ANA Discussion Forum

Post-Treatment => Post-Treatment => Topic started by: Tod on February 21, 2017, 08:34:45 am

Title: Semi-Obligatory Update- Seven Years Post-surgery
Post by: Tod on February 21, 2017, 08:34:45 am
...and five years post-FSR.

Short: All is good. Still coughing. Still dry eye. Still SSD. Still lots of tinnitus. Increasingly facial asymmetry - but it's okay, it makes look more me.

Long. For those that don't know my story, 32 hours of surgery to remove 90-95% of a golf ball-sized tumor. Quite a few deficits included loss of voice, swallowing difficulties, facial weakness, and the the other typical stuff. Story here https://randomdatablog.com/brain-tumor/ (https://randomdatablog.com/brain-tumor/)).

Over the weekend I wrote a blog post post with images showing my "descent" into asymmetry. https://randomdatablog.com/2017/02/19/seven-years-of-asymmetry/ (https://randomdatablog.com/2017/02/19/seven-years-of-asymmetry/)

Life is good.

-Tod
Title: Re: Semi-Obligatory Update- Seven Years Post-surgery
Post by: LakeErie on February 21, 2017, 05:37:05 pm
thanks for the link to your datablog and the photos. After GK  for regrowth of my tumor last Oct 2016, I experienced facial weakness starting Jan 25th and now after 4 weeks with Decadron I am about the same. A scan Feb 10th found a swollen tumor and swelling in the  brain adjacent to the tumor, both the cerebellum and pons. Apparently, once edema is present, time to resolution is unpredictable and in fact resolution itself is unpredictable. Your experience and photos are encouraging as I hope my weakness does not progress.
The progression you see is not visible to me, and I would characterize my weakness as asymmetry, too. In fact my primary care doctor characterized it as just that. Biggest problem is my right eye with incomplete eyelid closure as the lower lid droops badly.
Thanks again
Title: Re: Semi-Obligatory Update- Seven Years Post-surgery
Post by: caryawilson on February 22, 2017, 09:30:09 am
Remarkable story.  Huge inspiration, and puts my issues into perspective.  Thanks.
Title: Re: Semi-Obligatory Update- Seven Years Post-surgery
Post by: bethtretrault on February 23, 2017, 07:40:24 pm
Thanks for the update Tod!You have helped me up to and through my surgery.