Hi Debb,
Sure. The size of my tumor was 3.5 cm. (large). I had the surgery 12/29/05 and was out of the hospital on New Years Day.
The surgery was 8 hours. I had a translabyrinthian approach, in which the hearing nerve is severed. The surgeons chose this because of the size and location of the tumor. It had taken up the entire cerabellapontine angle (which is normally full of cerebral spinal fluid) and was compressing on the brain stem. The surgeons used a facial nerve monitor during surgery and were able to locate the facial nerve immediately. They did tell me to expect facial paralysis (which most likely would be temporary and that was i bit frightening). However, when the nerve is found and they are able to avoid it during surgery,your odds for any permanent facial paralysis decrease.
I experienced temporary facial paralysis due to inflamation of the nerve itself. It was a bit troublesome--but frankly, I was so glad to be alive. The main difficulty with that was swallowing my medication, eating and drinking. The good news is, I lost some weight--about 5-10 lbs and got a tummy tuck on one side (with the translab approach, the doctors take some fat from the abdomen to fill any airpockets left behind in order to avoid cerebral spinal fluid leak). Right now, 4 months, post-surgery, my face looks pretty much completely normal unless I laugh, then it's about 80%. The doctors say, should be back to normal within 8 months. In the great scheme of things--what's a few months anyway.
I also experienced dry eye, but my eye closed, so that was important. I still use drops--I hated this stuff called lacrilube and got something else that was milder and I also use systane.
I ended up getting some glasses because I couldn't wear my contacts (and the people over in opthamology/Kaiser were equally as great). I'm back in contacts now though.
In 2 months, I was back to work full time. Work actually is very theraputic. I'm an attorney, so I have to talk alot to my clients, so the constant talking is really good for the facial nerve--seems to give it a work out.
The day I got home, I resumed my exercise routine (in a limited fashion) and really started up full swing again I guess after about 3 weeks.
I have an 8 year old beautiful daughter and a wonderfully supportive husband. My parents and sister actually came down from Sacramento and stayed with me to help for about a month. The support was just fantastic and important to recovery--My mom made me soup and I felt like a baby all over again--but hey, who couldn't shave a few years off anyway!
My whole experience with Kaiser was great. You know these two doctors have worked as a team for a very long time and have performed many operations--If you ask them how many, I'm sure they'll tell you. I'm also confident that the team that they choose to work with them will be hand-picked (i.e. anesthesiologists, surgery nurses and icu people).
If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. Also, if I didn't mention it -- go to emedicine.com and type in acoustic neuroma--there' a plethora of information!!
Best Wishes,
Rebecca
