ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => AN Issues => Topic started by: diverjeff on February 14, 2008, 09:12:27 pm
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Hello all,
Before today my wife and I have celebrated 26 Valentines days together. February 14, 2008 is #27 and has been one of the best.
We met with Dr. John d***ens with the Arkansas Otolaryngology Center in LIttle Rock. Dr. d***ens reviewed the MRI and suggested my wife wait 6 months, have another MRI to check tumor growth and go from there. Dr. d***ens also said we could choose GK, FRS or Surgery. Dr. d***ens disagreed with the radiologist's assesment regarding the size of the tumor (he said it was a little smaller). He also said the tumor was only about 2 MM into the intracanicular [sic] opening. The VNG test she had on Monday showed no adverse affects.
We understand that she will likely have surgery in the near future but we will peer into that abyss when the time comes. Today though we celebrate !!
Safety & blue skies,
DJ
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Enjoy each day like today! What an inspiration - 27 Valentine's Days! :o)
K
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DJ -
that is great news! A six month waiting period and treatment options - you can't get much better than that ;D
And congratulations to you and your wife on the 27 Valentine's Days - quite an accomplishment!
Jan
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You have allot to celebrate. My husband and I are going to celebrate our 27th year together this year also (veterans day). I think you should celebrate everyday in some little way. You both should be very proud of the effort you put into a relationship that has lasted so long. Your wife must be a very special lady and you are both blessed to have each other. :) 16
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Hello,
I too have been with my hubby 27 years total this year (I was very very young ;D)!
I am glad you are happy with the the prognosis given by your Drs. Can I just ask please - what is the VNG test? I didn't have any other tests just the MRI and my specialist said I had 'plenty' of space between my AN and my facial nerve but I have developed a 'cold' nose which feels slightly 'numb' on the AN side sometimes - well it does not feel quite right anyway - again I am not sure if I am being sensitive as I still am newly diagosed in the general scheme of things...
Thanks.
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DJ -
27 Valentine's Days and getting better every year!! That's great news! I hope it was a great celebration (complete with lots of chocolate...).
This was a good Valentine's Day for me too, as it was the first time in 10 years my husband and I have been in the same state/country/hemisphere on Valentine's day (he's in the Navy).
And Esperanza, what it that saying... "cold nose - warm heart"?. I'm sure your heart more than makes up for your cold nose!
Lori
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Hi, Jeff:
Congratulations all around! First, on the doctor's assessment of your wife's AN and his offering her the option of waiting six months, which gives you both some time to plan and carefully decide on your wife's surgeon/radiation oncologist and exactly when she'll proceed. By dealing with the reality of surgery (if that is her choice) for six months, it should be a bit less intimidating when the time comes for her to enter the hospital. Meanwhile, you can both enjoy the 'reprieve'.
Secondly, congratulations on 27 years together. Quite an achievement, these days.
My wife and I celebrated the 38th anniversary of our engagement on Valentines Day. I had a bouquet of roses sent to the house for her as I always do on our engagement anniversary/Valentines Day. Although she wasn't surprised, she really enjoyed them. It was even better when she was working. I used to send roses to her at work on Valentines Day (and sometimes for no special occasion) and of course, this got her a lot of positive attention. Still, I delight in making her happy with such a small gift. We're still like a couple of kids in that respect...and we wouldn't change a thing. :)
Anyway, congratulations on the good news and your anniversary. May 2008 be a very good year for you both.
Jim
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My husband and I celebrated our 26th Valentine's Day yesterday. I too was very young when we started dating. Last week I received a beautiful white gold necklace with four diamonds (one for each of our sons). It was a Christmas, birthday and Valentine's gift. My husband had it made for me. After all of these years he still manages to keep me on my toes. Oh yeah I didn't have to cook last night, we had pizza and tonight he made a delicious shrimp pasta in a veggie and cream wine sauce. He was off today. I know I'm spoiled ::)
Anne Marie
P.S.
Congrats Jeff an the good news and Valentine's day.
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Anne Marie: Does he wash the dishes too? Lucky girl !!!!!
