Terrified

[MargaretJ123]

I will be having surgery in 3 weeks and really have convinced my self might die

[Michyford]

Hi Margaret, I am on watch and wait so can't say how I feel if I was having surgery. But I know lots of people that have, there is a group called BANA you can join, there is a yearly fee but so worth it, their website is full of information, and forums, they also have a closed Facebook group and anything anyone wants to know they ask on there, I have leant so much. I attended a meeting in November and that was very reassuring meeting people going through the same thing, the meetings are held all over the country. I sure everything is going to be fine, but it be worth looking at the bana-uk.com x

[Peta2407]

Try and stay positive easier said than done 🙂 I was told would need surgery but did lots of research and ended up having Cyberknife 12 months ago l have had six monthly MRI 's and have just found out the tumour has got smaller and is no longer against the brain stem so fingers crossed it keeps shrinking . Good luck and will look forward to reading how everything goes xx

[Kristyll]

realistic worry of the unknown but gee we are all here to tell the tale and the BANA group to support you. Good luck

[anan88]

Dear Margaret - you'll be just fine. These surgeons are a)brilliant and b)SO used to doing these neuromas they almost find it boring. I remember being scared before my 1st AN surgery ("oh no they're going paddling around in my BRAIN, what if I wake up dead, deaf, stupid?")...... came round, everything was absolutely fine. Another surgery and Gamma knife treatment for my AN during the next few months, and here I am 5 years later....my balance has improved so much I don't even notice it any more, my one-sided hearing loss seems completely normal, tinnitus is like a faithful friend, and I can't even remember why I was scared. I promise, you will be fine, your recovery will be easy, and the thousands of us AN-veterans are sending you our love. AnnXXX

[Hidden]

I'm sorry to hear you're so worried about the upcoming surgery. Nobody can guarantee the outcome of any surgery, of course, or indeed anything in life but the statistics suggest you probably won't die of this particular surgery.

It's understandable you're worried, though, because uncertainty is something many/most of us don't deal well with. Maybe your doctor could help by prescribing a mild sedative to help you sleep?

[Anglina]

Dear Margaret, being fearful of any surgery is normal. Looking at the people that have come through the other side is what keeps the fear managable. And there are plenty on the BANA site. I also saw an 18yr old girl on utube, I think a week post op. She was bright and breezy, no sign of facial weekness and making plans for the rest of her life. Medicine has moved on so much in the last 10 years, its amazing what can be done and the risks are so much lower because of the accuracy of the machines used these days. Start planning your next holiday and short term how you are going to go out and treat yourself.

[Anglina]

I hope things are going well.