Is an AN or menengioma diagnosis ever lucky?

[Tod]

Apparently in my case, it is. I saw the doc today about my sleep study. He was having a very hard time time expressing this given the severity of both Bob the tumor and my sleep apnea.

If it had not been for the total loss in left side  hearing this year, I would not have seen the ENT, who sent me both for the sleep study and the MRI.  Apparently I was a walking time bomb and would have been likely to stroke out or go into cardiac arrest just about any night.

I maintain that I am the luckiest person I know.

-Tod

[lori67]

Tod -

It's all in the way you look at things - I'd say your optimistic attitude is going to serve you well!

Lori

[loose screws (tightened)]

The half filled glass.

[lawmama]

Wow!  That actually does sound lucky!

I also feel that I was "lucky" to have my tumor discovered when it was.  I was very dizzy and *BAM*, the first thing the first doctor that I saw did was send me for an MRI.  I thought it was WAAAAAAY overkill, but now I'm so grateful.  Because they caught the tumor early, the surgical removal was easy and my facial nerve was never in danger.

I think attitude is so important.  I agree with you that sometimes things that seem unfortunate are actually a blessing in disguise.  I know that since this whole ordeal I have looked at my life with a little more of a "glass half full" eye and I try to appreciate my family and friends more.  Life is what we make of it!

Lyn 

[neuroma_racer]

here is why i a mglad to have my AN:
  i weighed 148 in 1990, racing bicycles in freshman year of college. i am 5'8.52432"  tall
i ate three trays of food at teh dorm for every meal, and burned it all off riding 200-250 miles a week, on average.

  as studies kicked up, and cycling fell off, the appetite and social time at the table soldiered on.
I ballooned up to 180ish
  at the end of medical school i was up to 190ish
  at teh end of residency, and getting married in 200, i was up to 200
  my new high (read: new LOW) is 255.

  despite several attempts to get serious and shed some weight it has been to no avail.
despite neck surgery in 2005 (unrelated to the obesity) i vowed (but failed) to lose some weight.
  despite being diagnosed with non insulin dependant diabetes about a year ago . . . i still am procrastinating on changin things.

   like most of the country i am eating myself to death.

THIS NEUROMA, i promise you, is finally the kick in the pants i need, to lose the weight.
THIS NEUROMA, will burn off 70 lbs.
THIS NEUROMA, will get me off of CPAP for sleep apnea
THIS NEUROMA, will get me off of all my diabetic medicines.
THIS NEUROMA, will get me in shape
THIS NEUROMA, will move the immovable object (me)
THIS NEUROMA, will add 10-15 years to my life.

not to hijack a thread, but i think you were looking for ways in which people have found silver linings, to their little grey clouds made of myelin.

jesse

[Tod]

That is exactly what I am looking for Jesse. Finding the good in this scary stuff. I'd much rather sacrifice half my hearing for my life. No brainer.

I hope you find that this is the kick you need to be successful in your goals.

[Kathleen_Mc]

Tod: Yup the AN finally being found was a good thing. If it had not been found I wasn't long for dead. I have gone on to have a pair of wonderful children since then and they are my life!

[leapyrtwins]

I definitely feel lucky being diagnosed with an AN.

There are so many other worse things I could have been "gifted" with. 

Having an AN changed my life and the way I look at things.  I think I'm a better person for having had one.

Jan

[Vivian B.]

Tod, you are right. This sounds lucky. As upset as we get when we are diagnosed, at least we have to be thankful that it was found prior to any complications. Great attitude!

Vivian

[Mark241]

Your exacty right Bob. I went for my MRI for a hearing problem, and found not only the AN, but a menengioma on my C1 that had compressed/bent  my brain stem almost in half. If my ENT had not ordered the MRI my Neuro said I prob would have died within a year. I loved my AN for that, but glad it's gone. Keep up the fight.

[Tod]

When I started this topic almost a year ago, I had no idea that a mere five weeks later I would undergo 31.5 hours of surgery, six days of intubation, and 14 days in ICU, one night in a regular room, and home. It has been an amazing year.

While I still have deficits of speech, swallowing, and taste, life is pretty darn sweet. I've lost 40lbs, the sleep apnea is much, much improved, and I am running again (that is a story in itself). And honestly, my behavior is better - I'm a better, gentler person.

So, I still maintain that I am the luckiest person I know. But that is from my perspective, and I hope everyone can feel that way about themselves.

Life is extraordinary.

-Tod

[sgerrard]

Tod, I had to scroll a bit to figure out that you started this thread a year ago. That is quite the upbeat update you have posted. If you can feel that good after going through all that, we should all take it to heart that there is good living to do after having an AN. As you have said, life is extraordinary.

Steve

[msmaggie]

I think it is lucky because of things that have been mentioned previously in this thread, but also because of all the wonderful, upbeat, honest , and compassionate people on this forum.  They are just the best!

Priscilla