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Author Topic: One small step for mAN.....  (Read 8363 times)

lori67

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One small step for mAN.....
« on: February 16, 2009, 01:29:29 pm »
One giant step for Lori...

I finally got brave enough to post a picture of myself!  I had my nerve graft surgery at the end of September so I'm about 5 months post op.  My lip on my AN side is actually up higher than my good side.  I can make it look even when I look in the mirror, but I haven't mastered the art of coordinating my tongue movements to make my face move without the visual input yet.  I start PT tomorrow, so hopefully we'll figure out how my face is wired now.

And pay no attention to the bad hair day.  It's a holiday - I'm allowed to look messy!   :D








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Right 3cm AN diagnosed 1/2007.  Translab resection 2/20/07 by Dr. David Kaylie and Dr. Karl Hampf at Baptist Hospital in Nashville.  R side deafness, facial nerve paralysis.  Tarsorraphy and tear duct cauterization 5/2007.  BAHA implant 11/8/07. 7-12 nerve jump 9/26/08.

texsooner

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Re: One small step for mAN.....
« Reply #1 on: February 16, 2009, 01:34:53 pm »
Awesome....Looking really good Lori.....what do you mean bad hair day?....looks good to me.

Patrick
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3.5cm left side AN; 11 hour retrosigmoid surgery 8/11/08 @ Memorial Hermann, Houston - Texas Medical Center with Drs. Chang and Vollmer; home on 8/13/08;
SSD(w/tinnitus); dry eye; Happy to be here and feeling good.

JerseyGirl2

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Re: One small step for mAN.....
« Reply #2 on: February 16, 2009, 01:52:31 pm »
Lori,

You look teriffic! I would say that your nerve graft surgery was a great success.

Catherine (JerseyGirl 2)
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Translab surgery and BAHA implant: House Ear Institute, Los Angeles, 1/2008
Drs. J. House, Schwartz, Wilkinson, and Stefan
BAHA Intenso, 6/2008
no facial, balance, or vision problems either before or after surgery ... just hearing loss
Monmouth County, NJ

GRACE1

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Re: One small step for mAN.....
« Reply #3 on: February 16, 2009, 02:08:43 pm »
You look beautiful.  Congrats on the successful surgery.

Grace
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Diagnosed 7/06: AN - right side: 1.3cm in transverse dimension, 6mm in AP dimension, and 6mm in cephalocaudal dimension.
GK 12/06- Wake Forest Univ Baptist Med Ctr
MRI 5/07- Some necrosis;  Now SSD
MRI 12/08- AN size has reduced 50%
MRI 12/11- AN stable (unchanged from 12/08)
Next MRI: 12/16

nancyann

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Re: One small step for mAN.....
« Reply #4 on: February 16, 2009, 02:26:25 pm »
Beautiful picture Lori,   Obviously the graft took !   CONGRATULATIONS ! !
As Billy Crystal's Fernando would say,   "You look MARVELOUS ! !"

Always good thoughts,   Nancy
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2.2cm length x 1.7cm width x 1.3cm  depth
retrosigmoid 6/19/06
Gold weight 7/19/06, removed 3/07
lateral tarsel strip X3
T3 procedure 11/20/07
1.6 Gm platinum weight 7/10/08
lateral canthal sling 11/14/08
Jones tube insert right inner eye 2/27/09
2.4 Gm. Platinum chain 2017
right facial paralysis

Syl

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Re: One small step for mAN.....
« Reply #5 on: February 16, 2009, 02:32:27 pm »
Lori:

You look really good. Thanks for sharing. Good luck with your P.T.

Something that I'm sure only i notice...But after my post-op experience with facial weakness, my smile got wider on the AN side.

Syl
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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.

Kaybo

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Re: One small step for mAN.....
« Reply #6 on: February 16, 2009, 03:16:08 pm »
LORI~

WHOO-HOO!!  Doing the Happy Dance....Doing the Happy Dance!!  Your graft already worked MUCH better than mine EVER did!!

