awesome that it worked for you!

What exactly is that procedure if you can explain a little bit and explain the good and the bad and when do they usually choose to do that thank you for sharing with us

Hi Leslie. They want to do the same thing to me and it scares me. Can you tell me a little bit about the post op ? Like , how you felt or how was your balance right after surgery? I would really appreciate it. I go in a week from monday to discuss a surgery date. If you would be so kind of you ! I want to know everything.

Hey guys sorry it's taken a few days to reply! I can tell you first of all I don't regret the surgery at all! I did not lose any hearing and my facial nerve was just fine. The surgery itself it pretty intense but the surgeons are better at explaining it. It is brain surgery and I do have small titanium plate holding the piece of skull in place. The firsr24 hours were pretty miserable (puking and vertigo) the nurses did a great job of giving medicine around the clock. I was released from the hospital at 4 days and I was ready. By that time I could walk unaided and was done with nausea but still dealing with the vertigo from getting my right balance nerve cut. The first week it was almost like walking on a moon bounce so I had to pay attention to walking. I learned the more walking I did the easier it got. By my 2 week appt my nystagmus was gone and vertigo was much better and by 3 weeks the vertigo was 90% gone. Right now my biggest battle is being tired. It takes a lot of energy for the brain to heal. I am back to driving and even had a mommy daughter day yesterday. I did go to sleep after I put my 5 year old to bed, though! I honestly hoped I wouldn't have much vertigo after the surgery - I was warned I would but I hoped!!! I now don't deal with it. Regarding my balance at 6 week post op; when I'm really tired I'm a little off and will sometimes do a wall check but I don't feel like I'm in danger. I shower and everything without any problems. I go for about a 1 mile or 2 walk everyday and it's nice. I initially started at walking by 1 or 2 houses an have worked my way up. I'm definitely not going to be running any 10 K's anytime soon but I wasn't doing that prior to getting sick. My insurance doesn't cover any rehab after surgery so I made up my own rehab both from phone apps and You Tube videos and doctors advice. Other people might be luck out with insurance.
My fear will always be going bilateral. I'm really not showing any signs but it'll be a fear I will live with .
At the hospital they initially had OT and PT work with my with a walker but after a day a graduated to just holding a nurses arm.
For me the big news is that I can interact with my kids and attend their games. My husband (Navy pilot) also does not have to quit his job. If the surgery was not successful he would have to quit his flying job an request staff duty since he couldn't be gone for more than a day or 2. He is due to deploy for a short while in June and I feel I will be ready for it (we have 4 kids of various ages!).
Please let me know if you have any questions I'm more than happy to answer any!!!
Leslie

All sounds pretty good for you. But,did the doctors say what would happen if you get it in your other ear? I asked my doctor, and all he would say is" That would be bad" . You know, i am all for surgery to help with this problem we have, but, What does the doctor mean when he says that it would be bad. I will have to ask him. Again. Once again, i am happy for you. It must have been a tough decision to make. Get well soon.

Yea I agree bilateral is a fear. I honestly figured that if I go bilateral I would be in trouble with or without the surgery. I did talk with my doctor about treatment options if it does happen and he says he does have options. I do have hope that there will be better treatment options in the future including stem cell research. I guess for me it was a risk that I had to take because my life was intoloerable. I wish you luck with your choices. I literally tried everything possible but Meniett which 2 doctors told me wouldn't help me. It was recommended initially in Oct and we refused to go forward but by January we had 3 opinions from well respected doctors who all agreed it was the best option to get my life back. So we went forward. Again I'm more than happy to answer any questions!
Leslie

Great news. Thank you for sharing. Best wishes for continued improvement.

Thankyou for your honesty. I have a lot to think about.