Author Topic: My Progress...  (Read 7011 times)

Darren

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My Progress...
« on: August 08, 2011, 02:10:54 pm »
So I wanted to share -- It has been a long long journey...still going... here are some photos of my progress since the removal of a 3.3 CM AN.. I awoke from surgery with a HB grade 5...

at 3 months post op

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at 6 months post op

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1 yr post op

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almost 2 yrs post op

src="http://i824.photobucket.com/albums/zz166/mramerikan/darren/Photo0700.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

just over 2 yrs

src="http://i824.photobucket.com/albums/zz166/mramerikan/darren/189381_10150273996141506_654966505_7752230_7777118_n.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

src="http://i824.photobucket.com/albums/zz166/mramerikan/darren/249936_10150217129766506_654966505_7307570_1327339_n.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
« Last Edit: August 08, 2011, 02:12:50 pm by Darren »

Jim Scott

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Re: My Progress...
« Reply #1 on: August 08, 2011, 02:13:17 pm »
Darren ~

Thanks for the links to your 'progress' photos.  Very encouraging and much appreciated.

Jim
4.5 cm AN diagnosed 5/06.  Retrosigmoid surgery 6/06.  Follow-up FSR completed 10/06.  Tumor shrinkage & necrosis noted on last MRI.  Life is good. 

Life is not the way it's supposed to be. It's the way it is.  The way we cope with it is what makes the difference.

saralynn143

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Re: My Progress...
« Reply #2 on: August 08, 2011, 02:57:00 pm »
That's great progress and will be very comforting to facial paralysis patients.
MVD for hemifacial spasm 6/2/08
left side facial paresis
 12/100 facial function - 7/29/08
 46 - 11/25/08
 53 - 05/12/09
left side SSD approx. 4 weeks
 low-frequency hearing loss; 85% speech recognition 7/28/08
1.8 gram thin profile platinum eyelid weight 8/12/08
Fitted for scleral lens 5/9/13

ombrerose4

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Re: My Progress...
« Reply #3 on: August 08, 2011, 03:53:41 pm »
That is some amazing progress you have made. This is very encouraging for others, thanks for sharing!
Retrosigmoid 9/24/09
AN 2.4+ cm left side
Mount Sinai Hospital, NYC (Dr. Bederson and Dr. Choe)
BAHA surgery 1/4/2010

CHD63

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Re: My Progress...
« Reply #4 on: August 08, 2011, 03:56:40 pm »
Darren .....

Thanks for sharing these pictures with us.  What an inspiring series of photos of your progress!

Clarice
Right MVD for trigeminal neuralgia, 1994, Pittsburgh, PA
Left retrosigmoid 2.6 cm AN removal, February, 2008, Duke U
Tumor regrew to 1.3 cm in February, 2011
Translab AN removal, May, 2011 at HEI, Friedman & Schwartz
Oticon Ponto Pro abutment implant at same time; processor added August, 2011

New girl

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Re: My Progress...
« Reply #5 on: August 08, 2011, 04:33:09 pm »
Hi Darren - Great pics and progress.  Thanks for posting them.  I have surgery scheduled in Sept.  I am nervous about facial paralysis.  Your progress makes me feel better.  Thanks!! :)
9mmx14mmx9mm
Diagnosed 6/1/2011
Retrosigmoid Surgery 9/27/2011
Daniel Lee (MEEI) & Fred Barker (MGH) - Exceptional Surgeons

psmix

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Re: My Progress...
« Reply #6 on: August 08, 2011, 08:08:12 pm »
Thanks, Darren! My smile looked about like yours at 3 months. It's great to see the progress in your pictures!
Right AN diagnosed Sept. 2010 - 4 cm x 3 cm x 3 cm
Debulked via translab Sept. 2010
Removed at House Feb. 2011
CSF leak with blind sac closure and lumbar drain March 2011
Unresponsive facial nerve, platinum weight
SSD

Jeanlea

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Re: My Progress...
« Reply #7 on: August 08, 2011, 08:33:32 pm »
You've shown some good improvements over time. It's always nice to see the improvement others have made. Thanks for sharing.

