Recovering From Vestibular Schwannoma Surgery
After
vestibular schwannoma surgery, you will be moved to the intensive care unit where you will be monitored closely as you recover from the anesthesia. You will stay here until your healthcare providers feel that you are recovering well, usually overnight.
Sometimes during recovery from vestibular schwannoma surgery, patients may shiver or experience nausea. Both of these symptoms can be related to the anesthesia. Your healthcare providers can give you medication to help with these symptoms.
Following vestibular schwannoma surgery, it is common to feel some pain. Your healthcare providers can give you pain medication if you feel any discomfort.
Remember that your healthcare providers want you to recover without any problems, so be sure to report anything that feels abnormal or "not right."
Expected Results of Vestibular Schwannoma Surgery
The expected results of vestibular schwannoma surgery will depend on the location and size of the tumor, as well as the extent of the hearing loss and other symptoms that were present prior to surgery.
If the tumor is very small, hearing may be saved and accompanying
symptoms of vestibular schwannoma may improve. As the tumor grows larger, surgical removal is more complicated because the tumor may have damaged the nerves that control facial movement, hearing, and balance -- and may also have affected other nerves and structures of the brain.
The removal of tumors affecting the hearing, balance, or facial nerves can make the patient's symptoms worse because sections of these nerves may also need to be removed with the tumor.
Discuss the expected results of the surgery with your doctor. If you have any questions about the expected results of your surgery, make sure your doctor answers them. It is important that your expectations match those of your doctor for any type of vestibular schwannoma surgery you undergo.
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