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Just Diagnosed...

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SusanT:
I was just diagnosed with AN in February.  My ENT specialist/neurosurgeon has recommended the translab approach due to my "unserviceable" hearing on the AN side.  My AN is about 2cm.  I have daily headaches varying in severity from noticeable to unbearable.  I have scheduled the surgery for May (I work in the school district here and would have the summer off for recovery).  I am really quite unsure about which surgical approach is best for me.  Translab sounds like the one that would have the fewest complications but should I try to salvage what hearing I have left by going retrosigmoid?  Has anyone out there had surgery at the Medical College of Georgia?  Any advice would be appreciated.

rebarman:
Welcome to our group. Sorry you are here, but you'll find the people here are great, and have a tremendous amont of information and support.

3 weks ago I had the translab. procedure done at Emory University in Atlanta under the care of Dr. Doug Mattox and Dr. Jeffery Olson. I know I am one of the "lucky" ones, but I have had no complications since I got out of surgery. I am back to work (I do work at home and that is easier) I have started driving some (no hwy yet) and have had no headaches since I got home. I had 70% hearing loss when I was diagnosed, so I didn't really lose much with the translab. approach.

Did you team of DR's offer any other methods of treatment? When I 1st met with Dr. Mattox, he spent a geat deal of time offering up 3 different approaches. Wait and see, Radiosurgery, and Microsurgery. I'd be interested in hearing if yours only offered up the surgery route. If you need (or want) a second opinion on your situation, I would say you can't go wrong by making the trip up to Atlanta.

Whatever you choose, we're here to support and help you . If you'd like, email me (see my profile for address) and we can talk more.

Sam Rush:
IF YOUR HEARING IS NOT WORTH SAVING(TESTS WL TELL)   tHAN YOU ARE BETTER OFF W/ THE SIMPLER TRANSLAB, WHICH IS SHORTER AND LESS RISKY TO FACIAL NERVE DAMAGE.. i WAS BACK AT WORK IN MY MEDICAL OFFICE 2 WEEKS AFTER TRASNSLAB FOR A SMALL TUMOR.REMEMBER CHOOSE ONLY DRS AND TEAMS WITH LOTS OF EXPERIENCE, AS COMPLICATIONS IN INEXPERIENCED HANDS  COULD BE A NIGHTMARE INSTEAD OF THE EXCELENT RESULTS FROM EXPERIRNCED TEAMS.

GOOD LUCK!!!

richard:
Susan
 I had a 1.0 cm X .7 cm X .3 cm AN

First Opinion:  My hearing was not worth saving per audiogram and translab was recomended.

Second Opinion:  My hearing was still pretty good per audiogram and Retro sigmoid was suggested.

In my opinion audiograms are if'y on the  science.

My personal feeling was that I was happy with the hearing I still had (about 70% good)

I had retro sigmoid with a very experience team on Jan 17, 07

Follow up audiogram showed no further loss of hearing.

I go back to work on Feb 20, 07 to an industrial environment at a power plant.

I wish you the best and will pray for you.

Richard

SusanT:
Thanks for the info...Richard-I agree about the audigrams. For example, I can use a sound amp device during a church worship service and I can hear in my "unserviceable" AN ear. I'm glad to know that things are going well for you. Keep those prayers coming my way.

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