I AM NOW IN THE WATCH AND WAIT STATUS

[agnes]

  HI EVERYONE.  i ORIGINALLY STARTED POSTING ON THE PRE-TREATMENT OPTIONS SECTION AND I HAVE NOW MOVED TO THE
WATCH AND WAIT STATUS.  I LEFT A MESSAGE ON THE PRE-TREATMENT OPTIONS SECTIONS REGARDING MY SPECIALIST VISIT
TODAY TO DR. ANTONELLI IN GAINESVILLE FLORIDA.  HE SUGGESTED THAT I WATCH AND WAIT SINCE MY AN IS SMALL, AND I HAVE
NO OTHER SYMPTOMS OTHER THAN THE MUFFLED HEARING ON THE TELEPHONE IN MY LEFT EAR, AND SOME HEARING LOSS.  I AM
SOMEHOW A LITTLE MORE RELAXED ABOUT IT, BUT YET NOW OUT OF THE WOODS JUST YET LIKE THE REST OF YOU.  THE DR. WAS
AMAZED AT HOW MUCH I HAD DONE MY BACKGROUND WORK, AND OF COURSE LEARINING A LOT FROM ALL OF YOU POSTING AS WELL.
HE HANDED ME A BOOKLET AT THE END OF THE VISIT, AND STATED TO ME "I AM SURE YOU KNOW MORE ALREADY THAN THE INFORMATION THAT IS PRINTED IN THIS BOOK."  THAT KIND OF MADE ME FEEL GOOD.  IF I DID OPT FOR SURGERY, HE WOULD DO
THE RETROSIGMOID APPROACH WITH THE HOPES OF PRESERVING SOME HEARING.  I JUST HAD TO ASK THAT QUESTION.....

[NF-2er]

Hi Agnes;

   Thanks for your update and I'm happy for you that you are doing well.
   If you are referring to Shands Hospital, I've read good things re, that facility and the Dr. you referenced.
   If it should come to treatment one day, I do so hope you receive another surgical opinion, as just from a personal perspective, I feel I'd choose Middle Fossa as my approach. It is also hearing sparing and I think with a higher % of success and fewer post op complications.
   Radiation would also seem to be an option considering your size AN.
   Best wishes here, Agnes!

   NF-2er

[agnes]

Thanks NF-2er.  I would be sure to consider all options, along with radiation if my AN grows and produces symptoms. I was however,
very impressed with Dr. Antonelli.  I was wondering why he picked that approach as well, but according to him, middle fossa would
make me lose my hearing completely, maybe it has something to do with the location of the AN or something, because this is now what
i have read in my information and research.  I guess each surgeon has their own technique...hopefully I won't need any in the future, or
maybe someone will come up with a laser technique instead of radiation or something.  I do thank you for your input.  I am going to just
chill out for a while....I have been uptight over this for a month now, in which I have been gathering lots of information from this forum.
The Dr. was actually amazed at how much research I had received from this website.  He handed me a book about ANs that he gives to
everyone and looked at me and said "you probably know much more now than is even written in this book" and he kind of laughed.
I am one of those that want to know...some people don't.  I want the whole picture, good with the bad.  It's just the way I've always
been, and I am glad that I am like this.  I felt well educated at this visit and he knew it as well.  He would say something and say to me
but I guess you already know that right and I would shake my head yes.  it was rather funny actually.

[vcschaub]

Middle fossa surgery is chosen to save hearing, if there is usable hearing to save. I had middle fossa surgery and my hearing only decreased slightly(actually just the speech recognition part) by 15%. At times, it's the, "I can hear you, just can't figure out what your saying".