Hey gang, just wanted to give you new folks some experience. My AN was taken out 12 /03/07.
It was the shape and size of a big almond along the hearing (8th, ithink) and facial (7th) nerves behind my rt ear. i had tinnitus over there and knew i was deaf b4 the surgery.
Here are some things for you to think about or look into IF you are looking into AN surgery, from my 2 year perspective anyway.
1. make sure your surgeon does more then 1 or 2 of these a month. Experience is everything.
2. if possible go find a local ANA group b4 you schedule it. see what some of them look like and what they tell you about the surgery.
i say that because my local group here in Houston, while i haven't made a lot of meetings, has helped me a lot these last 2 years.
3. FACIAL nerve damage......now for me this is what happened. i'm 58. College professor. The rt side of my face cant do several things it used to do such as:
a. cant smile on rt side
b. cant blink at all on that side
c . which means i have dry eye and must use drops all the time. sun glaring in or wind whistling in eye is painful. you wink or blink many times a minute , i dont.
d. my dentures did not fit again as my palette changed due to the dropping of my face muscles about 1/2 to 1/4 inch.
Now it doesn't look that bad NOW, but after surgery it looked like i had a stroke.
e. i cant use a straw on rt side lips wont stay together.
f. and if you can raise your eyebrows or Knit your brow, i cant.
Now these are MINOR irritants most of the days. BUT if you are a young lady, under 50 maybe , concerned with your face and pretty,
be real careful. AN's are NOT usually life threatening. usually non cancerous as well.
I am still very glad i had the tumor taken out. But even 2 years later, i have residual affected areas. the eye part is the biggest day to day deal. some days it gets tired and face just "hurts" for better lack of a word.
trying to help.
