Beachman ~
As you know by now, you're in the middle of one of the most difficult aspects of what we euphemistically call 'The AN Journey'. Choosing a doctor is, by far, crucial to (a) having a satisfactory surgery result; tumor gone, few-or-no complications and, (b) feeling confident about the process, which can be intimidating. After all, this is brain surgery and if you don't have total confidence in your doctor, you'll be more anxious than is good for you, going in. Of course, even the best, most experienced surgeon cannot guarantee the outcome of your surgery but you can definitely increase the chances of having few post-op problems with an AN-experienced doctor on your team.
I'm a tad skeptical about flying around the country to have physician consultations. You're right, it's expensive and time consuming. The House Ear Institute in sunny Los Angeles, California is the favored facility for many AN surgical patients and they'll analyze your (mailed) MRI scan and call you back with a recommendation. However, there are excellent surgeons with experience in AN removals throughout the country. I would consider consulting the local medical society for referrals and ask any doctors or nurses that you may know for names of surgeons that have experience with acoustic neuroma removal surgery.
Although the first neurosurgeon I consulted was clearly intimidated by my large (4.5 cm) AN and decidedly unenthusiastic about operating on me, I 'found' a superb neurosurgeon through my wife's neurosurgeon's secretary. My wife's doctor didn't specialize in acoustic neuroma surgery; (he is a spinal specialist and performed 3 serious spinal surgeries on my wife over a 10-year period) but when my wife called seeking a referral to a qualified surgeon that handled AN patients, the secretary exclaimed that "one of the best in the state is part of this practice" and she transferred the call to this neurosurgeon's office. We were given VIP treatment (an immediate appointment for the next morning) and I found the doctor to be kind and compassionate with a 'game plan' already drawn up when I saw him. He had been performing AN surgery for 3 decades and was revered in the practice and as I later found, by the hospital staff. I was told by various hospital nurses - more than once - "you have the best doctor for your condition (AN) that you could have". The good doctor proved to be all that and I had a successful debulking surgery with minimal post-op issues. Three months later, I underwent successful FSR treatments, jointly programmed by a brilliant radiation oncologist and my much-admired neurosurgeon.
I offer this personal history to make the point that excellent AN-experienced doctors are, if not ubiquitous, also not so rare as to be difficult to locate (with some effort) and you shouldn't have to traipse all over the country to find one. I admit that, in a sense, I got 'lucky'. However, I was fully prepared to contact the local medical society and ask a family friend who is an RN and, after a 30-year career, knows all the local doctors. Perhaps you may find it necessary to travel a long distance to settle on a doctor with the experience and personality that suits your needs. However, as other posters have noted, physician phone consults are fairly common today and I would certainly pursue that avenue of exploration as you seek a doctor. I wish you success and hope to read an update when you find a surgeon that you're confident with.
Jim
