Dr.Bigelow from the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center

[Anthony]

Has anyone in the forum had surgery performed  Dr. Bigelow. Could you share your experience with me thanks. anthony

[Static]

Anthony,
Sorry I don't have any information for you regarding U of P but I did have treatment at Jefferson University in Philadelphia and would recommend my neurosurgeon Dr. Rosenwasser.  Best of luck with your decision.

[philadelphia1]

I just had a consult with Dr. Bigelow on June 1.  My ENT trained with him at Penn Med and said he is top flight, but I don't know anyone who he has operated on yet.

He told me he had seen 4 other AN patients that day and does ~35 surgeries per year. 

Have you learned anything else about him?

[trudy]

Did you have surgery with Dr Bigelow?  I am scheduled on 12/16/05 with Drs Bigelow and
Judy at the U of PA Med Ctr.  I am hoping that he can preserve my hearing as I hardly have
any loss on the AN side at this point.  Will have retrosigmoid for my 2.5 cm which is pushing
on the brainstem.  How was your experience?

Trudy

[philadelphia1]

I ended up exploring non-surgical options and will be undergoing Fractionated Stereotactic Radiosurgery at Thomas Jefferson University at about the same time you are doing surgery with Dr. Bigelow.

Everyone I spoke with (including the docs at Jeff) said Bigelow was first rate.  I just decided that radiosurgery was a better option for me at this point.

How did you make your decision?

[trudy]

I went to two neurosurgerons before ending up at Univ of PA - one
only did surgery and the other did Gamma Knife and/or surgery. I
wanted to keep all the options open.  When I ended up with Dr's
Bigelow and Judy they told me they were going to start Gamma Knife
at that hospital this month so I felt that they would give me an
honest opinion on what to do. They don't make the decision - they
offer all options.  Dr. Judy didn't say it was out of the question for me
but told me to see Dr Bigelow which I did and asked him if I were his
family member, what would he do.  He told me surgery - the tumor
is 2.5 cm and pushing the brainstem. Also, told me that sometimes
radiation can make the nerves gummy and harder if they had to operate later because it didn't work.  Now, Dr Judy did not say it would be harder - however, I think that to make the best outcome for me as I am 52 and no other health issues - I want it out and over
with.  The radiation causes it to swell larger before it reduces or doesn't grow further.  It does not completely go away.  I may not
come out with hearing on that side - but hoping the facial nerve is
ok.  Both Dr's do this procedure all the time and I feel confidence in
them.  I probably would have chosen the route you are taking if it
wasn't so large because it is the least invasive.  How large is your
AN?  Hope for the best outcome for you.  There's a lot of info on
this site and has helped me a lot.  Trudy

[philadelphia1]

It sounds like you did  a lot of  research and made a good decision.  My AN is smaller (~1cm) and not causing me much trouble at this point. All docs gave me the option to watch & wait, have surgery, or try radiation. 

I have heard from multiple sources that Bigelow is top rate.  If I had opted for surgery I am pretty sure I would have chosen him.  You are in excellent hands.

I am not sure if you are local or traveling from out of town, but if you need info about Penn or Philadelphia, let me know.

[trudy]

Hello,

Thanks for the good words on Dr Bigelow. Yes, we are out of
towners - coming from Northeastern PA.  We will be staying
at Penn Towers across from the hospital - I will be staying the
first night and then my husband the balance of the time.  His
big question is where is there a Dunkin Donuts close by?  The
hospital is on Spruce.  He's not going to be liking the hospital
coffee too much and he will have some time on his hands.
Thanks!

[philadelphia1]

Your husband is in luck.  There is a Dunkin Donuts in the 3400 block of Walnut Street, about 2-3 blocks from your hotel and hospital.  There are at least half a dozen non-hospital coffee options within a 10 minutes walk of the hospital.

I don't know what your husband likes to do, but the University of Pennsylvania is a great place to explore on foot.  Here are some options (while he is not at your side, of course) all within a few block radius:
- beautiful campus in the middle of the city (no cars on Locust Walk, the main drag)
- multi-screen movie theater
- 2 new book stores + 2 used bookstores + many (20?) on campus libraries (mostly open to the public during the week)
- Museum of Anthropology & Archeaology + Museum of Contemporary Art
- high end restaurants, diners, and a restaurant that serves nothing but cereal (no kidding)
- free lectures, student performances and exhibits every single day
- student center with comfortable chairs, free computer access, and a food court

Makes me homesick.  I used to work at Penn and now split my time between Harrisburg and Philly. 

For more info, check out the Penn website at www.upenn.edu or email me with more specific questions.

ML
Philadelphia/Harrisburg

[trudy]

You are such a peach!  He is happy to know that he can get his
favorite cup of coffee nearby and the bookstores may be something
he looks into, also.  I guess there is a lot to do.  I seemed like so
many cars and people when we were there recently.  I'm sure the
fact that we were going to see the surgeon gets in the way of
looking into the enjoyable side of the city.  Thank you so much, again.
Trudy

[daylight]

Hi Anthony,
I am also from N.E. PA. when I was first dx'ed with a 1.8 AN my ENT sent me to see Dr. Ruckenstein at U. of Pa. he told me to wait and watch, he didnt try to push me into surgery, I respect him for that. 
However I decided to have it out and called House Ear Clinic for a second opinion since I am loosing my health insurance in January and am 58 years young. 
I did my homework while waiting for my surgery and discovered that going through all the risks and pain for somthing that is not life threatening at this point was not the right choice for me.
I had CK done last week at Sinai in Baltimore and had lunch afterward, at an outdoor cafe in Baltimore's famous Inner Harbor instead of spending a day or two in ICU or maybe not even waking up at all.
If I had a blocked heart artery or serious cancer, yes I would consider surgery.  But not for a medium AN.
That's my story and I'm sticking with it, I hope that I made the right choice. I still have my facial nerve and what little hearing there is in left ear but there are no scars and I'm in no pain and alive to talk about it.
Happy Thanks Giving,
Sue B.