It is now 13 months post GK and to summarize:Oct 2016 procedure resulted in central tumor necrosis which caused edema in the brain adjacent to the tumor. That swelling, which impacted the facial nerve to a House Brackmann Grade 4 paralysis, was diagnosed by MRI on Feb 20 2017. After Decadron taper of 4 weeks, and 3 months time, MRI May 22, 2017 showed 30% reduction in edema and facial neuropathy up to HB Grade 2. This morning was next 6 month MRI and imaging showed the edema resolved completely and the tumor had resolved as well and flattened. The tumor measurement is now a couple mm's smaller, unusual in my neurosurgeon's experience at this point and my next MRI is in one year.
My facial droop persists but is not apparent when my face is at rest, I am probably a permanent HB grade 2. My synkinesis that started three months ago persists but is mild. I asked neurosurgery today for a referral to someone in facial retraining to be sure the synkinesis does not get worse. They are getting back to me on that.
