newbie awaiting surgery

[tweety]

Hi, I have been reading on this site since March and finally decided to post.  I am having Middle Fossa surgery June 8th by Dr. Chen and Dr Aziz, Allegheny General Hospital Pittsburgh. I am nervous especially after reading all the posts but have faith in the medical profession.  I am a nurse and not used to being on this side of the bed.  My acoustic neuroma is 7mmx4mm in size but being 57 years of age, I feel it is better to remove it now than wait. Anxious and waiting. Tweety

[cecile k]

Welcome to this board! Were you having a lot of symptoms that made you decide to go for the surgery?

All the best - keep us posted - you'll find a lot of supportive caring people here who understand the emotional roller coaster associated with An's.

Cecile

[Cheryl R]

Tweety,    Good luck with your surgery!       I am now a retired nurse and have had more than one AN surgery due to being found to have NF2 over time past my first surgery.    This is very rare so please don't let this scare you.     I am also 57 but older this week. LOL!         It is interesting being a nurse and then going thru this and asking questions of everything.          I was back to work in 2 mos so there is hope for working again.      One can do very well in time after just one surgery and hope for the best for you!        Keep us posted how it goes.                             Cheryl R                       

[Kaybee]

Tweety, I completely understand your nervousness.  It's only natural.  I remember the days before I went in...I kept repeating in 5 days, in 4 days, in 3 days (etc.), my surgery will be history!  This helped me put some of that anxiety in perspective.  Each day brought me closer to the day I could say "I had brain surgery yesterday." Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

Kaybee

[tweety]

My only symptom is tinnitus.  I have had that since December and much to my surprise found out the origin of the noise.  It amazes me that I could possibly lose my hearing in this ear but the tinnitus will continue.  Amazing.  I am nervous but just want to get started on the recovery phase.  I have never had vertigo so this will be a new experience.  I have to go to AGH Tuesday for a bunch of base line tests.  Not sure what that is all about but its just another venture down the road to recovery.  Thanks for the encouragement.   I need that and prayers.  Tweety

[Cheryl R]

Tweety,   Right now is a very hard time as one does not know what you will have past surgery.        Post op you know what one has to adjust to or wait for recovery.    Many of us know how the pre op time is very very nerve wracking!             You are having mid fossa so there is some chance you may keep your hearing.       Hard when there are no gaurantees with surgery as to exactly how it will turn out.   This seems to vary with everyone differently.         The tests you are going for will give the drs a better idea of much the tumor has involved the nerves and possibly some of the outcome they hope for.             Nurses also know too much which makes it more scary.                     Ask questions and tell us all you want as we have all been thru it and try to be of help.
                                             Cheryl R

[Jim Scott]

Hi Tweety ~

I'm not a nurse but just wanted to welcome you and let you know that your pre-op anxiety is 100% normal.  Well that, and to state that we're empathetic and will support you in every way we can.

You'll be the thoughts and prayers of many people as you approach your June 8th surgery date, which is now entered on our AN Treatment Calendar http://my.calendars.net/an_treatments/d08/06/2010?authenticate=&display=M&style=B

Jim

[wendysig]

Tweety,

I just wanted to add my welcome to the group.  As the others have said, what you are feeling is normal, the AN diagnosis is nothing I would wish on anyone, but at least, it a benign, slow growing tumor and very treatable.  I understand the need to get it out of your head, it's one that many of us have felt.  Do you have a surgery date set?  I have heard good things about Dr. Chen and Dr. Aziz.  I can't remember who it was  but someone in the group thought that my Dr. Chen might be the same guy as the one in Pittsburgh, but he isn't.  I had a great outcome though except for becoming  SSD.  (single sided deaf).  I hope they are able to save your hearing, but being SSD is not the end of the world if they can't.  I'll keep my fingers crossed and keep you in my prayers.

Wendy

[CHD63]

Tweety .....

Adding my welcome to this forum.  You have already had much encouragement from several others.

Best thoughts and prayers for a good outcome.

Clarice

[Huber920]

Tweety

I am also having middle cranial fossa approach surgery next week. It will be my second surgery using the same approach to attempt to save the hearing nerve as you are doing. This approach is a very good choice considering the size of yours. Mine is pretty much exactly the same size. All I can say is for your recovery, they best medicine is having your loved ones around you and to keep a positive mind. Best wishes and good luck.

[moe]

Hi Tweety,
June 8 will be here before you know it, hope you are staying busy and occupying yourself with as much pleasurable stuff as possible
Being your tumor is small, hopefully they can salvage your hearing or part of it.
I'm also a nurse, and it is indeed an interesting phenomenon being on the "other side." A real eye opener
But all went well with me, (except for the facial nerve, but I had a complicated med-large tumor)

I'm confident things will go very smoothly for you.
See you in postie land
Maureen

[tweety]

Had my preop balance testing and facial nerve stimulator done.  Wow that water in the ear is a crazy thing to do.  I didn't actually get dizzy but felt odd.  Bryan the technician kept my mind occupied having me recite male names from A-Z. My brain was so busy trying to think, I wasn't disturbed with the vertigo.  He showed me the picture of my eyes with nastagmus(that was interesting)  The countdown begins. One week from today I will be DONE with surgery and soon to  begin on the road to recovery. 

[leapyrtwins]

Good luck - and prayers - Tweety.

I'm confident your surgery will go well.

Jan

[Lizard]

Welcome to the forum and hopefully you have someone who can log on to your account or create their own to give us updates, you will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Take care,
Liz

[tweety]

 Well it's less than 12 hours till surgery.  I am tired. Worked all day trying to get the office in shape before the surgery.  I am tired don't know if I will sleep.  The phone has not stopped ringing with well wishes.  Thanks for all the encouragement and prayers.  will post when I am better or maybe have my daughter post for me.  Nancy