A Vestibular Schwannoma story
Dec 2, 2
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In February 2000, I was diagnosed with a 4.5 cm Acoustic Neuroma, yet I had almost no symptoms. After local diagnosis and consults in Hartford and New Haven CT, NY City, and Boston, and after doing major battle with my insurance company, I had surgery at the House Clinic in LA. Drs. Rick Friedman and Bill Hitselberger not only removed the tumor entirely (it was actually 5.5 cm), but they did not cut or damage the facial nerve. All of my 6 subsequent annual MRIs were absolutely clear, and the radiologist here at home told my internist: "You have to see these scans....The surgery is a work of art and I've never seen anything like it."
I had no headaches or nausea at all in the hospital, and no problems with speech, swallowing, or my eye. I never needed a walker, and my balance is fine except when I'm very very tired. I needed eye drops only right after surgery for about six weeks; otherwise no eye issues. The right side of my face regained about 95% of its mobility withing three months, but I am still fairly numb around the corner or my mouth (like novocaine wearing off), and that won't change. Frankly, I don't care about that, because nobody knows from looking at or listening to me that I had brain surgery. Same goes for losing the hearing on the right side: it's part of the deal when you have a large AN.
Dr. Hitselberger passed away a few years ago. Rick Friedman runs the world-renowned Acoustic Neuroma Center at USC/Keck Medical Center in Los Angeles and is not only one of the top AN experts anywhere, but he is the most compassionate and caring doctor you will ever have.
Believe me, brain surgery IS brain surgery, and I don't for one second blame anyone for trying to avoid it. I sure did, before the results of the initial MRI showed a huge tumor. But if you have to have surgery, or are unsure about the long term statistics of non surgical approaches, GO TO THE BEST DOCTORS POSSIBLE AND DON'T WORRY ABOUT FLYING, INSURANCE COMPANIES, OR ANYTHING ELSE. Be your own advocate and fight for what you want. It's the only brain you've got.
Good luck...
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