What does Translab mean?

[RattieLady]

I've not heard it before what is it?

[Obita]

Hi RattieLady:

It is short for Trans-Labyrinthine Approach.  It is the approach used if the usable hearing is lost before surgery.  This approach sacrifices the hearing to get the tumor out while keeping the facial nerve in view. 

Kathy

[RattieLady]

I think that what i had! Doe's the incession go around the back of the ear?

[Obita]

Yup. The hole in my head is behind my ear and is about the size of a half dollar coin and the incision was crescent shaped and about 4 or 5" long.

[RattieLady]

i don't know the size of a half dollor coin i'm the uk.

[Obita]

Well,  Hello from across the pond.

The hole in my head is about a inch and a quarter........31 mm ?

Kathy

[RattieLady]

Well,  Hello from across the pond.

The hole in my head is about a inch and a quarter........31 mm ?

Kathy

Hello neighbour. How did you measure it?

[Dabs4811]

I'm wondering why it was suggested that I have Translab surgery if I still had good hearing and a small tumor on my AN side.  Now, I'm completely deaf on the right and have trouble hearing on the phone in my left ear.  Any suggestions?

[Obita]

RattieLady:

My fat plug was absorbed by my body so I can feel the hole.  I just put two fingers back there and guessed.  You know,  about this big..................

Dabs4811:

What size was your tumor?  Mine was 2.5 cm and my hearing was almost gone.  If your tumor was small I don't know why they would suggest translab.  Did you get a hearing test on your good ear?

Kathy



 

[Taylor]

My translab was done on the back of my head in a big seven... I think most doctors cut behind the ear.

[Road Trip Dale]

RattieLady (what does that mean? ,)

Kathy gave an excellent initial description of Translab (you are welcome Kathy , normally this is done, as she said, if there is significant hearing loss in the AN ear, and the patient agrees to give up the remaining hearing to save the facial nerve, so as not to have to contend with all the problems associated with damage to that nerve.  Tumor size has a lot to do with it also...if there is hearing loss (in my case I had lost most of the upper range and some midrange, about 54% total loss) and the tumor is under 2.8 cm the docs will normally recommend Translab as it has the fewest side effects.  I have a half moon scar behind my right ear that is not noticeable and a small indentation from the hole they drilled.  As the belly fat is obsorbed by the body my hole may get bigger, but I'm old and the girls don't look my way much anymore anyway!

Road Trip

[Obita]

Dale:  The girls will look  :o  if you wear that speedo you mentioned..............

[Road Trip Dale]

Now thats a disgusting thought

[Larry]

Dabs and others,

There are 3 surghical approaches.

1. Translab - Probablyu the most common because the surgeons have the best access to the tumour and can get it all out (usually). pretty invasive op though and guaranteed full hearing loss.
2. Retrisimogold (excuse spelling) not too sure about this but hearing preservation can be obtained
3. Middle Fossa - I had this unfortunately. A less invasive approach where some hearing can be preserved - I was told that the hearing I had going into the op would be preserved after the op. Not in my case it wasn't.

The issue with all surgeries is how much of the tumour is left behind that may / can grow back again - like mine.

After changing neurosurgeons to the no.1 guy in Sydney, he advised me that he no longer does middle fossa because of the growth return rate and head trauma (headaches) that result in that approach. He now wioll watch and wait (depending if there are any symptoms) and then Translab.

he oes not do radiation treatment but is not anti it - When I have to, I will be having GK treatment.


Laz

[RattieLady]

RattieLady (what does that mean? ,)

Dale RattyLady don't mean a thing it's just that my fiance and i have 11 pet rats. I wanted RattyMum but it was being used.

My translab hurts if i push(toilet issues) so just wondered would it be best to have C-section done when i have a baby instead of natual pushing deliverary? As my fiance and i are trying for a baby and i'm worried about this. Sleeping on my translab can also be painful.