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The meaning of successful surgery

Patient beware!  This just means that the tumor was removed, even though your quality of life may never be the same.  Here are some patient stories whose surgery was "successful":

After a 12 day stay in the hospital, I was discharged to what has been nothing but a nightmare since the operation, and is steadily getting worse. Because of the neuroma surgery, I have had six additional surgeries to include a gold weight implant in my eye. The other operations I have had have all been on my sinuses on the right side due to the paralization. [3 monts after the operation] I was forced to go back to work because we had no income, and the surgeon deemed the surgery a success, and did not want to know anything else. I see my e.n.t. specialist every 6 weeks since the surgery. All my symptoms from the aftermath of the surgery are getting worse, constantly dizzy, severe headaches, weak spells, sweating, constantly off balance with everything going to the left, memory loss, constant ringing and buzzing in the ears. I'm finding it difficult to climb stairs and fatigue easy. I can't take the bright sunlight or humidity. My doctor is currently treating me with valium, vicodenn es. and compazine for nausea which comes with the weak spells. I find my quality of life a big zero.  I can't do stuff with my son because I am constantly suffering from these problems. The doctors told me, I should file for social security disability. This was suggested 2 years ago, and at that time I didn't want to hear it. With each passing day, it becomes more of a reality.

The surgery was a "complete success". Since then, the trauma of the surgery has caused some weakness in his facial nerve and on his right side. When I thanked our surgeons, they responded that John and our family will "never be normal or the same again. You will put more value on how much the support of others means."

Other than losing the hearing in her right ear - an outcome she expected - there is no evidence of facial paralysis. She still has the fatigue and on again off again headaches, but is taking one day at a time. The surgical route certainly was successful in her case.

My mother's problem is unbearable headaches (these didn't start causing severe problems until about 6 months after the operation). She gets them 3 to 4 times nightly and periodically throughout the day. She is in so much pain that she just lies, holding her head and moans. Her quality of life is zero and it is difficult just getting through each day. She is understandably, virtually suicidal. She has been in hospital for repeated MRI scans, x-rays, nerve block injections, every kind of pain killer (including morphine), natural remedies & therapy etc. Nobody seems to have any explanation or suggestion (the original surgeon doesn't seem interested because the operation itself was deemed a success).

I had micro surgery last August (1997) to remove a 2.2 cm vestibular schwannoma that was pressing on my brainstem. Surgery was highly successful... The only real complications (besides total deafness in left ear) have been dryness of the mouth and eyes (that have made me go back to glasses from contact lenses). In February I started having frequent headaches (usually in area of surgery or base of skull) and intermittent sore throat... I am becoming desperate and would deeply appreciate some advice coming from experience.

Had surgery on 12-19-96, successful, but deaf on right side and some nerve damage. am trying to cope, but wake up each day and hope my face is back to normal.

About four months ago, my mother had surgery to remove her tumor. The operation was successful, however just recently she has experienced two seizures.

I had an acoustic neuroma removed six years ago, it was a life changing surgery... I had a nerve transplant to regain some muscle tone and it was very successful. I am now wearing a Cros hearing aid... I am a success story

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Last Edited: Friday, November 01, 2002