ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => AN Issues => Topic started by: Tamster on October 25, 2009, 01:35:13 pm
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Hi everyone,
I realized today that it's time for me to introduce myself to this group. I was fortunate to find this forum several weeks ago and have been spending a lot of time reading, researching and asking questions. I've PM'd several of you and have appreciated so much the wonderful response I've had from everyone I've contacted. This board is truly a wonderful resource and I'm looking forward to the day when I can be on the other side of surgery, trying to help someone else who has just found out that they have......... an acoustic neuroma.
Today I told one of my tennis buds about it and her response was ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. Just made me laugh. Then when she wanted to know how they would operate and I explained that it required a craniotomy, you should have seen her face. I told her, "You know, I have gotten to this point in chunks, are you sure you want all the details at once?" And she admitted to me, no, she didn't, so we switched the subject. It's a lot to take in. I'm glad I've finally told a few of my friends though.
I've gone through the grueling process of making a decision about how to deal with it. So at this point am just waiting for a surgery date from HEI with Dr. Brackmann. I feel good about the decision and would love to do it sooner rather than later just in case any of my hearing can be salvaged.
Enough for now. Just wanted to thank you for this forum and for all of you who contribute to it, and to introduce myself to those of you I've not yet met.
Tammy
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Tammy, welcome and great luck. Dr. Brackmann was poking around my brain with metal tools just months ago and I'm doing great. It's a pretty surreal experience for you, your friends and your family. But if you can just look a few months out, you'll be surprised how quickly it goes.
Feel free to ask questions as you go.
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Welcome from Texas, Tammy! We are glad that you found us...no one wants to be here, but if you have an AN - this is the place to be. You won't find a better more caring place!
Hope you get your date soon!
K ;D
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Hello Tammy!
I'm also pretty new to all of this. I know exactly what you mean about how awkward it can be telling friends and family. I never know quite where to begin, although I think it is getting a little bit easier.
Feel free to PM me if you want a "tumor buddy" (icky name?) who is going through this at the same time. Best of luck and it is a pleasure to meet you, although I wish it had been through a more pleasant shared experience. :)
Lyn
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welcome Tammy to our unique family of ANers...
JO
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HI Tammy,
Happy you have made the decision. For a while there though maybe we'd be at the U at the same time. Hope House can get you in soon. Stay in touch. call anytime, I'm only 15 min away
patti ut
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Hi, Tammy ~
Welcome! It's good to see you make your 'debut' on the forum after corresponding with you via PM. I just wanted you know that as a member of our rather unique group, you're both welcomed and appreciated. You're also correct in your desire to get this experience behind you so that you can move on with your life. Making your AN and surgery known to friends in increments seems to be a good idea, considering the reaction your tennis buddy gave you ("ewwwwwwwww"). HEI is well-respected, as is the venerable Dr. Brackmann. I'm sure you'll do just fine.
Jim
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I've gone through the grueling process of making a decision about how to deal with it. So at this point am just waiting for a surgery date from HEI with Dr. Brackmann. I feel good about the decision and would love to do it sooner rather than later just in case any of my hearing can be salvaged.
Tammy - welcome to the club. Congratulations on making your decision, it is grueling indeed. I am heading to California in 8 days for a surgical appointment with Dr. Brackmann on November 4th. Please let us know when you get your surgery date and feel free to ask any questions that come to mind. There are quite a few "Brackmann" graduates around here.
- Dennis
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Hi, Tammy! Here's another welcome...what part of the country are you in? I see you play tennis! I just walked in the door from a match with my husband...I'm almost one year post op, but was back on the courts about 8 weeks post op. Sure you'll be back out there soon also. I had surgery at House also (Dr. Friedman). You'll be in very good hands. Let us know if you have any questions about traveling for surgery (I assume you'll be traveling).
Cindy
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Hi, Tammy.
Welcome to the Forum ;D
Jan
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Hi, just want to welcome you to our group and wish you luck. We are all here for you.
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Hi Tammy,
I lurked around this site for quite awhile before I actually posted. I LOVE this site and how nice & positive people are.
Telling people isn't the easiest thing. My surgery is in 2 weeks and yesterday a relative was shocked to hear I might be in the hospital about 5 days.....she said, gee "I thought it was just a little tumor"...............DUH....it's still brain surgery!! I think some people just don't get it. THat is why this site is SO nice...........EVERYONE here does get it!
Best wishes!
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Hi, Tammy,
I know we pm'd but just wanted to welcome you and wish you well on this journey that we all are taking together! You are in such good hands with Dr. Brackmann and Dr. Schwartz! :D The HEI really have it down to a science for those of us who travel to see them. Once you get a date and as we get closer, pm me and other House alumni and we can let you know how it works with Seton Hall, etc. and what you need to bring...
Cheryl
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Dr Brackmann did my surgery last november. He was great!! Good luck with everything.
Vonda
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Hi Tammy,
I just wanted to welcome you to our wonderful group. It seems you've done most of the hard work already by coming to a decision regarding treatment and choosing your surgeons. Feel free to ask any questions, vent or join in the occasional hilarity that goes on here. We are here for you.
Best wishes,
Wendy
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Hi Tammy,
Welcome to the AN family, you are amongst a great bunch of folks with a wealth of knowledge.
Keep the chin up, and hang in there.
