Four Week Check-Up

[Sue Vogel]

Can anyone tell me what to expect at the four week check-up after surgery?  I know that I am doing an MRI though I am not certain what they are looking for at this point.  SUE

[jazzfunkanne]

i didnt get my ist check up till about 4 months post op (uk), he looked in my AN side ear to check it wasent leaking, touched around my wound, then sent me too get my eye checked, he checked my faical movments and decided i needed a gold weight in my eye which i got a month later, he also arranged a 6 month follow up scan.

[texsooner]

Sue, I'm a couple of months ahead of you as I had my surgery in August. At the 4 week visit, my doc just checked balance and facial movement and wanted to know if I was having any problems. He then ordered an MRI for a month later(8 weeks postop).....this MRI he said looked ok, but the main purpose of the MRI is that he would use this one as the baseline going forward to look for changes and to make sure there's no re-growth. I go for another checkup in January. I suspect I'll do another MRI later next year sometime.

Patrick

[Cheryl R]

Hello Sue.      The resident or the fellow will come talk to you and ask how it is going.      You can ask any questions about things.            They will look in your ear for fluid and at the incision.     Gantz will come in and look at the face and the ear and ask how the balance is and the hearing.  Ask again any questions you have.                 They will tell you the MRI report.            Make a list of any questions you have as is easy to forget them.                 They will see you in 6 mos if no big facial paralysis.       I went back in 3 when it had it.              There is always the long wait at UIHC.
                                            Cheryl R

[Cheryl R]

The post op MRI is just to see how it looks after surgery so when they do one in the future can look for growth or any changes.                     Probably will do the MRI again then in a year.
                                                 Cheryl R

[Cheryl R]

Forgot to add they will do an audiogram.      You want want to ask about it when you go back to Gantzs area if the front area doesn't mention it so is done when you see the drs.
                                          Cheryl R

[Jim Scott]

Sue:

As you can, the exact routine of the follow-up exam may vary from doctor to doctor.  I had a 'mini' neurological exam ("follow my finger"), the surgeon looked carefully at my face (for symmetry), checked my balance ("walk heel-to-toe") and asked a lot of questions about my ability to smile, swallow, sleep, headaches, etc.  I had few complications so most of the questions were easily answered 'no'.  He asked if I had any questions for him (a few).  I had so many MRI scans that I can't recall if my 4-week visit entailed another, but it's possible.  My neurosurgeon was extremely thorough.  As I stated, your experience may vary but the exam should be fairly routine. 

Jim

[Syl]

Sue,
I went for my post-op follow up 10 days after surgery, when I got my staples removed. I'm due for another appt in a wk, which will be my 5-month mark. My 1st post-op MRI is scheduled for Dec. at the 6-mo mark.

Syl

[Lamsue23]

Hi y'all,
   I had a CT and MRI right out of surgery, 2 weeks later had my stitches out and now today I had my 3 months MRI and surgeon appt.  I couldn't see my ENT to talk about balance issues and the Baha because one of the doctors had a motorcycle accident so my doctor is taking the slack.  My appt with my neurosurgeon was great.  He felt I was doing real good, my MRI show that all the tumor was taken out.  I'm please to say I don't need another MRI till next year........YEAAH!!!!!!   
     Like everyone has said, everyone is different....