Hi, Kathleen Anna - and welcome to the ANA discussion forums!
I'm sorry you've been diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma but I can understand the stress you're dealing with and the emotional 'roller coaster' you've described, because we've all felt like that at some point, so what you're experiencing is quite normal. Although we're grateful to learn that the tumor in our head is not cancerous, simply hearing a doctor tell you that you have a 'brain tumor' is shocking and often, life altering. I seriously doubt that anyone hearing those words can remain completely unruffled, so your angst is hardly without cause. That you don't feel well to begin with is clearly a factor in your emotional whiplash.
AN removal surgery is no picnic but techniques have vastly improved and most AN surgical patients do very well with the surgery and enjoy an excellent recovery. The surgery can run from 6 to 12 hours. Mine lasted 9. You'll be 'asleep' during that time so your waiting family and friends will have it the hardest. The hospital stay is approximately 5 days, for most AN patients. The first few days post-op are usually spent sleeping but within 72 hours, the majority of AN surgical patients begin to sit up, walk the halls and generally 'come back'. This was my experience. Following discharge from the hospital, you'll likely not be physically up to doing much but within a week or so, you'll improve. Balance-related PT is often helpful at this time. I had it and it helped. I also did a lot of walking to regain my sense of balance, and that was also very beneficial. The 'average' AN surgical patient returns to work within six weeks, although fatigue is often a factor and if you can stay home longer, it's often a good idea. Complications can arise during and after the surgery, but usually these are transient. Still, we all worry about the unknown, and no doctor can guarantee total success and no complications. If only they could! Alas, we all have to deal with a certain degree of 'unknown' with AN surgery (or radiation) but fortunately, you've found a great place to vent, ask questions or just read about other AN patient's stories and, we hope, find some solace and maybe a bit of inspiration. I hope you'll consider the AN forums as a resource and the people that post here as 'family'. We care about you and want to help in whatever way we can. Please don't hesitate to post when you feel you need too. We'll be here for you. We don't second-guess or judge, we just want to support you and whatever decisions you make. I look forward to seeing your posts.
Jim
