Vision 18 months after surgery - Acoustic Neuroma ...

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Vision 18 months after surgery

Gardener21 profile image
14 Replies

I had surgery to remove my 2cm neuroma (translabyrinthe) in April 2021. All went well and my recovery was erratic but I’m as ‘normal’ as I can be now.

Over the last 3 months or so, my vision on the side of the tumour gets quite blurry by the end of the day. I have had 2 sight tests (both morning appointments) this year including the back of the eye scan. Eyesight was slightly worse so I had my prescription changed in all my specs. Strangely it seems I have better vision wearing my contact lenses.

Does anyone suffer with blurry vision this long after surgery? My eye feels strained & tired most of the afternoons now. Thank you for any input you can give me.

B x

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Gardener21 profile image
Gardener21
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14 Replies
Kristyll profile image
Kristyll

my eyes were apparently not in sync but was sent for eye excercises and muscles sorted themselves

Pinkrose1 profile image
Pinkrose1

Sorry you have eye troubles. I think the surgery massively impacts on the eye nerve. I had my surgery just over a year ago and recently started seeing things upside down when i woke up. I only had this happen when i was in hospital after the surgery. It has settled again but surprised it happened a year after. I hope things get better for you and your eyesight stabilises as time goes on, as you get tired it must effect your sight, i definitely find tiredness makes my eye more painful,i think it's probably as good as its going to get for me too, still not driving pyet.

Gardener21 profile image
Gardener21 in reply to Pinkrose1

Hello, thank you for replying, sorry to hear you are having problems too.. I have booked another sight test & OCT scan at Specsavers soon. I am pretty sure it’s related to nerve damage from the operation, my eyes are so tired and dry by the end of the day. My bad eye feels painful too sometimes. I had a follow up MRI at Kings a month ago, but am not expecting a result from them for weeks, which I will chase in due course. It’s so difficult to know what to do, I despair of talking to my GP, it’s virtually impossible to get through. I’m imagining the worst & would really like an opportunity to speak to my surgeon! I was operated on during covid so everything was done by phone, I had a few minutes with the neurosurgeon on the day I was discharged! I’m quite worried. Take care & thank you again. B x

Pinkrose1 profile image
Pinkrose1 in reply to Gardener21

I totally understand how difficult it is to get information from a doctor as they are so busy and i feel like i can't take their time up, i have so many questions and it would be nice to have that reassurance from my surgeon that everything is ok but I know they are incredibly busy too and work so hard under the pressure they have. Its good that we have each other on this site to share our concerns with, i find it so helpful to know others like yourself understand and are having similar problems. I hope its good news with your MRI results

Gardener21 profile image
Gardener21 in reply to Pinkrose1

That’s exactly how I feel. Although I am ok on the whole, I have questions too & would love some reassurance. It’s all so hard at the moment. Take care, I’ll let you know how I get on. B x

Whiskas23 profile image
Whiskas23

Hello, Having had an aborted operation in July to remove my 3cm AN I have now got another date the week after next.

Can someone tell me, when you were taken back to the ward how many days was it before you were able to focus, talk properly, move around or even concentrate on anything around you?

The nerve in my right ear will have to be removed so I will be deaf in that ear so I know I can’t get out of bed as will be unbalanced , also how long do bandages stay on?

Thank you and any other tips welcome

Whiskas23

Gardener21 profile image
Gardener21 in reply to Whiskas23

Hello, firstly I hope all goes well with your op, I had my 2cm tumour removed 18 months ago. To be totally honest, I was out of it for the first 48 hours, & the head pain was the worst I’ve ever experienced. I reacted badly to the long anaesthetic and vomited for 3 days. Not good. However, on day 4 I started to eat, strangely wanted icy cold things so started with cold fruit salad, from then on I picked up really quickly. Got talking to the others on the ward, eating much more, & drinking. Bandages (& catheter) came off on day 4 which was an immense relief, the pressure from it (had to be) was huge. On day 5 the physios got me up walking round the bed to sit on the chair, felt really sick & giddy. Day 6 I was walking up and down the ward with the physios & improved rapidly from then. Was discharged on day 10. I am totally deaf in my right ear too, adjustment is difficult, & my balance isn’t good, bearable but worse if I’m tired. I was driving after 7 weeks & back to part time work after 3 months. Don’t underestimate the pain, accept all the pain killers! Take it easy & be kind to yourself. It’s a huge operation but we are in the hands of complete professionals.. best of luck with your recovery! B xx

Whiskas23 profile image
Whiskas23

Thank you, I did find something that gave me an idea on an NHS site, but your story sounds more real. I have had breaks and pains in my life before and always refused pain killers before because they make me constipated but I definitely won’t refuse them for this as it sounds like I will need them!! I like the idea of being kind to myself and will take that advice as I am some who can’t sit still.

Day 10 sounds like a long time to be discharged eek.

I am sure the Hospital will give me advice and help but I just needed to hear about the 5/7 days after so I could be prepared for it all.

Good luck with your continued recovery

Whiskas23 x

Gardener21 profile image
Gardener21 in reply to Whiskas23

You’ll be ok, be patient and give yourself time.. yes the codeine made me constipated but they give you meds for that too! Don’t be in pain.. I had little support at home as I’m single, that’s why I wanted a bit longer in hospital to make sure I could go up/down stairs and get in the bath/shower.. good luck! And take care B xx

Bizzyhazel profile image
Bizzyhazel in reply to Gardener21

hi gardener

Hi I’m on week 12 tomorrow post op . Wouid love to start driving and going back to work .?? What kind of work are you in ?

Gardener21 profile image
Gardener21 in reply to Bizzyhazel

Hi.. I do part time admin in a children’s nursery so it’s nothing too strenuous.. I started driving after about 7 weeks, just round the block to start with.. have someone sit with you for a start if you’re anxious.. good luck with your recovery xx B xx

Fairy-Princess profile image
Fairy-Princess in reply to Whiskas23

Hi, my surgery was in December. Everyone has a different recovery so it’s hard to predict how you will be after your surgery. I was in hospital for 7 days. I thought I would be up the next day but I stayed in bed for 5 days. Once I was up and moving around my recovery went quicker as I started to adjust to things. Take every single bit of pain relief offered. I did get constipated but the hospital can help you with this if it becomes an issue.

Be kind to yourself afterwards as it really is major surgery. I didn’t appreciate this fully at the time but looking back it knocks your body sideways and recovery is slow and steady with setbacks intertwined.

Hope all goes well with your surgery. I can’t praise the NHS enough for the care I received and I’m sure they will take very good care of you as well.

Whiskas23 profile image
Whiskas23 in reply to Fairy-Princess

Thank you, I feel I am going to have to be patient with myself, I will take it slowly, difficult for me as I’m such an active person but all advice has been welcomed. Take care

Whiskas23

RobinLynnette profile image
RobinLynnette

I had surgery Nov 21 having 99.9% of AN tumor removed. I was very nauseous waking up from surgery but that past in a couple hours. My neck was sore as muscles were cut to get to tumor. My head felt heavy like I had a helmet on under bandages.

I was on my feet the next morning and they had me walking the halls by afternoon. I was released from hospital the third day after surgery only spending two nights in hospital. This is not the norm but I believe it was partially due to the holiday weekend.

I can say the body aches and overall restlessness as result of the 8 hour surgery bothered me more than my head wound .

Narcotics make me extremely nauseous. Luckily I did not have a lot of pain and was able to leave the hospital with steroids and two 500 mg of Tylenol every 6 hours.

I did lose my hearing but did not experience facial numbness or paralysis.

I return at the end of February to have MRI and check if tumor is growing.

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