ANA Discussion Forum
Useful Information => Physicians => Topic started by: lholl36233 on August 07, 2009, 03:02:10 pm
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Hi,
My next MRI is 8/11 and the followup is 8/19. If surgery is recommended, I think I need to go see Dr. McKenna. Boston is not that far for me to travel for experience. Any information on Dr. McKenna would be greatly appreciated.
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He's the best!
He has followed my acoustic neuroma since September 2001 and removed it in April of this year.
Good luck!
Nancy
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Hi,
My next MRI is 8/11 and the followup is 8/19. If surgery is recommended, I think I need to go see Dr. McKenna. Boston is not that far for me to travel for experience. Any information on Dr. McKenna would be greatly appreciated.
Your wish is our command. :) http://www.facialnervecenter.org/team_physicians.html (http://www.facialnervecenter.org/team_physicians.html) I hope this helps.
Jim
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Thanks Jim.
Has Dr. McKenna done anyone's BAHA implant? I need a doctor who understands this isn't a conventional hearing aid.
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Someone else in his department does them. He's not real big on BAHAs but did give me the brochure at my request pre-op.
My three-month follow-up appointment was canceled, and I was planning to approach the subject with him then. It will have to wait until September when things slow down again.
Scarlett had Dr. Lee at MEEI instead of McKenna. He might be more amenable to the BAHA.
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Dr. Quinton Gopen did a talk at the ANA Boston support group meeting last year specifically on hearing devices and BAHA. He also does cochlear implants as well. He is affiliated with MEEI as well as the Brigham. You can find him here:
http://www.harvardotolaryngology.org/faculty.html
Here is his MA License info, showing his education, awards, hospital affiliations, etc:
http://profiles.massmedboard.org/MA-Physician-Profile-View-Doctor.asp?ID=83562
He may be the man to speak.
Phyl
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Why doesn't Dr. McKenna like the BAHA? Anything to help us here on the bad side sounds like a godsend to me.
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I thought Dr. Lee at MEEI was fabulous. I’ve never discussed BAHA’s with him, so I’ don’t know how he feels about them, but I’m sure if he doesn’t do them he could refer you to someone who does. To me, it’s just as important to find out why some doctors don’t like them as well as why some doctors do. The more informed you are the better. That goes for anything. Good luck with whatever you decide.
Scarlett
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I'm not sure why McKenna doesn't like the BAHA. My sense was that he thought they are gimmicky, over-marketed, and wouldn't benefit the patient enough to make it worth the expense. I'll find out when I see him next time.
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From what I've read on this board from people with BAHAs, while not as good as perfect hearing, the BAHA helps greatly. I can't have a doctor do my surgery who thinks BAHA is a conventional hearing aid. I'm going to call my primary care doctor to try to get a referral to Dr. McKenna. Wish me luck.
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Sorry I'm so late to reply. I've been seeing McKenna since June 2005 and he did my surgery in Sep 2006. I'm going back to see him for a 3 year follow up in a few weeks. I have nothing but positive things to say about him, his skill and experience, and his office.
Katie
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Thanks Katie. Ignore my other post. I read that one before this one. ;D
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Hi Laura,
You mentioned UMass so I presume you mean UMass Med Ctr in Worcester MA? Just wondering because in Jan of 2001 I had a 1 cm rt AN removed there when they a Skull Base team of surgeons--surgeons both left and I had follow-up w/a Dr Lee--handsome young, personable doctor who eventually referred me to MGH and Dr Barker as my AN had not been totally removed (contrary to what the suregons reported) and was growing more... I met w/Barker and eventually Dr Loeffler and I had LINAC radiation over several weeks in Fall of 2007. Dr Lee was a proponent of the BAHA --he said it was (my words) offerred wherd he previously came from didn't know why it hadn't been offerred at UMassMed at the time...but I decided not to bother at that time as I could have it anytime as no change was possible in my hearing anyway... So I wouldn't be surprised if that is the same Dr Lee--he probably left UMass Med Ctr and went to Boston.
MGH has a great team of surgeons and radaition specialists so I'm sure you will be in great hands whatever treatment you choose!!!
Best always,
Mary (aka GrammyMary).... (one of Phyl's Maxwell Silverman's Brunch bunch!!)...
