About Me

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North Augusta, SC, United States
I am an otherwise very healthy and active woman who was shocked with a sudden medical condition in 2010 and decided to write about my experiences in hopes that it will help at least one person possibly be diagnosed and treated without having to go through the medical maze I went through! If you are an ADULT with chronic ear infections and can't get any answers, ask your ENT to rule out a CSF leak!!!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Brain Update 12-13-10

We have finally made a FIRM decision on what to do.  Just canceled cisternogram and appointment with the new neurotologist for this week and will move forward with the craniotomy surgery scheduled for Dec. 30th at Piedmont Hosp here in Atlanta.

I've looked at so many studies online and it seems patients treated with a middle fossa craniotomy have the best chance of permanently stopping the CSF leak and retaining their hearing.

The cisternogram apparently has a low yield and high possibility for false positives so I am not going to put myself thru that when all the doctors warn me that it may be inconclusive.  And, injecting the radioactive material into the spinal canal may introduce a new CSF leak, which I sure don't need!!

Sometimes you have to say, STOP THE MADNESS.  The surgical approach I've chosen is proven and the surgeon I've chosen had confidence from the beginning.

I am trying to schedule the surgery to get the tube placed in my right ear this week.  I have the pre-op meeting with the surgeon this Friday and will go to the hospital for all my pre-admission tests after that.

For those interested, I'll explain the craniotomy in another note later.  I should be in the hospital 5-7 days if all goes well.

 It is a relief to know I have a plan now.

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