Author Topic: Four-year Update  (Read 2273 times)

Tod

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Four-year Update
« on: February 14, 2014, 06:50:43 am »
Hi All, just checking in to acknowledge the conclusion of the fourth year since that 32-hour surgery. It is also now also two years since the conclusion of 28 sessions of FSR.

Life is good. Extraordinarily good. The few deficits I have (dry eye, chronic cough, minor swallowing issues, and occasional vocal issues) are all minor in comparison to struggles that many people have. They simply require very modest changes in behavior. Nightly use of Systane or Refresh in my eye. Almost always carrying water or soda to drink to minimize the coughing that  *will* occur.

In the scheme of things, these issues are not worth mentioning.

Life is good. To give an example of how good, while trying not to brag, on Wednesday, the anniversary of surgery beginning, I was in DC for a meeting with the White House regarding veterans data. It has been an exceptional week to acknowledge this anniversary.

Thanks to all here who have supported me and who support each other.

-Tod
Bob the tumor: 4.4cm x 3.9cm x 4.1 cm.
Trans-Lab and Retro-sigmoid at MCV on 2/12/2010.

Removed 90-95% in a 32 hour surgery. Two weeks in ICU.  SSD Left.

http://randomdatablog.com

BAHA implant 1/25/11.

28 Sessions of FSR @ MCV ended 2/9/12.

LakeErie

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Re: Four-year Update
« Reply #1 on: February 14, 2014, 12:44:57 pm »
Congratulations on the milestone. Am glad everything continues to go well for you and hope it stays that way, you deserve it. Good luck.
4.7 cm x 3.6 cm x 3.2 cm vestibular schwannoma
Simplified retrosigmoid @ Cleveland Clinic 10/06/2011
Rt SSD, numbness, vocal cord and swallowing problems
Vocal cord and swallowing normalized at 16 months. Numbness persists.
Regrowth 09/19/2016
GK 10/12/2016 Cleveland Clinic
facial weakness Jan 2017

Jim Scott

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Re: Four-year Update
« Reply #2 on: February 14, 2014, 02:23:50 pm »
Tod ~

I appreciate your very positive four-year update. Well done!   We also appreciate your contributions to the ANA discussion forums.

I hope your future remains bright - and bragging is O.K.  You've earned the right.  :)

Jim
4.5 cm AN diagnosed 5/06.  Retrosigmoid surgery 6/06.  Follow-up FSR completed 10/06.  Tumor shrinkage & necrosis noted on last MRI.  Life is good. 

Life is not the way it's supposed to be. It's the way it is.  The way we cope with it is what makes the difference.

TexasSprinter

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Re: Four-year Update
« Reply #3 on: February 14, 2014, 10:38:24 pm »
A well deserved celebration for your anniversary. Congrats

leapyrtwins

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Re: Four-year Update
« Reply #4 on: February 16, 2014, 12:42:17 pm »
Congrats on your 4 year ANniversary, Tod.

You have been through so much related to your AN, and you are so upbeat and positive.

It's appreciated - as are you!

Jan
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