Author Topic: 2nd Surgery - Any easier??  (Read 1907 times)

Jwh

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2nd Surgery - Any easier??
« on: December 02, 2008, 07:41:30 pm »
Hi,
For anyone who has been through a second AN surgery, is it any easier?  I had Retro in 2001 and will have Translab on 1/26.  Doctor made a comment that balance shouldn't be an issue because I already compensated for that.  Any thoughts?

Jen
5/01  1.3 AN removed at NYU using Retrosig. Approach
2/07  Rediagnosed with Regrowth 8 mm (wait & watch mode)
1/09  1.4 AN removed at NYU using Translab (total tumor removal)

Syl

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Re: 2nd Surgery - Any easier??
« Reply #1 on: December 03, 2008, 01:05:30 pm »
Jen,

Just a thought, have you considered just zapping the bugger with radiation?

Syl
1.5cm AN rt side; Retrosig June 16, 2008; preserved facial and hearing nerves;
FINALLY FREE OF CHRONIC HEADACHES 4.5 years post-op!!!!!!!
Drs. Kato, Blumenfeld, and Cheung.

marie

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Re: 2nd Surgery - Any easier??
« Reply #2 on: December 03, 2008, 02:04:25 pm »

                     Jen,
                         I have had three surgeries on the left side---two through the back of the head and one translab.  For me, the two latter ones were easier.  I had been walking about three miles per day and was basically health and strong.    I really didn't have a problem with the first one--no headache, no pain except the outer shell of the ear for which I took Tylenol (not T3)
   Marie
surgeries : back of head 1967,1987
               translab 1991
               bone reduction 2002
               7/12  1968
               temporalis transplant  1969

Kathleen_Mc

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Re: 2nd Surgery - Any easier??
« Reply #3 on: December 08, 2008, 04:08:21 am »
Second surgery was a walk in the park. I had already lost all there was to loose the first time around so it was just recovery from the surgery itself and that was no biggie (strange how brain surgery could be seen as no biggie). The surgery wasn't as long and different approach may have made the difference
1st AN surgery @ age 23, 16 hours
Loss of 7-10th nerves
mulitple "plastic" repairs to compensate for effects of 7th nerve loss
tumor regrowth, monitored for a few years then surgically removed @ age 38 (of my choice, not medically necessary yet)

Omaschwannoma

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Re: 2nd Surgery - Any easier??
« Reply #4 on: December 08, 2008, 06:33:20 am »
Wow, can't believe I'm going to say this, but....

"Been there, done that, no biggie."  I was awake for my second surgery, doctor did a nerve block performing transcanal labyrinthectomy, a safer approach compared to translab (behind ear) to better odds of no CSF leak, and facial nerve damage.  All is well with me and this 2nd op cleared up my oscillopsia (slight residual bounce), inflammation seen on inner ear and blood in cochlea.  I do have my ear bones and am looking for a locket to keep them in around my neck--maybe Santa will leave this under my tree????
1/05 Retrosigmoid 1.5cm AN left ear, SSD
2/08 Labyrinthectomy left ear 
Dr. Patrick Antonelli Shands at University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
12/09 diagnosis of semicircular canal dehiscence right ear

leapyrtwins

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Re: 2nd Surgery - Any easier??
« Reply #5 on: December 08, 2008, 10:30:34 am »
Arushi -

you seriously have your ear bones? 

My brother has my father's two hip bones (my dad now has artificial ones) - he uses them as bookends.

We're a strange family, I know  ;)

Jan
Retrosig 5/31/07 Drs. Battista & Kazan (Hinsdale, Illinois)
Left AN 3.0 cm (1.5 cm @ diagnosis 6 wks prior) SSD. BAHA implant 3/4/08 (Dr. Battista) Divino 6/4/08  BP100 4/2010 BAHA 5 8/2015

I don't actually "make" trouble..just kind of attract it, fine tune it, and apply it in new and exciting ways

Jwh

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Re: 2nd Surgery - Any easier??
« Reply #6 on: December 08, 2008, 07:50:32 pm »
Thank you all that makes me feel soooo much better!  Love to hear those good stories - keep them coming!
Jen
5/01  1.3 AN removed at NYU using Retrosig. Approach
2/07  Rediagnosed with Regrowth 8 mm (wait & watch mode)
1/09  1.4 AN removed at NYU using Translab (total tumor removal)

jerseygirl

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Re: 2nd Surgery - Any easier??
« Reply #7 on: December 08, 2008, 10:13:06 pm »
Jen,

Second surgery was infinetely easier for me but I followed the recovery patterns of my first surgery. So, if you bounced back after the first surgery, you will most likely do that after the second one. Hope everything will go smoothly for you!

          Eve
Right side AN (6x3x3 cm) removed in 1988 by Drs. Benjamin & Cohen at NYU (16 hrs); nerves involved III - XII.
Regrowth at the brainstem 2.5 cm removed by Dr.Shahinian in 4 hrs at SBI (hopefully, this time forever); nerves involved IV - X with VIII missing. No facial or swallowing issues.

Omaschwannoma

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Re: 2nd Surgery - Any easier??
« Reply #8 on: December 09, 2008, 07:33:21 am »
To Jan,

Yep, and these bones are really, really, tiny!
1/05 Retrosigmoid 1.5cm AN left ear, SSD
2/08 Labyrinthectomy left ear 
Dr. Patrick Antonelli Shands at University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
12/09 diagnosis of semicircular canal dehiscence right ear

leapyrtwins

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Re: 2nd Surgery - Any easier??
« Reply #9 on: December 09, 2008, 12:27:36 pm »
To Jan,

Yep, and these bones are really, really, tiny!

I'll bet.  Might make a nice Christmas ornament  ;)

Sorry for the hijack!

Jan
Retrosig 5/31/07 Drs. Battista & Kazan (Hinsdale, Illinois)
Left AN 3.0 cm (1.5 cm @ diagnosis 6 wks prior) SSD. BAHA implant 3/4/08 (Dr. Battista) Divino 6/4/08  BP100 4/2010 BAHA 5 8/2015

I don't actually "make" trouble..just kind of attract it, fine tune it, and apply it in new and exciting ways