K   ;D
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Translab 12/95@Houston Methodist(Baylor College of Medicine)for "HUGE" tumor-no size specified
25 yrs then-14 hour surgery-stroke
12/7 Graft 1/97
Gold Weight x 5
SSD
Facial Paralysis-R(no movement or feelings in face,mouth,eye)
T3-3/08
Great life!

CROOKEDSMILE

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Re: One small step for mAN.....
« Reply #7 on: February 16, 2009, 03:54:09 pm »
whoa. Lori, Amazing. Your graft really took hold! Congrats.
Angie
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Jim Scott

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Re: One small step for mAN.....
« Reply #8 on: February 16, 2009, 04:51:06 pm »
Lori:

You look good!  Certainly not like a person who suffered facial paralysis.  Oh, and your hair looks O.K. to me - but what do I know?  ;)

Jim
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4.5 cm AN diagnosed 5/06.  Retrosigmoid surgery 6/06.  Follow-up FSR completed 10/06.  Tumor shrinkage & necrosis noted on last MRI.  Life is good. 

Life is not the way it's supposed to be. It's the way it is.  The way we cope with it is what makes the difference.

MAlegant

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Re: One small step for mAN.....
« Reply #9 on: February 16, 2009, 05:03:04 pm »
Lori,
You look so good!  I"m so happy for you!
Marci
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3cmx4cm trigeminal neuroma, involved all the facial nerves, dx July 8, 2008, tx July 22, 2008, home on July 24, 2008. Amazing care at University Hospitals in Cleveland.

jerseygirl

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Re: One small step for mAN.....
« Reply #10 on: February 16, 2009, 05:34:09 pm »
Lori,

You look FABULOUS! Congratulations! And your sense of humor is in your eyes, can't hide it kiddo...


                       Eve
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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.

mimoore

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Re: One small step for mAN.....
« Reply #11 on: February 16, 2009, 06:33:20 pm »
Lori you look FABULOUS! I am soooo happy for you! There is always hope one way or another.
Big hugs, you look marvelous!
This is so exciting, I understand!!!!!
Michelle  ;D
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Retrosigmond surgery on June 4th, 2008 for an AN. 100% hearing loss and facial paralysis (was not prepared for facial paralysis). Size: 2.3 cm, 2.1 cm, 1.8 cm. some tumour remains along facial nerve. Pray for no regrowth. Misdiagnosed for 10 yrs.

1cANAdian

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Re: One small step for mAN.....
« Reply #12 on: February 16, 2009, 06:45:18 pm »
Looking great Lori!

I could only dream of having that much good looking hair.  In fact the hair looks so good, I didn't notice that anything about the lips.  Congrats on the surgical results and continued best of luck with the PT.

Cheers!

Ken
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Right side trans lab surgery on Dec 8th, 2008
4+ cm AN removed
Post Op Symptoms: SSD, tinnitus, facial numbness, minor balance issues, weakened facial nerve
Attitude: POSITIVE

lori67

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Re: One small step for mAN.....
« Reply #13 on: February 16, 2009, 07:47:28 pm »
Thank you so much for all your kind words!  They mean a lot!  It's nice to hear things like that from my family, but it means even more coming from those who really know what it's like!

You guys really know how to make a girl feel good about herself!   :)

And Ken, I'm due for a haircut - I could send you what they cut off and you could glue it to your own head!    Probably keep you warm up there in Canada! 

Lori
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Right 3cm AN diagnosed 1/2007.  Translab resection 2/20/07 by Dr. David Kaylie and Dr. Karl Hampf at Baptist Hospital in Nashville.  R side deafness, facial nerve paralysis.  Tarsorraphy and tear duct cauterization 5/2007.  BAHA implant 11/8/07. 7-12 nerve jump 9/26/08.

sgerrard

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Re: One small step for mAN.....
« Reply #14 on: February 16, 2009, 08:43:21 pm »
Lori, there is no way around it, you look cute.  ;)

Steve
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8 mm left AN June 2007,  CK at Stanford Sept 2007.
Hearing lasted a while, but left side is deaf now.
Right side is weak too. Life is quiet.
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