ANA Discussion Forum
Treatment Options => Microsurgical Options => Topic started by: Darla on January 07, 2008, 07:26:48 pm
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One week away from surgery. Getting VERY NERVOUS. Procedure will be left ear, retro sigmoid, with a small-medium tumor. My hearing is still very good in the left ear. I know there are no guarantees but please will someone say a prayer for me to keep what hearing I have and to make it through without any complications. Now that I am this close I am getting freaked out. It has helped to read the posts from all of you on what to expect immediately after surgery. I know we are all different but at least I have "something" to go on.
I just turned 50 on the 5th........some birthday present!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I really need some words of encouragment right now. :)
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Hi Darla,
I too was diagnosed with AN in the Left ear, small to medium size and retrosigmoid surgery recommended. My surgery was 12/7/07 at MGH (Mass. General Hosp). I had lost my hearing temporarily in August with some return of hearing before the AN diagnosis. Currently, I have some hearing in the left ear but it is muffled likely residual from the surgery swelling. At my follow-up appointment the end of January a hearing test will be performed.
I must admit that I had the same concerns you did regarding "keeping what you got", with regard to the hearing. But I do keep this thought up front, if I had done nothing, no monitoring, no wait and watch, no gamma knife, no surgery, eventually, I would have lost my hearing and more. Today I am one month post op, am walking daily with my golden retreiver, drove my car today for the first time since surgery, have very little dizziness and no pain. Facial and eye lid complications thankfully are not issues that I deal with. I will keep you in my thoughts as your intervention date approaches, you will do well.
Bernie
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Hi Darla! I hope you'll be using the next week to continue celebrating your birthday and doing something fun! I was originally supposed to have my surgery last year on Valentine's Day. My husband was happy about that because he figured it got him out of buying flowers and a card. Fortunately for me, we had to postpone it a week because my surgeon's wife was due to deliver her baby that week!
That week before can be very stressful. Take some time to pamper yourself or do something special. Hopefully soon you'll be well on the road to recovery and posting a message to tell us how well you're doing. And of course, we'll all be praying for you!
Lori
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Darla you have been added to my prayers. I am wishing you a complication free surgery with a quick recovery. If you are able to on Sunday have a pamper Darla day and spend the day with good friends and/or family members who are positive in their support and can help you get through the day. Then finish the day off with a bubble bath and a good nights sleep. Let us know how you are doing and maybe your husband can keep us posted while you are in the hospital. I know I speak for all of us when I say we will be praying for you and wishing you well next Monday. Take very good care of yourself. 16
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Try not to think about the surgery. That's what I did. In fact my friends where calling me the night before my surgery to wish me well and I was grouting the tile in my master bedroom @ 10pm. I had to be at the hosipital the next morning @ 5am. I was very busy the week before my surgery cleaning the garage, cutting the grass, playing with my kids, anything to keep my mind off the surgery. Good luck and you will be in our prayers.
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Hi Darla, Lois White here, from Victoria Texas. I have you in my prayers.
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Take a long relaxing bath or a long shower.... it will feel good...and really relax you. Use all the hot water in the house.... Until you get out of the hospital you might not be able to take that long soaking hot bath... that first shower after getting out of the hospital was great.... best wishes. oto
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Darla -
I can understand your nervousness; I had retrosigmoid (left side) at the end of May. I have recovered very nicely and wish the same for you.
I will definitely pray for an uncomplicated surgery and a speedy recovery.
Please know that there are lots of us thinking about you and wishing you well.
Happy belated birthday,
Jan
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Hello Darla,
I just finished a prayer for your complication-free, speedy recovery from surgery! All of my best to you,
Jackie (in Oregon)
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Darla, you'll do fine! The anticipation is the absolute worse! I just had mine done, Left, retrosigmoid, in October. I did have a CSF leak, but looking back, it wasn't bad at all! I remember the day before my surgery I would just cry!! I was scared! It's normal. That morning I was very calm. You'll get to a point where you just want it overwith & to get on with recovering! Best of Luck, if you need to talk email me! I'll turn 50 this year! I kept thinking I wasn't going to live to see my 50th!! Our heads sure do play head games!! I feel the stress has just been lifted off of my shoulders! You won't think about that tumor once it's out!! Just remember, you'll look forward to tomorrow, because you'll feel a little better each day. And walk as much as you can. It'll make a world of difference!! Best of Luck! Nancy
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Thank you EVERYONE for your words of encouragment. It helps reading that so many people have made it to the other side of this ordeal and I know I will too.
