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retrosigmoid surgery

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bethtretrault:
My surgery will be at Medical College of Virginia in Richmond. Good luck-let me know how you are doing.

emily vandalen:
You asked how we are doing...there is always a "new normal."  I am so thankful to have had very little pain and no lingering headaches.  I only took Tylenol starting on the 4th day after surgery and within 2 weeks took no meds for pain.  Also thankful to have no facial paralysis.  I did lose all the hearing on the AN side (as was predicted), have lost maybe 40-50% of my ability to taste, and have a little bit of residual "wonkiness" (unsteadiness).  Today was 3.5 months post surgery.

Echo:
Although I ended up having Gamma Knife, the length of time for surgery was a big concern for me.  I have had past surgeries, no longer than 2 hours and did not react well to anesthetic.  I would be very afraid of any surgeon telling you 2 - 2.5 hours will do the job for AN surgery.  The majority of posts I've read have surgery in the 8 - 10 hour range.  When I was doing my research I had two surgeons tell me to expect an average of 9 hours.  The neurosurgeon I ended up with, would never quote a time - his comment was "It will take as long as is required - we cannot rush these things."

Cathie.

leapyrtwins:
Depends on the location of your AN and how sticky it is.

Mine was 3+ cms and my surgery lasted 7 1/2 hours.

Jan

bethtretrault:
Thanks all. Sounds like there are lots of variables in the length of surgery time. Emily-did you have to have vestibular therapy? Do you feel well enough to drive and work?

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