Gathering pre-treatment info for my Mom, we need some help please?

[CMRochester]

Hi all,
Well, I have finally made a decision, after weeks of consulting with doctors in Rochester, Cleveland and Cincinnati.  In the end the decision was not easy - I had narrowed it down to two very good teams - Pensak and Theo at University Hospital in Cincinnati and Megerian and Selman at University Hospital in Cleveland.  I felt that they were  both excellant teams and I liked them both alot.   but I chose Cleveland because they now do more than the team in Cincinnati,  I have more family there, and it is closer to home (4 hrs vs 8 hrs).   I am scheduled for May 13th.  I am very confident that all will go well - I have faith in the doctors and I have a very large army of support (family, friends, church, co-workers).  I am now anxious to have it all behind me.   
This site has been a great help to me.
Pembo, you are right, Dr. Megerian is very personable, as is Dr. Selman.  I know I will be in good hands with them
Ceci

[leapyrtwins]

Ceci -

congratulations on reaching your treatment decision - not at all an easy task.

I see you have a date of May 13th, but is that for surgery or radiation?

You may have said in a prior post and I just missed it.

Jan

[sgerrard]

Hi Ceci,

Congratulations on making the decision (I knew you would get there pretty soon). That was the hard part; now you just go for a ride.

We will all be pulling for you if we remember - which we will if you put it on the AN calendar. I know I have that link lying around here somewhere, now where did it go? Oh yes, it's in my signature below.

Stay well,

Steve

[LADavid]

Steve
Great idea for sticking the calendar link in your signature line.  I'm going to try it.
David

[er]

DaughterMeg,
It is so nice when children get involved in helping their parents.

My An was , left cerebellopontine angle, 1.5x1.1 cm in transverse & 9 mm in craniocaudal dimensions, microsurgical removal. It wasn't very big but it was putting a lot of pressure on my eardrum . The doctor said it was putting allot of pressure on my brain causing strange things to happen like seizures like symptoms . After talking to my doctor I felt confident in him ready for surgery .
 I was 55 at the time. I am 3 years post op and still getting better.
Your mom is in good hands even now cause you are with her and helping her. Keep asking questions  and good luck with you and your mom.
eve

[DaughterMeg]

Hi all.  I just wanted to say thank you again for all of your support.  So many have posted and PM'd my Mom and me to help her sort through her options.  I can't imagine what the decision process would have been like for her without all of your valuable input.   (And Steve thanks also for the calendar link, her surgery is listed on there now, this Tuesday is the big day!)  As the worried daughter, it's been comforting to me knowing that all of you have been able to help in ways that I could not.  I wish that none of us needed to be here, but am so grateful to all who have shared your stories and findings with us.  Thank you, thank you!  We'll follow up with the good  news after surgery, when "Wally" is all gone!
-Meg

[Dana]

We'll all be thinking good thoughts on Tuesday for your mom and you!
Love,
Dana

[leapyrtwins]

Meg -

thanks for putting your mom's surgery on the AN Calendar.

Best wishes to her on Tuesday.  Please let us know how her surgery turns out.

She's lucky to have a daughter like you 

Jan

[Melissa778]

Best of luck to your mom tomorrow.  Get lots of rest yourself.  She's so lucky to have you. 

Melissa

[DaughterMeg]

Hi everyone-
Thank you for all the thoughts, prayers and good wishes- THEY WORKED!  Mom is doing great!  Her Doctors worked for about 7 hours yesterday, they said it was pretty sticky, and they did need to leave some behind, we were prepared for that.  What's left is small, there is no more brain stem compression, so it'll be "watch and wait" but is now at a treatable (Gamma) size if it does begin to grow.  Her facial nerve appears to be very well preserved but hearing is almost gone, again we were prepared for that.  Balance, is what it is after surgery, we'll know more in time.  She does have a whopper of a headache, but she's in good spirits today anyway.  So now she will rest and heal.  The Doctors are encouraged at how well she's come out of it, so we're feeling optimistic about her recovery.  And I must say, her Doctors- Megerian and Selman at University Hospital in Cleveland- were wonderful.  She wouldn't have found them without this organization- so again, thank you!  And with that... I'm off to get some sleep now too!
I will pass on your good  wishes to her in the morning, thank you all!
-Meg

[ppearl214]

Meg, great news! Thank you for mom's update! Sounds like she's on the right road and most of the journey is done.  Hang in there, pls give her my best wellness wishes... and hoping you are taking care of yourself as well.

Phyl

[leapyrtwins]

Meg thanks for updating us.

It sounds like your mom is doing great!

Please tell her we are thinking of her and sending our best wishes.

Jan

[sgerrard]

Oh good, I'm always glad to hear about one that turned out well. Thanks for the speedy update, too.  Lots of rest and gentle recovery time now. All the best to Ceci and you.

Steve

[Kaybo]

Meg~
Glad to know that things turned out well.  We'll continue praying for you in the days to come!  Hope the headache gets better!
K

[oHIo]

Thanks for the update.  Glad to hear everything went well.