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61
Radiation / Radiosurgery / Re: My AN Story 2015 Sydney to Stanford CK
« Last post by Maystro on November 25, 2025, 11:42:51 AM »
Since last posting on this forum I have had treatment.
Which was in April 2025. Cyberknife in Munchen.

Around treament my Tumor was 24 by 15mm
Cyberknife session was 30 min. With a facemark. Which looks to me like a far more comfortable solution than those screwing frames.

Just had my 6 months scan and appointment with my neurologist in Munich.
And so far Necrosis is visible on the MRI and the tumor has shrunk about 10 to 15% in size.
Which is according to the neurologist a strong response to treatment and positive results.
I couldn't agree more. No real strong side effects so far.
First few months a bit of a pulsating feeling in my head around the area where the tumor is.
But no issues with gait or other things.

Balance was not bad before treatment but has improved.
Neck flexibility has improved. (wasn´t aware of how much that actually was impacted before)
hearing before treatment was impacted. High en some lower frequencies were impacted. word recognition was not as good as it should be.
After treatment: last month there has been improvement. Where some lower frequencies came back. And word recognition has gone up.

All in all. I am happy I did my own research and didn´t trust the first neurologist I talked to.
I would say the advice I got was for the majority pointing towards surgery and at least debulking of tumor.
But reading the research papers told me a different story. Where it is also very important to understand the volume of the tumor and not base advice on just the diameter.
The neurologist in Munich understood I was well informed and read many papers. He was the first to have a full open conversation on what are the possibilities. And he said that whatever I do it is my choice but that he was very certain that he could treat me with the cyberknife machine with good outcome. If he were in my shoes that he would go for that option before considering surgery. Because this surgery is major.
Maybe he was selling me his solution, who knows. But I also keep in mind that these clinics have to keep numbers on a certain level to be allowed to treat.

So far so good. Up to next year!
For now I feel like I have my future back!


62
Drumfest,

I did not see the original post but just saw Michelle's.  Like her Dizziness was not an issue before or post but before there was one time I had an issue.  I am not sure if it was AN or stenosis. Since radiation I have experienced no dizzines.

Dan
63
Post-Treatment / Re: Fluid Under Skin of Surgery Site
« Last post by Mark F. on November 18, 2025, 08:34:00 PM »
Sorry to hear about your issue.   I don't have experience with pain, I was lucky enough to actually be in less pain after surgery than before.  But the swelling and sleeping thing I have a question about.  Did you try a different bed or pillow?  I noticed after my surgery that I was having problems sleeping, and although it didn't hurt I did have swelling that felt weird.  For me a new pillow and a change in sleeping position seemed to help.  I say seemed to, because I'm not sure if it was that or if the swelling just stopped happening because of time.    I am 6 months post op now, and I do still have to watch my sleeping position, if my neck isn't supported right I will have a headache on the AN side.
64
Radiation / Radiosurgery / Re: Can/Does Radiosurgery reduce dizziness/disequilibrium?
« Last post by mwatto on November 18, 2025, 07:25:47 PM »
Hi I did not have dizziness pre or post radiation. I did read this article recently however linking dizziness in AN to anxiety - mmight help to work on that aspect. Another thing is to check your medications if on eg even statins can have dizziness as a side effect, as do some health conditions like low blood pressure:  https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaotolaryngology/article-abstract/2839530?guestAccessKey=aa803a9d-f934-4dab-b140-9924cd8ac6fc&utm_medium=email&utm_source=postup_jn&utm_campaign=article_alert-jamaotolaryngology&utm_content=olf-tfl_&utm_term=100225
65
Post-Treatment / Fluid Under Skin of Surgery Site
« Last post by jorsto on November 15, 2025, 04:36:07 AM »
Hello,

I’m 11 days post middle fossa surgery.  They said to expect swelling but I’m noticing that every night I wake up with more swelling than when I went to sleep.  It feels like liquid between my skull and skin and can gently press certain areas and hear the fluid.