Regards
Don
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Welcome Tammy!
I cannot begin to tell you how helpful this forum and these terrific people have helped me.
Knowledge is power!
Let us know when your surgery is booked.
Michelle ;D
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First of all, let me just say thank you to Rich for his warm welcome. I cannot tell you how helpful it has been for me to have a place to come and just wander around, "hearing" everyone's story. I don't know if this is the case for others of you waiting for a surgery date, but I often am wandering the board in the wee hours of the morning. Whether it's the pressure in the ear, the dizziness, the ringing I hear, the anxiety of all of it together, I often am awake at 3 o'clock. I've always found a friend here, waiting, in the posts you've written.
Many thanks,
Tammy
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Tammy, welcome and great luck. Dr. Brackmann was poking around my brain with metal tools just months ago and I'm doing great.
Hi Lilan,
Thanks for the welcome and good wishes. You made me laugh with your comment about Dr. Brackmann poking around your brain. No need to mince words here! :-) By the time you've researched enough about this surgery to decide where to go and what method to use, you know more about brain surgery than you ever wanted to!
I'm glad your outcome was good and that you're recovering well.
Tammy
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Hi Tammy,
just wanted to say HI and hope that we can be of support. sounds like you've already met some nice people who are in your same stage.
It is amazing how you can and will get connected to others- a great support.
Maureen
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Thank you to K, Jo, Jan, Lauren, Vonda, Wendy, Don, Michelle and Maureen for your warm welcomes and offer for help and answers to questions. At times like this it's reassuring to know there are so many who have traveled this road before me, who can lend a hand and a hug. I have spent many hours on this forum and have read your many stories, so I already feel as if I know you and the struggles and triumphs you've been through.
Now, I am in wait mode for a surgery date. I really do want to get that established so we can get an idea of what Christmas will look like this year. Both hubby and I are teachers, so I'm hoping to get a date right before the Christmas break. I was ready to schedule a week ago, and am getting impatient. I guess I will have to be more assertive to get this thing scheduled.
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Tammy~
I was a teacher too (& still would be if I weren't running after my own girlies!) - I remember telling the Dr. that the way the holidays fell that year, I had almost 3 weeks off - would that be enough time? I was such a young, naive, blonde - however, in my defense, it was such a rush, rush thing for me and we didn't know ANYTHING about an AN that I guess my "ignorance" can be excused. I had a VERY large tumor and lots of complications but still went back at 3 months and am alive & kicking today!! :D
K ;D
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Seems like we have a lot of teachers and nurses on the Forum.
Wonder what that has to do with having an acoustic neuroma ??? Perhaps nothing at all, just curious if someone could make a connection.
It seems to be a better connection than cell phone use.
Jan
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Welcome to the forum and glad you found us. I see you you have received lots of greate responses. It's great!
Vivian
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Hey Tammy, I just wanted to also officially welcome you to the forum!! I'm a newbie like yourself, but isn't it just awesome the support we have here? Pretty soon you and I will nod knowingly when someone first introduces themselves on here and basically is crying "HELPPPPPP!!!!" because we were all there at one time. You know, with the amount of research most of us puts in with these AN's, you'd think we could get some sort of diploma to hang on our walls like our doctor's do, as well versed we with this particular thing! lol! Anyways, as I get closer to my surgery date (Dec 9th) at House with Dr's Brackmann and Schwartz, I'll let ya know how it goes and what needs to be done. Take care and hang in there! :)
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Hey Jay,
Looks like we're going to be HOUSE mates at the same time. My surgery is scheduled for December 8th. We'll no doubt be navigating the halls together. (Images of pin ball and bumper cars) I look forward to meeting you in a few short weeks.
Tammy
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Hi, Tammy! Here's another welcome...what part of the country are you in? I see you play tennis! I just walked in the door from a match with my husband...I'm almost one year post op, but was back on the courts about 8 weeks post op. Sure you'll be back out there soon also. I had surgery at House also (Dr. Friedman). You'll be in very good hands. Let us know if you have any questions about traveling for surgery (I assume you'll be traveling).
Cindy
Wow, 8 weeks post op, and back on the courts! I would love to have that kind of recovery! Here's hoping! Yes, I am an avid tennis player, usually play 4 times a week. You'd think I'd be getting good at it by now--- oh well! LOL I'll be traveling from Salt Lake City to House for surgery on December 8th. Where do you live Cindy, maybe we can meet up for a tennis match sometime around Valentines Day? 8)
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Yes, I was back on the courts pretty quick, but took it pretty easy for awhile. But, as you know, it's hard to stay off the courts for too long. I will admit, however, that tennis does challenge the vestibular system more than many other things I do. Tracking the ball and all the side to side movement and up and down with the head...can be a litttle tough. It has not been enough to stop me, though. And, I count it as therapy! I'm north of Atlanta...huge tennis town. Where are you?
Enjoy as much tennis as you can til Dec! Feel free to PM me with any questions you may have about House, Seton, etc
Cindy
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welcome in tamster !!!!!!!! the ewwwwwwwwww factor pops up once in awhile. ;D
but it's more of a shock to them just like it was to us . find a local support group if you can as well.
this forum can be a good place for fears, tears, and suport as well. i'm coming up on 2 yrs post op and while some issues remain, they are all minor compared to the tumor in the old brain pan........
once again welcome