I had my surgery June 30, 2009 at House.
My tumor was about the same size as yours.
I can only tell you my experience so far being six weeks post-op.
I had MF and the tumor was completely removed. No facial nerve damage, hearing preserved.
Pretty big balance issues (see Wonky Head on the board) but physical therapy is helping a lot.
I stayed at Seton Hall as well.
Clean place, small refrigerator in the room, shared kitchen in the lounge area with people sharing food sometimes.
Computers available with internet although it is dial up so its pretty slow.
My daughter brought her laptop and was able to get a connection from the room.
There is a tunnel between Seton and the hospital which is especially nice after dark. The location is not the greatest for walking around at night.
The cafeteria has food cooked and vended but after a while you may want something else.
The price was right and you get to meet other people who are going through the same things as you.
Hang out in the lounge where the kitchen is and you are bound to meet others having AN surgery.
You need to be there for meetings and tests the day before the surgery.
I arrived an extra day before surgery so we could hang out at the beach and just chill out.
I stayed for ten days after surgery and was ready to go by then.
They actually released me for travel on Wednesday evening but my flight was already set for Friday morning so i stayed the extra day.
I didn't want to travel around LA much after surgery but that was me. I went out once but the cab ride was awful.
Walk as much as you can after surgery and look around in all directions. Make sure someone is with you while you do it so you don't fall.
I arranged to have a wheelchair at the airport. It made it so much easier to deal with the crowds.
You need to request that service from the airline in advance. There is paperwork and you must get a travel release from one of your doctors. Dr. Stefan gave me mine.
Make sure you have a hard copy of it in case the airline says "huh - what wheelchair?"
Oops! Almost forgot about the scar.
It's a big ol' curve scar but they keep it all within the hairline.
They will shave that side of your head but it grows back pretty quickly.
No one can see mine anymore.
PM me if you would like to see pictures of mine.
Hope this helps.
Patrick
