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Author Topic: Going with Gamma Knife in Pittsburgh  (Read 5648 times)

windy

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Going with Gamma Knife in Pittsburgh
« on: July 28, 2008, 04:22:41 pm »
Well, I have finally made a decision!  I can hardly believe it myself.  Apparently, "my gut" finally kicked in and I have resolve in my decision making process.

I am scheduled for GK with Dr. Lunsford at UPMC on the morning of 8-5-08.  I feel he is a GK expert and feel good about my decision.  I will not be flying.  My family and I will take a couple of days to drive.  We will get the bulk of the trip behind us on the first day and drive the least amount on the second day.  I hope to arrive in Pittsburgh around noon on Sunday, 8-3.  I see Dr. Lunsford on Monday, 8-4.  My procedure is scheduled for the next morning.

I want to thank everyone on this forum for their input and support.  Your help in my decision making process has truly been invaluable.  I also have a wonderful group of friends and family who have prayed for me diligently.  Without everyone, there is no doubt that I would not have made my decision with such peace and resolve, as well as a head full of knowledge!  Thank you so much!
 
« Last Edit: July 28, 2008, 09:24:48 pm by windy »
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* Diagnosed w/AN (9mm x 11mm x 9mm) - 6-10-08
* GK @ UPMC w/Dr. Lunsford - 8-5-08
* Stable MRI - Aug. 2009
* 2 MM's Growth - Aug. 2010
* Lost 60% Hearing - Dec. 2010
* More Growth?? - Wait & Watch - Jan. 2012
* 1 MM Shrinkage - Aug. 2012
* 2 MM's Shrinkage - Aug. 2013
* Slight Shrinkage - Aug. 2014

leapyrtwins

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Re: Going with Gamma Knife in Pittsburgh
« Reply #1 on: July 28, 2008, 05:46:07 pm »
Congratulations, Windy  ;D

I'll bet this takes a load off your mind.  Treatment decisions are always tough.

Don't forget to put your GK on the AN treatment calendar.

Thanks,

Jan
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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

Anomar11

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Re: Going with Gamma Knife in Pittsburgh
« Reply #2 on: July 28, 2008, 06:35:04 pm »
Windy,
Congratulations on coming to a decision.  I'm still somewhat in the process but leaning toward GK at Mayo in Sept.  I have been following your post and wish you all the best. 
Mona
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L An diagnosed 5/08 2.0 x 1.1 x 1.3 cm.  Cyberknife Stanford Drs Chang and Gibbs Nov '08.  One yr: 2.1 x 1.4 x 1.6, Two yr: 2.2 x 1.5 x 1.8, Three yr: 1.9 x 1.5 x 1.5, Four year 1.6 x 1.1 x 1.1, Six yr: 1.4 x .7 x .9

claire1

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Re: Going with Gamma Knife in Pittsburgh
« Reply #3 on: July 28, 2008, 09:11:59 pm »
Windy
Congrads on your decision. What a load off, huh. It is such a learning journey. Don't forget to keep a journal after your GK to document your feelings and how you feel, that way you can look back ,from whence you came. 
I had GK 6 weeks ago and am doing fine. You'll do great. Ask them for the drug amnesia cocktail.  I'll be thinking of you.
Take care
Claire 
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sgerrard

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Re: Going with Gamma Knife in Pittsburgh
« Reply #4 on: July 28, 2008, 10:15:33 pm »
Sounds good, Windy. One week, and you will be a postie. Best wishes for a great outcome.

Steve
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8 mm left AN June 2007,  CK at Stanford Sept 2007.
Hearing lasted a while, but left side is deaf now.
Right side is weak too. Life is quiet.

GRACE1

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Re: Going with Gamma Knife in Pittsburgh
« Reply #5 on: July 29, 2008, 07:00:48 am »
Good luck with your procedure.  It sure takes a load off when you make that final decision.  I have never regretted having my GK.  You will be in my thougts.
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Diagnosed 7/06: AN - right side: 1.3cm in transverse dimension, 6mm in AP dimension, and 6mm in cephalocaudal dimension.
GK 12/06- Wake Forest Univ Baptist Med Ctr
MRI 5/07- Some necrosis;  Now SSD
MRI 12/08- AN size has reduced 50%
MRI 12/11- AN stable (unchanged from 12/08)
Next MRI: 12/16

cindyj

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Re: Going with Gamma Knife in Pittsburgh
« Reply #6 on: July 29, 2008, 07:34:58 am »
Hey Windy,

Good for you for making your decision and, really, quite quickly, I think.  (Some people (ok, me) can't seem to make a decision one way or the other.)  Everyone here says to go w/ your gut feeling and you will feel better once you do so.  Seems it has indeed worked for you!

Good luck - we'll be watching for your updates on how things go.

Cindy
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rt side 1.5 cm - Translab on 11/07/08 Dr. Friedman & Dr. Schwartz of House Ear Institute,
feeling great!

"Life consists not in holding good cards, but in playing well those you do hold."  Josh Billings

Jim Scott

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Re: Going with Gamma Knife in Pittsburgh
« Reply #7 on: July 29, 2008, 12:21:35 pm »
Windy:

Thanks for your sincere statement of gratitude and congratulations on your decision to go with Gamma Knife at UPMC. 

