providing me advices on options available, however, i still cant decide which treatment option to go for. Just yesterday, i visited a Neurosurgeon, and he had gave me some advice on microsurgery. However, i would hope to learn more about what i should expect in the process of going through a microsurgery. Anyone who had gone through a microsurgery, I hope you could kindly share your experiences.
I hope to learn more so as to be able cope with it after i chose it as my treatment option.

Thank you.

Shanne

[russ]

Hi Schanne
  Seems you may get a huge variety ( or few ) of replies here as each case is so individual. Maybe go to http://www.anarchive.org/
 and read the pt. stories. A word about the site. To some, it is biased against surgery so don't be scared away from surgery because of that.   -Russ

[Monica]

Hi Shanne,
As you may have read, ANs are slow growing tumors and are typically benign.My tumor was 2cm and was surgically removed 18 months ago at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. I lost my hearing in the right ear, as most do, but my facial nerve stayed in tact.

I did some PT for the balance issue (they cut the balance nerve to get the tumor) and although I went back to work after 6 weeks, I could have returned after 4.

My best advice is to write down all the questions you have. The doctors will take the time to answer them all.  Keep a positive attitude, it is amazing how much that helps.

If you are prone to prayer, say some. It helps too.

Contact me if you'd like at ga_lally@yahoo.com

All the best -
Monica

[Karissa]

I had middle fossa surgery in December, let me know if you have any specific questions that i can answer.
karissashields@cox.net

[shanne]

Hi Monica,

May i know what surgery approach did you get? Middle fossa, Translab or retro-sigmoid?
As i have the same condition as you, except that yours was on your right, while mine was affecting my left.
Hope you are recovering well..

God Bless You.

Rgds,
Shanne ( Singapore )

[shanne]

Hi Karissa,

I had sent you an email to your email address as indicated with some of the questions i have about the surgery.
Hope you would provide some experience sharing.

Thank you in advance.
I hope you had been recovering well.

God Bless You.

Rgds,
Shanne ( Singapore )

[shanne]

Hi Russ,

Thanks for sharing the link to the archive on AN patients stories..
I had checked out the site & its a really good one where i could find out more from.

Btw, please do not mind me asking, were you an AN patient too?
What treatment did you choose? How's your condition so far?
Hope you could share more with me about your experience.

My email address is: shaboo7967@yahoo.com.sg
feel free to write to me.

I wish you the Best of Health.
take care.

Rgds,
Shanne ( Singapore )

[stein78]

Hi Shanne,
I had restrosigmoid surgery for my 2.5 AN in May.  Everything went great, except for total hearing loss in the ear.

http://anausa.org/forum/index.php?topic=224.0 - that's a link to my story

http://anausa.org/forum/index.php?topic=211.0 - a few pics of me after surgery

Best of luck to you!  You will get through this.

[bonehead]

Shane,

I had retrosigmoid (2cm) at Columbia Presbyterian in NYC by Dr. Sisti and Wazen about a year and a half ago.  I've retained all of my pre-surgery hearing and lead an active life with three daughters.  You can see my story here -

http://homepage.mac.com/bonesteel/iblog/index.html   (start at the bottom)

and here

http://homepage.mac.com/bonesteel/PhotoAlbum82.html

Best to you in your research.

Jon

[shanne]

Hi Stein78 & Bonehead,

Thanks for sharing the experience of the surgery procedures, that had definitely given me some scope of what i should expect.
Im really glad i met nice people like you guys...
Btw, im 26 this year, hopefully, i can win the battle like you guys did!
Im due for my surgery on 28th Sept ( just got the date changed from 21st sept as the surgeon is out for a medical conference on the initial date ). Shall try my best to keep you guys posted in the forum...

Take care, & i wish you the best of health..
Thanks!

Rgds,
Shanne ( Singapore )