This week marks both my surgery and GK anniversaries. Coincidentally they both happened around the same time - I had GK 4 years ago and having failed that, my AN was removed by retrosigmoid surgery exactly one year ago. So I have the rare "distinction" of being both a radiation and a surgical veteran.
After a very long, tortuous and often very frustrating journey, I am happy to report that I have very few lingering effects from the whole ordeal. I had a very good recovery from surgery and within a few months I was back to work full speed and busy as ever. The most annoying side effect was that an old neck/shoulder injury acted up because of the positioning during surgery and required physical therapy. I also still feel some soreness around the incision area.
I am SSD, but this hasn't been an obstacle in my everyday life and work. I am still teaching large classes with no problem. Having read all the positive stories about the CROS hearing aid, I am now considering getting one. I do have dry eye, but I have been dealing with it using drops regularly. Other than that I haven't experienced any fatigue or headaches, actually I feel more energetic than what I have been in years, and the fatigue I had experienced in the last decade (in retrospect I realize now that it was probably due to the AN growing) has disappeared.
My neurosurgeon did have to leave a tiny sliver of the tumor on the facial nerve, so I guess I am kind of on a W&W on this. My first post-op MRI didn't show any signs of the remaining tumor, and I hope it will stay like this. Next MRI should be scheduled around June.
There is not a day that passes without thinking about how grateful I am: That this was a benign and treatable tumor, for my doctors and the medical care I received, for this forum and the incredible people here, for my family and colleagues who have been so supportive.
The sense of gratefulness is well known to all seasoned forumites, but I just wanted the newbies who are now seeking treatment options to know that there is life after an AN diagnosis, and that they can have very good outcomes (surgical, radiation or W&W), even if there are some bumps along the way. This forum is here to support you and encourage you.
Marianna
