Back on the Seton computer for the first time! Am a little dizzy but more concerned about the gentleman sitting a foot away from me b/c my first shower is yet to take place, in 10 mins or so!
So yes, to add to my unusual tumor I had the unusual approach described above. Hemangiomas start high (geniculate ganglion) so as Kate indicated MF is the way to get at them regardless of hearing. They also erode bone, and Dr. Brackmann says there was a particular sharp spot ("spicule") that would've been the long-term problem (slicing against the facial nerve). So they were able to widely decompress that area (drill away scary spikes) and also got almost all of it out. Since these are blood vessel malformations rather than true tumors -- more birth defect than anything -- they do not see them grow back. They did leave a tiny piece at one point where the nerve bends to avoid coming at the nerve too aggressively, but they've had patients at 15, 20 years and counting with no regrowth (and now there's room for it to grow if need be -- and room to radiate it should it need further treatment!) So that took care of the biggest future problem, facial nerve.
Because my hearing was so dreadful and balance/dizziness were my No. 1 current complaint, they did the labyrinthectomy separately. There was no point trying to save any hearing with it at 4%, so that way it just removes the whole issue of jiggling around the FN.
