I had gone to my GP for what I thought was an ear infection--stuffy ear hearing distorted, and by the way--my headaches are becoming frequent and severe. He said I could have an acoustic neuroma (a what?) He gave me some migraine medicine and scheduled me for a hearing test the next day next door at the ENT. I showed up for the hearing test with a headache that bloomed into a real whopper during the test. After the ENT, I couldn't drive, so I walked over to the GP crying and told him I was having a really bad migraine and the meds hadn't worked (didn't take it in time, apparently) He immediately got me into the hospital across the street. I was so dehydrated it took 8 pokes for them to start an IV.
They pumped me full of drugs and I spent the night and had an MRI the next day. My GP came down and stayed with me thru the whole MRI.
He's a great guy and has since become a good friend.
That evening the ENT came up and told me about the AN. I was alone in the hospital room--hubby was teaching. Boy, was I freaked out when he mentioned the words loss of facial nerve function, hearing loss, and described the 8 hour surgery and the permanent headache I could have.
The next day was Thanksgiving and my very pregnant daughter-in-law came and cooked most of the dinner. I was totally freaked until I got on the computer and found the ANA sight and the listserve and started talking to other AN survivors.
I chose to have surgery because it was the best fit for me and the 2 month wait was agonizing. I couldn't work or sleep and had a few panic attacks and was really really scared.
ME! Been in a 32 foot sailboat in 20 foot seas breaking spreader-high 700 miles from land and I was terrified of a little booger-sized goo-goo in my noggin! Go figure!
I did go to the best place IMO for surgery House Ear in LA. I talked to several of Dr Friedman's patients before I went, which helped a lot.
When I finally got to House, all the people and docs were sooo wonderful-even the paper-pushers. I felt so relieved and reassured I went into the surgery with a positive attitude. Besides, at the guesthouse there was an entire floor full of nuns praying 24/7 for all us patients!
I wore my leopard jammies, leopard robe with tiger trim, and my cheetah slippers and all the nurses called me Jungl Girl!
Well, my facial nerve was unfazed except for a little rash I had for a couple years, and the surgery was 2 1/2 hours, not 8, and I have had a lot of headache issues, and I did lose the hearing in that ear.
Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Captain Deb