Jean
translab on 3.5+ cm tumor
September 6, 2005
Drs. Friedland and Meyer
Milwaukee, WI
left-side facial paralysis and numbness
TransEar for SSD

opp2

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Re: My Progress...
« Reply #8 on: August 09, 2011, 07:10:20 pm »
Handsome before, handsome after. Excellent recovery and very good 'tude Doode...
Diagn Apr 14 2009 with 2.5 cm lt AN. - numbness in the face and sudden onset headaches accompanied by balance issues. Consults with Drs in S Ontario, California (House) and Vancouver. Picked Dr. Akagami in BC.
Retrosigmoid July 6, 2010, 3.0cm by then. SSD left, no other significant side effects.

vickee

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Re: My Progress...
« Reply #9 on: August 10, 2011, 10:11:16 pm »
Thank you for posting!  Very encouraging and inspiring!
4cm L AN
9/09 Translab  Dr. Backous ENT, Dr.  Farrokhi Neuro
10/09 CSF leak repair
11/09 LP shunt

nancyann

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Re: My Progress...
« Reply #10 on: August 12, 2011, 06:24:18 pm »
Hi Darren:  wonderful pictures of your progression !  You are one of the lucky ones.   I never got movement back, continue with Grade 6, but I am a very happy woman who loves life !  I am so happy for you young man !!
Continued healing my friend.  You are blessed to have been given the privelege of living through such difficulty & having succeeded.
I'm sure you appreciate life very much.  Always good thoughts,  Nancy
2.2cm length x 1.7cm width x 1.3cm  depth
retrosigmoid 6/19/06
Gold weight 7/19/06, removed 3/07
lateral tarsel strip X3
T3 procedure 11/20/07
1.6 Gm platinum weight 7/10/08
lateral canthal sling 11/14/08
Jones tube insert right inner eye 2/27/09
2.4 Gm. Platinum chain 2017
right facial paralysis

Arasha

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Re: My Progress...
« Reply #11 on: August 28, 2011, 09:32:42 pm »
Darren, thanks for the pictures, great improvement !! You give us HOPE!.  Could you please tell us what did you do to contribute to your improvement?

All best,
Gloria
Left side AN 2.5x1.8 removed on 10/17/2007 endosc. by Dr.Shahinian (retrosig) at SBI, LA,Ca. Facial phalsys (almost back). Balance issues. Tinnitus. MRI 8 months later showed AN was resected completelly.TransEar 11/2008. Clinical trial for SoundBite 11/2009. SoundBite user.I have the best family.

jazzfunkanne

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Re: My Progress...
« Reply #12 on: September 01, 2011, 09:59:39 am »
gawd you would never know u have had facial palsy what a great recovery you look amazing x
over 4.5cm AN removed dec 06

steph28

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Re: My Progress...
« Reply #13 on: September 05, 2011, 07:23:06 am »
Amazing improvement!! Do you still have some issue i.e with your eye? I am nearly 21 months out of surgery. I had completely no movement on waking up, but thing has started to improve. I can complete a small close smile. I was just wondering about your blinking and eye closure as I can now close the eye fully, but still lack the full blinking, so still using drops etc to protect the eye.

Amazing again, like everyone else thank you for sharing these pic's!!

Steph

Syl

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Re: My Progress...
« Reply #14 on: September 05, 2011, 10:27:16 am »
Darren:

Amazing difference from that first photo to the most recent. Ours is a long journey indeed. May your progress & the healing continue.

Syl
1.5cm AN rt side; Retrosig June 16, 2008; preserved facial and hearing nerves;
FINALLY FREE OF CHRONIC HEADACHES 4.5 years post-op!!!!!!!
Drs. Kato, Blumenfeld, and Cheung.