ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => AN Issues => Topic started by: cherrypiper on December 04, 2009, 09:18:08 pm
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Hey gang, just wanted to give you new folks some experience. My AN was taken out 12 /03/07.
It was the shape and size of a big almond along the hearing (8th, ithink) and facial (7th) nerves behind my rt ear. i had tinnitus over there and knew i was deaf b4 the surgery.
Here are some things for you to think about or look into IF you are looking into AN surgery, from my 2 year perspective anyway.
1. make sure your surgeon does more then 1 or 2 of these a month. Experience is everything.
2. if possible go find a local ANA group b4 you schedule it. see what some of them look like and what they tell you about the surgery.
i say that because my local group here in Houston, while i haven't made a lot of meetings, has helped me a lot these last 2 years.
3. FACIAL nerve damage......now for me this is what happened. i'm 58. College professor. The rt side of my face cant do several things it used to do such as:
a. cant smile on rt side
b. cant blink at all on that side
c . which means i have dry eye and must use drops all the time. sun glaring in or wind whistling in eye is painful. you wink or blink many times a minute , i dont.
d. my dentures did not fit again as my palette changed due to the dropping of my face muscles about 1/2 to 1/4 inch.
Now it doesn't look that bad NOW, but after surgery it looked like i had a stroke.
e. i cant use a straw on rt side lips wont stay together.
f. and if you can raise your eyebrows or Knit your brow, i cant.
Now these are MINOR irritants most of the days. BUT if you are a young lady, under 50 maybe , concerned with your face and pretty,
be real careful. AN's are NOT usually life threatening. usually non cancerous as well.
I am still very glad i had the tumor taken out. But even 2 years later, i have residual affected areas. the eye part is the biggest day to day deal. some days it gets tired and face just "hurts" for better lack of a word.
trying to help. ;)
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Cherrypiper ~
As a fellow 'veteran' of AN surgery (and subsequent radiation) I can appreciate your comments, even if I didn't have the exact same experience as you've had. That's the salient point; there is no template for AN surgery results. We're all different and will have dissimilar results, be they good or not-so-good. I'm sorry to learn of your facial deficits and accompanying issues but I admire your positive-yet-realistic outlook. Your advice to the newly-diagnosed is solid and helpful, I'm sure. I hope and will pray for your continued healing and that your eye issues will soon resolve. Thanks for your post.