ANA Discussion Forum
Treatment Options => Microsurgical Options => Topic started by: laloo0695 on August 12, 2025, 03:39:42 pm
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I was diagnosed with an AN that is 1.7 cm. I was referred to Dr. Cunningham at Duke who recommended translab surgery because I am a young patient and have severe hearing loss. He seemed confident that they would be able to remove the whole tumor without causing damage to the facial nerve.
I am terrified of the adjustment after the surgery. My biggest fear is not being able to live my life normally or feeling like myself again.
Can you share your experience post-surgery?
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I have shared my story on here a couple times, and understand that everyone's experience is their own unique journey with this, but for me personally, the surgery was the best thing that happened to me in the past two years. I had severe hearing loss, balance issues, and a headache that never went away, the headache lasted for over two years. The first two days after surgery were absolutely miserable, had me questioning my choice, but by day three things changed drastically. I was off of all pain medication by the end of day three, not even Tylenol, and I've not had a headache since. I also did have double vision for about a month and a half but that has resolved itself too. I very quickly started walking again, and while for the first week or two I described it as looking like a drunk toddler, I was walking unassisted (but not pretty) for up to a half mile at a time by the middle of week two. Yesterday 8/13 marked 3 months post op for me. I not only walk normally and rarely have any balance issues, I am actually running 2 miles on the treadmill and training for a 5k. The surgeon initially said I would be totally deaf in my left ear but they were able to save the nerve for hearing and I actually can hear a little out of that ear. (Not much, but it wasn't much before surgery either so no big change there) Now keep in mind that I am not a young patient, I am 57. I would think your recovery could be even better because you have youth on your side. I don't know what your expectations of normal are, but I feel way better now than before surgery. Now the incision site is still sensitive, and wearing a hat can cause discomfort, I assume that will eventually go away, and the area sometimes has a numb feeling to it also. But overall way better than before. I saw you had another post about scuba diving. I do not have any experience with that, but I would guess the doctors would advise you to wait quite a while on that since diving involves increased pressure, but that's a good question for your neurosurgeon the next time you talk.