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Author Topic: 2010 Alumni- Here I Come- Surgery Scheduled for 2/2/10 at HEI  (Read 15778 times)

lalehjg

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Re: 2010 Alumni- Here I Come- Surgery Scheduled for 2/2/10 at HEI
« Reply #15 on: February 02, 2010, 08:52:09 am »
Michelle.

I am thinking of you now.  You are probably in your gown possibly now, and headed for surgery.  I will be sending you prayers and love and lots of positive and healing vibes.

Laleh
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12 mm x 4 mm diagnosed 1/25/10
CK at Stanford 4/7-4/9/10 - Drs. Chang and Soltys
Measured 14 mm x 6 mm at time of treatment

pjb

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Re: 2010 Alumni- Here I Come- Surgery Scheduled for 2/2/10 at HEI
« Reply #16 on: February 02, 2010, 08:58:20 am »
My thoughts and prayers are with you today.

Best Wishes,

Pat
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Diagnosed with a 1 cm. AN had Retrosigmoid
Approach surgery July of 2009, several problems after surgery.

pjb

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Re: 2010 Alumni- Here I Come- Surgery Scheduled for 2/2/10 at HEI
« Reply #17 on: February 02, 2010, 09:02:12 am »
Quote from: Michelle K on January 27, 2010, 07:29:08 pm
Thanks Everyone!  You are all so wonderful!  I can't believe it's less than a week away now.

James, I think HEI was only about a month or so out for scheduling my surgery.  Not too long.  There are some really great links to other people's blog's regarding questions to ask.  Here's my list.  Hope it helps and saves you a little bit of time.

Surgery Questions:

1.   How many VM’s have you removed this year?  How many do you typically do in a week?
2.   What surgical approach do you recommend for my tumor size, location, age, health, and level of hearing?  Do I have enough hearing to even try to preserve?
3.   What are your success rates for preserving the facial nerve in cases such as mine?  What is the likelihood I will sustain facial nerve damage?  Temporary, how long?  Permanent?
4.   Do you anticipate total tumor removal?
5.   Can you tell if my tumor is coming off the vestibular nerve?  How much outside the IAC?  Location?
6.   How do you measure the size of my tumor, ie: what measurement comes first, the largest?
7.   Who monitors the facial nerve during surgery?
8.   What is the rate of surgical complications given my particular situation?  Headache, bleeding, CSF leak, and infection?
9.   Who will be on my surgical team?  What are each of their jobs?  Do you do the entire surgery, or do you switch back and forth with the neuro?
10.   Who will be present in the OR?  Any students?  Who will be operating on me?
11.   With the TransLab, do you fill the void with anything besides fat?  Titanium mesh also, or not?
12.   When you take the fat from my stomach, where from?  How big of a scar?  Do you put a draining tube in or stitches?
13.   How many times will you come to visit my family, or send updates to my family during the surgery?
14.   How long do you anticipate the surgery to take given my particular tumor size?
15.   What should I expect when I wake up from surgery?
16.   Which Dr’s will be doing the follow up in the hospital?
17.   How discomfort should I expect from pain after this surgery?  Dizziness?
18.   What medications will I be getting?  Steroids?  Side effects?
19.   How long can I expect to be ICU?  In recovery at the hospital?  When will I get the stitches removed?  How long do I need to stay in the area?  Ok to fly home?
20.   Will I have an MRI after surgery?  How often should I get them thereafter?
21.   Can my son come to see me at the hospital after surgery?  How long after surgery do you typically recommend?
22.   Will I be sharing a room?  With how many people?
23.   Can I tour the hospital area where I will be?
24.   What will be done for the pre-op?  Can I get copies of all of my pre-op bloodwork, chest x-rays, EKG.  And the surgery report?
25.            If you had an acoustic neuroma, who would you trust to perform surgery on you?  Who do you recommend for a second opinion?



This is great just wondering is this posted on the pre-op site I would have loved to had this prior to my surgery as I am sure others will benefit from this list of questions...
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Diagnosed with a 1 cm. AN had Retrosigmoid
Approach surgery July of 2009, several problems after surgery.

sgerrard

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Re: 2010 Alumni- Here I Come- Surgery Scheduled for 2/2/10 at HEI
« Reply #18 on: February 02, 2010, 09:46:10 am »
Quote from: NL on February 02, 2010, 12:54:27 am

Nancy, Lainie, Michelle, and David, 2-1-10


Nice to see the LA committee again. You are looking good. Best wishes, Michelle.

Steve
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8 mm left AN June 2007,  CK at Stanford Sept 2007.
Hearing lasted a while, but left side is deaf now.
Right side is weak too. Life is quiet.

ppearl214

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Re: 2010 Alumni- Here I Come- Surgery Scheduled for 2/2/10 at HEI
« Reply #19 on: February 02, 2010, 10:06:55 am »
Quote from: sgerrard on February 02, 2010, 09:46:10 am
Quote from: NL on February 02, 2010, 12:54:27 am

Nancy, Lainie, Michelle, and David, 2-1-10


Nice to see the LA committee again. You are looking good. Best wishes, Michelle.

Steve

Agreed! Everyone looks fab! :) thanks for sharing the pic!