It is kinda funny that my business is becoming sooo busy right now that I can hardly keep up, but it is helping me stay distracted from the waiting game (at least some of the time!). I truly appreciate you taking time out of your day to email and encourage me through this difficult time in my life. God is Good! I'll contact you all from the "other side" of this very soon...................................
Darla
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Darla I forgot to wish you a happy birthday! It warms my heart that we are able to help others when they need it. Please remember we are all pulling for you and wish you the very best. Happy birthday from one capicorn to another and may you have allot of cake while celebrating your post op status as well. White cake is my personal favorite and I will share mine with you. If you let me know what kind is your favorite I will have one waiting for you and we can eat as much as we would like being a cyber cake. 16+
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hey Darla!
You and Me We will get through this........ God has big plans for us and just know that you and I will be having our surgeries within 24hours apart how cool is that??? I guess we are AN sisters HAHA!! JUst keep up your spirits and go have a massage! Thats what I am going to do and a manicure and a pedicure and I am also going to go and get a TAN so I will look healthy.... A great movie to watch is the Last Holiday with Queen Latifha in it... too cute and funy give it a try it will make ya think and really laugh!!!
Well I hope you stay Up Up Up!
:)
Stacey
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Do like everyone else says and try not to think about it, that's your best bet. Just take things one step at a time. You can handle this, you have to, and you will be fine. We're all pulling for you no matter what!
~Karen
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Darla I just wanted you to know I am thinking of you and hoping that surgery went well and that your recovery is quick and without complications. Kiss to your forehead. :-* 16
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Darla -
hope your surgery went well and you're on your way to a speedy recovery.
Congratulations on being a fellow postie,
Jan
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Well I must say it feels sooooooooooooooooooo good to be on the recovery side of this AN experience. My surgery was 8 1/2 hours but I made it through just fine. I did however, develop a CSF leak but I knew what it was immediately since I had read about it on this forum. That seemed to be the worst part of the whole deal for me. I had a lumbar drain for 4 days so that means no walking and very little movement on my part. Needless to say, after 10 days in the hospital I was more than ready to get out of that place.
It will be 1 month on Wednesday. I am feeling much better this week. Headaches are not as frequent now and I am completely off the narcotics. I only have to take Advil maybe once a day. I'm not driving yet, but I am walking about 2 miles and that seems to really help. Dizziness is still there somewhat but nothing I can't deal with. I can tell my biggest adjustment is going to be no hearing in the left ear. It is very annoying. I hope this gets better but I don't know right now. Too soon to tell. Anyway, I feel truly blessed to be on the other side of this ordeal and I am getting stronger every day.
Thanks to all who sent their well wishes, you are all wonderful.
To Stacey: I have been thinking of you since we had our surgery 24 hours apart. I hope everything went well for you and I hope you are recovering nicely. Please update us when you can.
Warmest regards to all
Darla
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Darla~
I just jumped on the bandwagon of this AN Forum so I wasn't able to pray for you the day of your surgery, but I am glad you are doing well now!! The SSD is an adjustment at first, but you get used to it. I am 12 years out and do not have any device to aid the SSD -- it is just really not that big of a deal anymore!
Let me know if I can be of any assistance to you or if you have any questions of what life is like "down the road!"
Kay
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Darla I am sorry to hear about the CSF leak and the stay in the hospital that was way to long. I am very glad you are home now and doing well. I have a cake waiting for you and we will have a party when you feel up to it. I can sing to! Please don't forget to let us know how you are doing in the days to come and don't forget to ask any questions that you may have. Kissses to you forehead. :-* :-* :-* 16
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Darla -
welcome to the world of posties ;D
Glad to hear you're on the road to recovery, despite some bumps along the way. Progress postop can be frustrating and requires a lot of patience, but getting stronger every day is a good sign.
I, too, became SSD on my left side after surgery so I can commiserate with you. Some people get used to it as time goes on, but I can't really say I'm one of those people. Everyone's different though; give yourself time to heal and get used to it. If you find it still bothers you a few months from now you might want to look into options like TransEar or Baha.
Jan