BEST DOCTORS AT HOUSE EAR CLINIC FOR MIDDLE FOSSA

[slaboda]

Debra,

I also had a great experience with Dr. Friedman, Dr. Swhartz and Dr. Stefen.  I could not have been happier.  One year ago today, I had my AN removed (4 mm x 10 mm).  Within a week I was able to balance on one leg again.  It was amazing.  I was back driving at about 4 weeks and feeling my self again by 6 weeks.  By February of last year I was back snow sking.  I would say I'm 100% just without hearing in one ear.    There were no long lasting effects of the tumor or surgery. 

Chris

[DebraInTexas]

This is so wonderful to hear.  Thank you so much for sharing your experience.  It sure helps the rest of us.  Congrats on such a speedy recovery.

[Linda Harper]

I have just been diagnosed with NA with a 2.5 cm which extends into the right ear canal. I am so comforted to hear about Dr. Brackmann at HOUSE as that was my first referral and I am scheduled for surgery. Which hospital did you attend while in LA?

The information I have gathered from this forum has made such a difference. Thank you to everyone who has posted on everything.

LHarper

[DebraInTexas]

I have a tentative date at House in November.  I'm also considering Skull Based, but leaning toward House.  When is your surgery at House?

[cindyj]

Hey, Debra, what is your tentative date?  That would be great to get to meet you in LA - of course, sorry it has to be under such extreme conditions as this surgery.

Welcome to you, LHarper!  When is your surgery scheduled for?  Is Dr. Brackman doing it?  If so, you will be at St. Vincent's w/ the rest of us House people.  Let us know!

Donna, you mentioned some helpful info about Seton and LA to Cheri...can you share that with me also, please?  Would love any info I can get - I'll be out there soon after Cheri.  Thanks - and by the way, what a story it is that you have!  So glad you found your way to treatment and didn't listen to your Canadian doc!

Cindy

[Linda Harper]

Cindy, Thank you for your greeting!

After much research, I will have translab surgery on October 15th with Dr. Brackmann and Dr. Schwartz at HEC in Los Angeles. I have 2.5 cm entering the right ear canal so I will definitely loose my hearing, however, I am not opting for the Baha.

The information on this site and the time and effort from all participants is very helpful. I thank you and will be reporting my experience, I'm sure with all good news, in a couple of weeks.

Best wishes to everyone.

Linda

[Kate B]

Hi There,

I had my surgery in 2001 at House with Dr. Brackmann and Dr. Hitselberger. I had Dr. Hitse do the steady hand test then and it was steady as could be. 

I was very pleased with St. Vincents, the doctors (all of them). 

Kate

[JerseyGirl2]

Just a comment on Cheri's note that a "descendant of the original Dr. House" practices at House -- that's Dr. John House, son of the founder, Dr. Howard House. He performed my translab procedure this past January and is a wonderful surgeon and individual. There's an interview on YouTube with Dr. Howard House -- conducted when he was in his 80s -- which details the early history of acoustic neuroma research and surgery. It's quite interesting and will make you very thankful that you didn't have an acoustic neuroma "back in the day."

Catherine (JerseyGirl2)

[Timothy]

I had middle fossa surgery at House Clinic in mid-June.  Drs. Hitselberger and Luxford did my surgery.  They were EXCELLENT... and my experience with other patients staying at Seton Guest Center was that any of the doctors are world-class.

[Linda Harper]

All - I had translab with Dr. Brackmann and Dr. Schwartz on October 15th and everything went just as everyone on this site said it would. I was home from St. Vincent's in five days and my balance is mostly returned, and I feel good. Lost my hearing in my right ear and do not have plans for a BAHA at this time (I reserve the right to change my mind .

I live in the Los Angeles area and am so grateful that the best was in my back yard.

Linda

[sgerrard]

Hi Linda,

Over in this quiet little corner of the forum, it seems you have posted about going to House, then had surgery on Oct 15, and are now a postie well on the way to full recovery. Congratulations! It seems a little late now, but I will say it anyway: welcome to the forum, and glad you joined us.

Steve

[steverino]

I just had middle fossa done at House last week by Drs. Friedman, Schwartz, Stefan and Seamon (sp?).  I was a "watch-n-waiter" for 5 years and researched the d***ens out of my treatment options.  My MRIs went all over the place and I had interviewed numerous doctors in the porcess.  I have to say the experience I had at House/ St. Vincent's/ Seton Hall was way beyond what I had hoped for or expected!  I can't imagine having made a better choice!

I have never felt so well-cared for in a medical environment.  The St. Vincent's hospital staff from the best nurses to Daniel our physical therapist to Nina, to Nancy, to everyone we came in contact with, the doctors, especially Dr. Friedman whom I now consider a personal friend (he even emailed Kelly and me last night saying he missed us), were absolutely the BEST!  The thing I would say about their "program" is that it is all very, very well mapped out.  One can definitely tell they do constant process/procedure review in a group setting to improve patient outcomes and I really appreciate that.  The testing, the pre-op, the operating room and technology, the ICU, the post-op, the food, the nursing, the PT, the amount of personal interaction betweeen patient and doctor was obviously very, very carefully orchestrated.  Everyone involved were specialists in their trades.

Even the maintenance staff at the Seton Guest Center where my wife was staying during my surgery were great.  Nobody on that campus looked at me funny as I wobbled around for a day or two because they had seen it a million times. Just that she felt close to my hospital room being on the same campus comforted her and the guest room really was a great transition for us after the hospital stay.

I would highly recommend the team of Drs. Friedman, Schwartz, Stefan, and Seamon for anyone with an AN!  Someone said you only have brain surgery once and I echo that sentiment.  Do whatever it takes to get to House.  We flew from the St. Louis area to LA and had all very smooth transfers, very convenient.  The post-op flight back was no prob.  The toughest part of going out there was making sure our kids were well-cared for and emotionally secure.  In retrospect, I think it would have been tougher on them if I had attempted to do this surgery locally...

I could write all day long about all of my experiences at House but if anyone wants to PM me to make arrangements to talk about it I would be more than happy to. 

[JerseyGirl2]

Steve,

I certainly agree with your assessment of the House experience. I have never felt so well taken care of in my life. These folks know what they're doing and I will always be grateful to my otolaryngologist here in New Jersey for telling me that was the place I should go. This is not intended to dis-credit any of the other wonderful AN surgeons in the country. The most important thing is to feel comfortable and confident with your decision of both treatment type and who's going to do it. There are so many factors involved, and obviously lots of folks on this forum are comfortable and confident with the other places  and doctors they've selected.

Catherine (JerseyGirl2)

[steverino]

AMEN.  I couldn't agree more.  There are SO, SO many variables that play into this type of decision and each person needs to consider those for themselves.  House may not be the best decision for every individual, but for me I have no doubt it was.

Steve

[NL]

Hi Steve,

I, too, was very happy to read about your wonderful experience at House. I had the same surgical team perform my retrosigmoid surgery in August of this year. I couldn't have been more pleased with the skill and professionalism of Drs. Friedman, Schwartz and Stefan.

I think one of the reasons people feel so strongly about Dr. Friedman is that he does continue a relationship with his patients, whether it be professional, personal, or in many cases, both. I am personally very happy that I chose him as part of my surgical team.

There is so much for AN patients to consider when deciding on a treatment and medical team, and it is a very personal choice. I agree with Catherine that "the most important thing is to feel comfortable and confident with your decision of both treatment type and who's going to do it." And though there are many other great AN surgeons at other facilities around the country, I absolutely share your enthusiasm for these doctors and the House/St. Vincent's experience.

Wishing you all the best in your recovery,

Nancy L