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Hi Mary,
Glad to hear from you. I'm not sure how many of my posts you have read to get my full story. It is the same Dr. Lee. I saw him at UMASS in Worcester in May 2008. By June, he was at Mass Eye and Ear. He told me I had an AN after my first MRI but it turned out to be a hemangioma. I was on watch and wait until last month when my word recognition went down to zero in my left ear. The right ear is 110%. That prompted my new doctor to suggest surgery. I asked this doctor about the BAHA who explained it to me like it was a traditional hearing aid which I understand won't help me.I wanted a second opinion so I referred myself to Dr. McKenna who told me surgery to remove the tumor would likely result in facial nerve damamge. Dr. McKenna referred me to Dr. Loeffler who I will see 10/7 about proton beam therapy. After that, Dr. McKenna agreed I could get the BAHA. I feel like there is no better place for me than MGH/MEEI.
How did the radiation turn out for you?
PM me anytime.
Laura
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Sorry Mary. I missed your signature that showed your good outcome with radiation. I hope I have the same luck.
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:) Hi Laura,
So Dr Lee did move on up to bigger and better things!! Not surprised!! I'd like to share this with you--After UMass Med lost Dr Magerian (neurotologist) and Dr Litofsky (neurosurgeon) (I understand that MA has some of the highest malpractice insurance rates in the country so wonder they left) there were no MDs to do AN surgery--I don't know now who they have but knowing what I know now I would never have such complicated surgery anywhere but with surgeons who have tons of experience...Even though my facial nerve was not cut it was traumatized and I had poor facial function after surgery and it never fully recovered... I can close my eye but my mouth will forever have a crooked smile... Anyway I'm getting off track--what I wanted to share with you is that I had follow-ups with Dr Lee for hearing tests and when it was determined (in 2006) that the AN was never fully removed and continuing to grow I told Dr Lee I had seen Dr Noren in RI and would have Gamma Knife (one day treatment). Dr Lee was adamant that I should not have radiation--his direct words, (and unsolicited I might add): "I would not want my mother to have radiation" and he referred me to Dr Barker at MGH. (I did not want surgery again but did go to see Dr Barker who told me 10% chance of further facial nerve damage so I then saw Dr Loeffler and the rest is history)... In reading Dr Lee's summary of my visit with him (Dr Lee) it is stated, due to the minimal growth "I do not necessarily think that this is an indication for undergoing stereotatic radiotherapy or single shot stereotactic radiation therapy. There are risks of delayed cranial neuropathies and hydrocephalous and the unknown concerns of intracranial neoplastic growth in the distant future following this approach." So he feared those complications, the worst of course is the tumor turning cancerous (years later) due to the radiation... ???
This AN treatment journey can be very daunting and confusing and frustrating trying to decide what to do but my suggestion is, again, whatever treatment you choose, get the best team who has lots of experience... ;)
In 2001 when I had my AN surgery at UMassMed I only had a computer at work so had limited access to AN knowledge--if I'd known then what I know now I would have gone to Boston (and yes I would have had the surgery) and maybe the AN could have been completely removed--but of course I will never know... ::)
Best wishes to you, Laura!! ;D
Mary (aka Grammy)...
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:oH Laura,
Mary here again--just re-read your post and realized that you have a hemangioma. ::) :) I assume the treatment must be similar... Anyway I wanted also to tell you that the BAHA (from my understanding) is NOT like the typical hearing aid because it transfers sound via bone from the good hearing ear to the affected ear. That's why the bottle-cap looking BAHA is implanted into the bone of your skull...
Take care now, ;D
Mary (aka Grammy)
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Anyway I wanted also to tell you that the BAHA (from my understanding) is NOT like the typical hearing aid because it transfers sound via bone from the good hearing ear to the affected ear. That's why the bottle-cap looking BAHA is implanted into the bone of your skull...
Whoops! The BAHA is actually implanted on the SSD (single-side deaf) side of your head, and the sound is transmitted via bone from the deaf side to the good, hearing side.
Catherine (JerseyGirl 2)
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Thank you Mary. I had the same instinct to go to Boston if I had to have surgery. I think Dr. McKenna has enough experience to know when the risk of damage to the facial nerve is high. I would have gone for surgery if he recommended it.
I'm looking forward to seeing Dr. Loeffler 10/7.
Laura
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;D Hi Catherine and Laura,
:o Sorry, I tried to remember what side Dr Lee told me it was implanted on (wrong guess!)... Joe F ("I'd rather be fishing") who is one of our Maxwell Silverman's Brunch Bunch has one and seem sto be happy with it...
Take care!
Mary (aka GrammyMary) ;D