Post AN Surgery Follow-up

[craftingcyn]

Had a post surgery MRI on Friday 11.12.21, and a second follow up with my neurosurgeon. Prior to surgery I suffered from facial numbness, tinnitis, fullness in the ear, hearlinge loss, and some balance issues. I have amost fully recovered from balance issues, facial numbness and fullness in my ear. I still suffer from tinnitis, have developed dry eye and mouth (but they are improving). During surgery, the otorhinolaryngist and neurosurgen decided that they would leave a residual amount of tumor behind so as to reduce the chances that I would be left with facial paralysis and further complication from cutting through nervous that were incapsulated by the tumor. At my appointment, the neurosurgen advised me that after seeing the MRI scans he believed that completing a gama knife would be the best course of action to kill the residule amount of tumor that was left . He mentioned that it would leave me off balance, but not to the degree that the surgery had (in my case I was back at work with not walking aids and minimal balance issues in a month). With that said, what have been your experiences with gama knife procedures?

[Thyroid95]

I just saw your post. I live in the US. My neuroma isn’t very large but is on the cochlea and has destroyed all hearing in that ear. I have had all the same symptoms except I don’t have any balance problems. I went to Mayo Clinic this summer for an evaluation. I will be having gamma knife in March followed by a cochlear implant the next day.

[Happy-Singer in reply to Thyroid95]

Interesting you can get a cochlea implant, my deafness has got worse since treatment but given time I need to see if I get hearing back. Oh my gamma knife took place last Thursday 11 Nov. I live in the UK

[craftingcyn in reply to Thyroid95]

Hi, Thank you for your reply. Im in Texas and being seen at Memorial Herman in Houston. I am very please with my doctors. I first thought that I did not have balance issues, but looking back, I realized I was blaming other things for the small things that were happening. I also noticed that your name is Thryoid, I am assuming that you have had issues with yours? I also have Hoshimotos disease. Luckly, nothing was taking out of wack for that issue while dealing with this one!

[Happy-Singer]

Hi craftingcyn, I have just undertaken gamma knife surgery for a vestibular schwannoma/acoustic neuroma.My symptoms were headaches (although they say this would not have caused my headaches as it is too small) however I believe and pray it will sort the headaches, I get deafness, tinnitus and dizziness ( vertigo-like symptoms). My schwannoma is 11mm which is classed as small but I have been getting terrible symptoms from it. The gamma knife takes time to act and therefore I am still suffering all of the above but dizziness has got worse to the point I dare not walk out on my own yet.

Apparently schwanommas are benign, usually slow growing 1cm in 10 years, and don't usually cause problems when they are small ( small =up to 1.5cm, medium 1.5-2.5cms and large 2.5-3.5cms.

Hope this helps, I might be telling you what you already know!! X

[craftingcyn in reply to Happy-Singer]

Hi Happy,Mine was 3 cm when it was found. Because of the size gamma knife was not an option. My only real option was surgically. I do not regret having it, it went extremely well for me compated to what I have heard from others. I think because the 1st procedure went so well, I am scared of the next one. I am wondering if I will need to take time off again. From what the doctor said it did not sound like I would, but from what others have said, it sounds like I may have to. Happy healing, hope you get well quickly!

[Happy-Singer in reply to craftingcyn]

Thanks for your reply, the gamma knife I found to be okay. It is so precise. I have the same symptoms so far, loss of hearing, tinnitus, dizziness, headache (which supposedly is not the fault of the schwannoma) the dizziness is worse at the moment but I think its a matter of time. Good wishes to you for the future and hope you get sorted xx

[MichiganPhil]

Hello craftingcyn, I’m very impressed with your minimal balance issue in about a month. My AN was 1.5 cm had it removed Translab. Was this just natural or did you have therapy or did you do certain exercises?? Could you share this with me as I’m going on 1 month post op and still having balance issue even with daily exercises and walks, thank you?

[craftingcyn]

Hi Phil,

I am so sorry to hear that you are still dealing with that. I thought I was going to be dealing with theses things longer as well. My "progress" may have to do with the fact that my AN ad was on my brain stem interwined with my facial and hearing nerves. The surgeons decided that they would not severe nerves and leave some of the tumor behind because they did not want me to have to deal with facial paralysis. I also had a vastibular test done prior to procedure. and found out that my body had already compensated for 50 % of the balance issues I was having. I was surprised at this fact myself; I didn't even know that I was even having vastibular issues. I kept chalking the dizziness to other things like aging, clumsiness, trying to do things to fast, summer heat, etc.

I did not have PT, and dont know if my activeness prior to surgery helped any. I was pretty active prior to finding out that I had the AN. I like to repurpose and restore old furniture, crafting, gardening, etc. I was always bending and kneeling down alot and having to get back up. I suffered from dizzy spells that took a while to get over, but like I said, I thought it was due to over heating from being outside and would sit for awhile and get back to it. I remember falling in the shower a few times and though clumsiness. It never really donned on me that it would be something serious. I hope this helps. I am having a Gamma Knife procedure on Dec. 10th and I wonder how I will feel after that.

[MichiganPhil]

Thanks for the fast response. Your information definitely help answer my questions. I’m going to continue to do my daily exercises and hopefully my unsteadiness improves. I hope everything goes well with the GK procedure. Prayers and thoughts with you.