Michelle.... sending Piratitude vibes your way for a speedy recovery.... and your entry to "Postiehood".  Thinking of you!
Phyl
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"Gentlemen, I wash my hands of this weirdness", Capt Jack Sparrow - Davy Jones Locker, "Pirates of the Carribbean - At World's End"

DR

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Re: 2010 Alumni- Here I Come- Surgery Scheduled for 2/2/10 at HEI
« Reply #20 on: February 02, 2010, 10:32:20 am »
The pic of the LA Gang brought a smile to my face.  Just a day short of three months since I had the pleasure of meeting them!

Best wishes Michelle for a successful surgery, speedy recovery and, if you are really lucky, a St. Vincents room with a view  ;)

- Dennis
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AN right side 12mm x 9mm x 9mm
Middle fossa surgery 11/4/09 at House (Dr. Brackmann/Dr. Schwartz)
Tumor removed, no facial issues, hearing intact!
http://denvstumor.blogspot.com/

"The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he did not exist."

leapyrtwins

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Re: 2010 Alumni- Here I Come- Surgery Scheduled for 2/2/10 at HEI
« Reply #21 on: February 02, 2010, 11:14:42 am »
The LA Gang does look good and I'm so glad they got to meet with Michelle.

Selfishly as I sit here in cold, snowy Illinois I was glad to see a scarf and a few jackets in the picture  ;)

Can't wait to hear from Michelle as a postie!

Jan

 
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Retrosig 5/31/07 Drs. Battista & Kazan (Hinsdale, Illinois)
Left AN 3.0 cm (1.5 cm @ diagnosis 6 wks prior) SSD. BAHA implant 3/4/08 (Dr. Battista) Divino 6/4/08  BP100 4/2010 BAHA 5 8/2015

I don't actually "make" trouble..just kind of attract it, fine tune it, and apply it in new and exciting ways

jaylogs

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Re: 2010 Alumni- Here I Come- Surgery Scheduled for 2/2/10 at HEI
« Reply #22 on: February 02, 2010, 11:24:21 am »
DR, I can echo your sentiments, it's  been TWO months since I saw the LA Posse...everyone looks great and I can personally relate I bet Michelle felt a lot more at ease after her visit with them!  My thoughts and prayers are with her and her loved ones today as she'll become an official postie!!
Jay
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8.1mm x 7.8mm x 8.2mm AN, Left Ear, Middle Fossa surgery performed on 12/9/09 at House by Drs. Brackmann/Schwartz. Some hearing left, but got BAHA 2/25/11 (Ponto Pro) To see how I did through my Middle Fossa surgery, click here: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jaylogston

JerseyGirl2

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Re: 2010 Alumni- Here I Come- Surgery Scheduled for 2/2/10 at HEI
« Reply #23 on: February 02, 2010, 11:58:50 am »
It was so good to see this picture -- hadn't seen the "welcoming committee" in action in a while, and it brought a smile to my face. All of you look wonderful! Best wishes to you, too, Michelle. Hope your surgery and recovery period will both go very smoothly.

Even though my surgery at House pre-dated the existence of this group, I know what a blessing you've been to all those you've met!

Catherine (JerseyGirl 2)
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Translab surgery and BAHA implant: House Ear Institute, Los Angeles, 1/2008
Drs. J. House, Schwartz, Wilkinson, and Stefan
BAHA Intenso, 6/2008
no facial, balance, or vision problems either before or after surgery ... just hearing loss
Monmouth County, NJ

NL

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Re: 2010 Alumni- Here I Come- Surgery Scheduled for 2/2/10 at HEI
« Reply #24 on: February 06, 2010, 02:02:54 am »
I got an email update from postie Michelle tonight. Sounds like she is doing great at 3 days post-op!  I have a feeling she'll be back to posting herself before we know it.  :)

Congrats, Michelle - welcome to the other side!

Nancy

(P.S. - Dennis and Jay - glad to see you're both doing well! :) )
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1.6 cm left AN diagnosed Oct. '07
1.9 cm on 2nd MRI, May '08
Retrosigmoid surgery at House Clinic/St. Vincent's on 8/6/08
(no post-op dizziness, nausea, facial or balance issues)
Thankful for a fantastic team of doctors - Dr. Rick Friedman, Dr. Marc Schwartz, & Dr. Michael Stefan

Michelle K

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Re: 2010 Alumni- Here I Come- Surgery Scheduled for 2/2/10 at HEI
« Reply #25 on: February 06, 2010, 03:14:52 am »
Hey Chitownpete,

We had surgery the same dry.   Now that I'm starting to feel a little betterINg wanted to check in and see how you are.  Hope you are doing well. 

Hang in there,

Michelle
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1.7cmx1.23cmx.8mm, diagnosed Nov 11, 2009. Translab surgery completed w/ Dr. Schwartz, Dr. Brackmann, and Dr. Ursich (fellow) at House Ear Institute in Los Angeles, CA, on 2/2/10.  SSD (no hearing preservation attempted), very mild balance issues, no facial issues, counting my lucky stars so far!

Chitownpete

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Re: 2010 Alumni- Here I Come- Surgery Scheduled for 2/2/10 at HEI
« Reply #26 on: February 14, 2010, 10:37:45 pm »
Michele,

Great to hear from you, I am so glad you are feeling better and survived (I take nothing for granted). I was sent home on day 4 after 10.5 hours on the table. I am doing better than I expected. I ate after about 5 days and am walking on my own. I even went out to dinner with friends last Friday and Family today. Ive got little things I can complain about but refuse as I consider myself very lucky to be alive and recovering. I was smiling (both sides) when I woke up from anesthesia. Life is good.  Are we the only 2 that went on Feb 2nd? Let me know how you are and PM is fine if you prefer.
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