Thanks so much Michele & Dan 

PS my treatment was fractionated over 3 days too.

be well

Stella

Hi Stella! Just wanted to say hi and so glad things are still going well with you! I am also in a good place. My nerve pain seems to have resolved thank goodness!

mwatto:  My surgery was 7.5 hours long.   They told me 7 hours but I am guessing the extra half hour was because they actually lost a needle in my head for a bit and had to get an X-ray done during the surgery to locate it.   I was never told this bit of information by my surgeon, but that's the upside of the MyChart app.   It lists literally everything.  I was not upset that it was lost, because it's not like they didn't realize it was missing, I mean things happen, I am just glad that they kept track of everything and realized it was missing and immediately got the equipment in there to locate and remove it.  And I would be lying if I said a 7 hour surgery on my head wasn't scary.   There was a part of me that was worried I wouldn't wake up or I would wake up somehow damaged.   But in the end I knew it was the best choice for me.  I wasn't so sure about that when I woke up violently ill, the first two days are absolutely awful, but after the second day it wasn't so bad and I could tell things were going to be better, and I made the right decision for me.   I had gone to two different surgeons for opinions, one of them did suggest cyberknife, but I was more afraid of that than surgery because I have two friends in the medical field that told me multiple times that I didn't want anything to do with radiation of any kind unless it was a last resort. 

I have no experience with radiation and I'm not young, I am 57 and just had the translab surgery 3 months ago on May 13th.   Before surgery I had really bad balance and couldn't run at all.   Now just shy of 3 months later I am great, and training for a 5k.  The surgeons have to tell you worst case scenario, but I am living proof that there are very positive results from the surgery too.   Everybody's risk level is different and I feel that if you are in relatively good health and active your recovery would go well.  I guess what I am saying is don't let the worst case scenario risk discourage you too much if you are currently in good health otherwise.   Now I do still have significant hearing loss in that ear, but no matter which treatment you choose the hearing loss is most likely permanent.  Also I think it is a good idea to do something before there are any other major symptoms.  Sometimes those symptoms are from irreversible damage. 

My hearing is still the same as at diagnosis and treatment 6 years ago after CK. I listen to music all day and its really important for my well being. I have audiology checks every year. I try keep neuroinflammation low and I do wear earplugs (Loops) if I go out to noisy environments. Last audiologist report said the AN side still at around 87%. However I was told that in time my hearing will fade most probably. I am aged 64 so some age related hearing loss might also aggravate the situation I guess down the line.