Hi Stephanie,
As is said many times on here,, everyone's experience with these tumors is different. So it is hard to say just how things will go for you,, just keep good thoughts and try not to stress over what "may" happen. I had translab about 10 weeks ago. I will say that at three weeks, you probably still won't feel really good.. you may come home on steroids for a week or so and of course you will have "after effects" of anesthesia still in your body. It took me about 4-5 weeks to really feel good again..and I still have fatigue easily, but not many headaches as I had had before surgery. Mine was pressing on the brainstem and causing all sorts of symptoms... I was off the steroids within the first week, that helped, and I did not take much of the pain meds sent home with me as I was already experiencing constipation which was very uncomfortable,, I found preparation H to be my best friend for a few weeks.......drink plenty of fluids. I have facial paralysis and gold weight in my eyelid because tumor had grown into facial nerve and it had to be severed,, DON'T stress over that though, as you very well may not have that issue.. however, it causes me great difficulty eating, drinking and eye drops constantly.. the very best "thing" to come out of surgery is that the tumor no longer resides in my head!! For that I am thankful and would go through it again just to not have to worry about it in there and growing and complications of it pressing on brainstem.. it is not an easy surgery, no doubt, but many people go through it without "major" complications and I am hoping you will too... just try not to worry about it, I know that is easy to say,, but we have all been in your shoes, (that have had any treatment anyway) so we can say that to you. Worry will not help anything at this point,, just stress you out. Try to stay busy doing the things that make you happy and try to "finish" up any projects/things left undone as you will probably not feel like doing much for several months after surgery.
As far as walking, I did walk each day before surgery,, with the dog, and my balance is not too bad now,, although at first I was quite unstable. . the hearing issue takes some getting used to and I am still trying to adjust.. it is weird to hear something going on and not know where or what side of you it is... with my surgery and not sure it is that way with all translabs,, but my ear was quite numb and swollen feeling, I explain it like a Mr. Potato Head ear "stuck" on the side of my head...feeling has just started coming back into it lately and it is not so bad. It also had a feeling of having pins stuck in it if touched.. but in addition to having the incision behind my ear for the translab, I also have an incision in front of ear and down neck/jaw area where the nerve graft surgery was done 4 days later to repair facial nerve, so that may have some bearing on how my ear feels.. I don't notice the area of bone removal as any different other than sore and tender. Ask your Dr what they use to replace that bone, but I don't imagine you will feel much difference.
Sorry to go on so, but wanted to give you my experience as I have just gone through it. I don't mean to give you anything to "worry" about as I said because your surgery experience will be different than mine just by fact of you using a different Dr.. but it is my experience... it was hard but I would do it again just to get the thing out of my head!! Now I can start adjusting to life after AN,, it is a new me or as they say a "new normal",, but one I must accept and move forward with and I am trying each day to do just that.. Good luck to you,, I know you will do fine,, try not to worry about it for the next couple of weeks and enjoy life........ PM me if you have any other questions, I will be glad to answer..........Jane
