Good luck on your surgery! I have not read the entire thread, but I thought I would offer some pratical advice, hopefully I won't be repeating. I had a 3 cm acoustic nueroma removed at House in October 2001. I stayed in Seton Hall. Take your own pillows, preferable a chiropractic neck roll pillow. We had to buy one when we were there. The staff is incredible and Seton is great, but you will really need the pillows after surgery. It helps to be propped up in a reclined position with the neck support pillow on top.
Stay ahead of the pain (take your meds), expect some facial problems after you start coming off of the steroids as well as possible hallucinations (brief, temporary). It is all normal, although a little scary. The House drs are the best. I came out fantastic with everything working. I (no joke) went to Universal Studios 7 days after surgery and actually rode most of the rides. The temporary facial stiffness, paralysis worried me, but my doctor had told me that what you have immediately after surgery is what you will have, so not to worry. He was correct. I could smile and blink after surgery and I still can.
Plan to work on your balance. Everyone seems to have varying degrees of dizziness. I started practicing walking as soon as I was in my hospital room. Since you will only have one balance nerve you will have to train the remaining nerve to take over. The more you use it, the better it gets. The good thing is that since you only have one nerve left it isn't competing with the only working part-time nerve which is what causes the vertigo.
I attribute my incredible recovery to my faith, the prayers of my friends and family, and the incredible skill of the doctors at House. I will pray for Scott on 11/3. Good luck!
