9-12-14

9-12-14

It’s only 8pm and I’m exhausted. I guess my body has been in high stress mode for two days and I am finally allowing it to relax. I have an official diagnosis: Acoustic Neuroma, just like I thought. Again, it is bigger than most, like I thought.  AND BENIGN.

 

This morning I hoped it was this diagnosis, but I couldn’t be sure. My ENT doctor called me early in the morning and confirmed the diagnosis and talked a little bit about the implications. He said it was large and surgery is my best option. He referred me to his partner, who specializes in neuro ENT stuff. I got a call back within an hour from his nurse setting up an appointment for me on Monday (today is Friday).

 

Then I got a call from my boss giving me a neurosurgeon’s name that he recommends. I called this neurosurgeon and got squeezed in today.

 

I brought Aaron with me to the appointment with the neurosurgeon, and he did everything I wished him to do. He again stated this was BENIGN and slow growing. He spoke slowly to make sure we understood things. He had my MRI images on the screen for all to see (I didn’t really want to see it any more but it was probably good for Aaron).  Then he went into the details. He talked about different therapies for treatment and which one is the best for me.  He said, the best thing would be a large de-bulking surgery that doesn’t remove everything, but most of it so the brainstem can shift back to normal This would give my cranial nerves the best chance to still function (because right now they are doing pretty good – well except cranial nerve 8).  During the surgery, one doctor would be in charge of only monitoring my cranial nerves, and the whole surgery would be done in an MRI machine so they could get information right after my surgery.  I would be in the ICU overnight to a few days and in the hospital from 5 – 14 days.  After I was fully healed (maybe about a month), then they would do radiation to catch the remaining bits of the neuroma.  At that’s it, I’m all healed.

 

They did say that after surgery I would be really really tired. I mentioned that I got a headache after running sometimes on my long runs, and they were happy to have me so athletic. They thought both the physical and mental characteristics of an athlete might help me progress quicker.  And that is exactly what I want to do.  They said that I should continue acting how I normally am until the surgery (in 2-4 weeks).

 

After I left, I felt better.  I thought this was going to be the second worst day of my life (with yesterday taking the top billing), but I’m okay. I feel relief.  It is going to be okay. This neurosurgeon has a plan. 

About an hour after the appointment I ate 2 bowls of cereal.  This was more than I ate all day.

And now the stress is leaving my body, and telling myself that I am okay with this. This is what I have to do to get better, so I will do it and move on.