My visit with Dr Schwartz and Friedman 2 days ago went well, we discuss all the treatment options and I am awaiting a call from the UCSD Surgery Scheduler to set a date for Translab surgery. My balance symptoms although not severe, are affecting my daily life and being 71 and healthy right now, I opted to "get it out of there"!! No "wait and watch" or radiation for me. I then met with the UCSD AN Program Patient Navigator who was sooo helpful .... she fills in all the gaps of "stuff" that surgeons don't and connected me to the Program's Vestibular PT and I am going to start with him pre-surgery. As I start this journey and look toward the future ... maintaining my independence is key and that is why balance to me is the most important aspect to this. Of course, maintaining the facial nerve is important to me as well. I found it interesting to learn that our brains do better keeping our balance if there is no vestibular info coming in from the AN side rather than distorted info.
Onward .....