Is this actually normal?

Other side effects post surgery:

- 10/10 pain on glutes and bottom of leg to calf. I went in for a blood clot check and came back negative.  I can’t sleep no matter what medication I’m given as nothing fixes the pain.
66
Post-Treatment / Re: 2 1/2 Weeks Post Translab @ MGH - Odd post surgery symptom
« Last post by BrokedownPalace on November 14, 2025, 09:58:11 PM »
Thanks Mark! Glad to hear you're back to crushing 5ks already.

I also have a weird taste in my mouth on the AN side post surgery that comes and goes, seems to be pretty "common" from what I've read on here as apparently the AN is generally located near some taste receptors in your brain. I can't do anything too artificial tasting currently with the taste being off.
67
Post-Treatment / Re: 2 1/2 Weeks Post Translab @ MGH - Odd post surgery symptom
« Last post by Mark F. on November 14, 2025, 06:16:25 PM »
Welcome to the post-op side.  Glad things went well for you.   Keep active it will speed up the process.   I am 56 and I'm now 6 months post-op.   The first few weeks I was unbalanced, told people I looked like a 6 foot tall drunk toddler.  But it didn't take me long at all to get to a point that is better than I've been in years.  Even competed in a couple 5k's already, and putting in times faster than I was before surgery.  So keep up the walking and before you know it you will be better than ever.   As for your particular side effect, sorry to say no that's not one I've experienced so I'm not much help there.  My worst side effect, which has lasted a lot longer than I expected it would, is that my taste buds are still messed up even after 6 months.  The only real flavors I taste are spicy and salty.  Everything else is either bland or metallic tasting.   But I'm not sure if that was directly from the AN surgery or if it was because while in the hospital I developed a nasty throat infection that had me on a liquid diet and not able to speak well for about 2 weeks.  Hope your issue resolves itself quickly. 
68
Post-Treatment / 2 1/2 Weeks Post Translab @ MGH - Odd post surgery symptom
« Last post by BrokedownPalace on November 13, 2025, 05:44:44 PM »
Hi All,

I completed my translab surgery on October 28 w/ Dr. Lee & Dr. Barker @ MGH. The surgery was as much of a success as possible, full tumor removal with full facial function intact. My hearing in my AN ear was already so bad that getting used to the SSD in quieter environments feels pretty comfortable, and I'm slowly bringing back music into my life. My balance is slowly but surely coming back, and I'm going on unassisted, slow walks for an hour at a time already. Still feel pretty unstable, but I know that it'll be sometime before I fully get that stabilization back.

The one thing that has been bothering me though is a strange symptom. Every night, my AN ear will become red and a bit hot to the touch for a few hours and then return to normal. I'm now off steroids and other prescribed meds so they don't seem to be the direct cause. I've had some extensive conversations w/ the team @ MGH about this and they're unsure of the cause, but are not concerned given the lack of other infection symptoms (fever, confusion, etc.) and the fact that it goes away relatively quickly. I have an appointment with my PCP per the MGH team's recommendation next week as I don't live in Boston to cover all my bases on possible causes.

Has anyone else experienced this post surgery? Looking to find any insight into this, thanks :)

69
Facial Issues / Frustrating. What are your results after one to two years?
« Last post by WALEED KHALID on November 11, 2025, 01:26:03 PM »
I removed the entire tumor and its size was 5 centimeters and I was paralyzed in my left face and after 10 months the corner of the mouth began to move and now it is 11 months of operation and the smile from the corner of the mouth moves 1 centimeter or a little more, is there an improvement in the coming months or does the improvement depend on these simple results?
70
Eye Issues / cataract surgery in dry eye
« Last post by ad325 on November 10, 2025, 06:50:20 AM »
I am considering cataract surgery. I am concerned about increasing the problem in dry eye (the surgery side) as dry eye condition is quite difficult mainly during winter months. Anyone has experience with cataract surgery affecting the dry eye condition?
thank you for any advice
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