I certainly will be thinking of and praying for you on August 5th.  May better days await you.  :)

Jim
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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.

ppearl214

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Re: Going with Gamma Knife in Pittsburgh
« Reply #8 on: July 29, 2008, 01:28:30 pm »
hey windy and congrats! Decision making process is done... monkey now off your back!  Time to get you done and onward and upward to wellness!

Hang in there!
Phyl
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"Gentlemen, I wash my hands of this weirdness", Capt Jack Sparrow - Davy Jones Locker, "Pirates of the Carribbean - At World's End"

windy

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Re: Going with Gamma Knife in Pittsburgh
« Reply #9 on: July 29, 2008, 04:36:35 pm »
Thank you everyone for your well wishes!!  I appreciate the encouragement.

I wish I could say I was totally light of heart now, but I still have some fears.  Is this normal?  I seem to have more and more symptomology on the right side of my face from the eye down to my mouth.  It keeps me in a worried state. 

I am relieved to move forward with treatment and certainly think I have chosen an accomplished physician in the area of AN's, but I just worry about my face and its future.  Is this unreasonable? 
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* Diagnosed w/AN (9mm x 11mm x 9mm) - 6-10-08
* GK @ UPMC w/Dr. Lunsford - 8-5-08
* Stable MRI - Aug. 2009
* 2 MM's Growth - Aug. 2010
* Lost 60% Hearing - Dec. 2010
* More Growth?? - Wait & Watch - Jan. 2012
* 1 MM Shrinkage - Aug. 2012
* 2 MM's Shrinkage - Aug. 2013
* Slight Shrinkage - Aug. 2014

Kate B

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Re: Going with Gamma Knife in Pittsburgh
« Reply #10 on: July 29, 2008, 07:06:21 pm »
Hi Windy,

Oh my gosh no...your fears are normal.  No matter what the treatment choice, there is wonder about how it will all turn out.

I believe that we all make the best decisions based on the information we have at hand and then you step forward.  No matter the outcome as there are no guarantees and these tumors are unpredictable.

You have chosen a stellar facility for gamma knife. When I did my research, when it came to gamma knife, UPMC was the institution I heard over and over again. Dr. Lunsford is renown at UPMC.

All the best,
Kate
« Last Edit: July 29, 2008, 07:39:12 pm by Kate B »
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Kate
Middle Fossa Surgery
@ House Ear Institute with
Dr. Brackmann, Dr. Hitselberger
November 2001
1.5 right sided AN

Please visit http://anworld.com/

leapyrtwins

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Re: Going with Gamma Knife in Pittsburgh
« Reply #11 on: July 29, 2008, 09:53:35 pm »
Quote from: Kate B on July 29, 2008, 07:06:21 pm
Oh my gosh no...your fears are normal.  No matter what the treatment choice, there is wonder about how it will all turn out.

I believe that we all make the best decisions based on the information we have at hand and then you step forward.  No matter the outcome as there are no guarantees and these tumors are unpredictable.


Windy -

I agree 100% with Kate.  I couldn't have said it any better myself.

Fears are totally normal.

Keep the faith; you'll do fine.

Jan
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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

Nancy Drew

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Re: Going with Gamma Knife in Pittsburgh
« Reply #12 on: July 30, 2008, 10:55:39 am »
Hi Windy,

Hopefully I will be right behind you soon with GK.  We've discussed it, and I think you are going with a great team.  I am anxious to hear how things things turn out for you so please give us a follow-up.  Thinking of you.  Nancy   
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12/05 AN diagnosed left ear 4.5mm
06/08 6mm
Gamma Knife 10/21/08
1 year MRI  6.8mm x 5.5mm
2 year MRI  5.9mm x 4.9mm
3 year MRI  6.5mm x 6.0mm 
Slight Hearing Loss Post GK

Swedish Gamma Knife Center
Englewood, CO
Dr. Robert Feehs

Pooter

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Re: Going with Gamma Knife in Pittsburgh
« Reply #13 on: July 31, 2008, 10:55:44 pm »
Congrats on making your decision, Windy!  I pray that you have success like others have had with GK.  That's great!

Brian
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Diagnosed 4/10/08 - 3cm Right AN
12hr retrosig 5/8/08 w/Drs Vrabec and Trask in Houston, Tx
Some facial paralysis post-op but most movement is back, some tinitus.  SSD on right.
Story documented here:  http://briansbrainbooger.blogspot.com/

"I must be having fun all wrong!"  - Roger Creager

windy

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Re: Going with Gamma Knife in Pittsburgh
« Reply #14 on: August 12, 2008, 11:46:51 am »
Gave update in Post-Treatment section.  Thanks to all for the well wishes!!
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* Diagnosed w/AN (9mm x 11mm x 9mm) - 6-10-08
* GK @ UPMC w/Dr. Lunsford - 8-5-08
* Stable MRI - Aug. 2009
* 2 MM's Growth - Aug. 2010
* Lost 60% Hearing - Dec. 2010
* More Growth?? - Wait & Watch - Jan. 2012
* 1 MM Shrinkage - Aug. 2012
* 2 MM's Shrinkage - Aug. 2013
* Slight Shrinkage - Aug. 2014
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