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Yep, sweeps and washes the kitchen floor and does laundry!!!! Don't tell his Italian parents, it will put them in their graves. With five men in this house and me working full time I need help.
It's fun Nancy 23 yrs ago when we first got married I couldn't get him to lift up the lid on the laundry hamper to put his dirty clothes in. Louie is a gem. He also works in a hospital on the OB/GYN floor and he hears all the complaints. I have nothing to complain about!!!
Anne Marie
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Esperanza -
Following is information regarding the VNG test.
Videonystagmography (VNG) is a test of your balance system. An extensive evaluation is required at times to determine the cause of dizziness or unsteadiness. The tests necessary to diagnose your problem have been determined by our doctor at the time of examination, and may include detailed hearing and balance tests. The object of this evaluation is to be certain that there is no serious disease, and to try to pinpoint the exact site of the problem. This lays the ground work for effective medical or surgical treatment by your doctor.
The VNG test is the recording of nystagmus or eye jerks by a camera. There are neural connections that stretch from the balance mechanism in the inner ear to the muscles of the eye. A disorder of the balance mechanism results in small eye jerks that can only be detected by a sophisticated computer. A camera attached to a pair of goggles records these eye jerks during a series of tasks. The balance mechanism is monitored during tasks that consist of looking back and forth between designated points, following moving lights, lying in different positions, and lying down and sitting up quickly. The final portion of the test requires putting cool and warm air in the ear canal for roughly 60 seconds in order to determine if the balance mechanism of each ear can increase and decrease normally in response to stimulation. Some individuals become dizzy for 2-5 minutes, but most are able to drive home after the test without difficulty. If you are concerned about not being able to drive afterwards, please make arrangements for someone to transport you.
We appreciate all of the kind comments.
Safety & blue skies,
DJ
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DJ~
I love your "signature" at the bottom of your comments! We are a family here, huh?
K
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Anne Marie -
you definitely have a keeper; I'm SO jealous.
Kaybo -
thanks for pointing out DJ's signature line - very cool, DJ ;D
Jan
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Thanks Jan,
That picture was taken a few weeks ago when we celebrated my birthday. The green arm is my cousin Teresa. We had lots of cake. An Italian specialty with a puff like pastry filled with a custard and fresh strawberries. Yummy, it's my favourite. I can say it but I can't spell it.
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27 years! We celebrate our 27th wedding anniversary March 5. I guess some of us have more in common than the AN stuff.
Have a great week ALL,
Lynn
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cookiesecond - We celebrate 27 on March 14th. Seems like just yesterday. Each year gets better and better. Seems when the metal of our lives is tested, together we become stronger.
Kaybo - Merriam-Webster defines a family as: 3 a: a group of people united by certain convictions or a common affiliation - http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/family
Yes, we belong to a very unique family.
yardtick - "Yep, sweeps and washes the kitchen floor and does laundry!!!!" You and you husband are indeed very fortunate to have each other.
Safety & blue skies,
DJ
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Thanks diverjeff for the explanation!
I have only had audiology so far. I keep being told my symptoms will get better (i.e. tinnitus and balance) but how can they when the thing is still in there? I actually find my balance is slightly worse when the tinnitus worsens - I really wish there was more research in to AN's, how the cells get triggered to grow etc. There doesn't appear to be any pattern to who gets them - or is there? As there are all ages on here diagnosed there might be a common thing that has been missed??
There must be a reason why they 'switch on'??
I am tired of tinnitus being blanketed as an emotional response. I was feeling pretty good when I woke up yesterday but the tinnitus was worse what ever I did and is noisier today - more clicks, whistling, whooshing etc. feeling of pressure increased markedly too - surely it has more to do with the nerve being irritated by the AN than my emotions?
Take care all.
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Those of us married over 25 years are a rare breed these days. My husband and I have been married 35 years (8/19/72). We met in high school. January 5th was the 39th anniversary of our first date!! He has been my rock all these years.
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Those of us married over 25 years are a rare breed these days.
Yes, you are. I made it 1 1/2 months short of 22 years - and the way it was, I hung on at least 8 years longer than I should have.
Congrats to all of you who are happily married; it is a tremendous feat.