Dan, my surgery was officially called "suboccipital transmeatal microsurgical removal of acoustic neuroma"........but there was nothing MICRO about it. It was 6 hours long and I was in the hospital for a week, then after being out for a week and a half, was put back in for 5 days with a spinal fluid leak at the surgery site. Despite that, I know I made the right decesion for me to have surgery. I am only 39 (38 at the time) and in good health, so surgery was really the only true option for me. I have had some issues with returning to work, but those have been easy to deal with because of my sheriff and supervisor being VERY supportive. My fellow co-workers even donated several months of vacation time for me to use as sick time---on those days that I just don't feel too good. Living here in the Ohio River Valley (just south of Cincinnati), the weather changes alot. Every time the barometric pressure changes, my head hurts and some times it is very severe pain and this is 6-7 months post surgery. It is gonna be a long winter for me, but thats ok. Dan, make sure you do what is best for you and your family. I hope that your department is as supportive as mine was during my surgery and recovery. I will be happy to tell you more of my experiences and recovery.
Roub, you seem to have been going through much of the same things I went through. So I know how you are feeling. I plan on checking this message board everynight after work, so feel free to post away! John