BARRIE'S STORY - An acoustic Neuroma patient

Introduction

This is the story of my experiences with an Acoustic Neuroma, including my early symptoms, surgery and my post-operative condition. Below is described the removal of the tumour which took place in March 2002 and the slow progress made until September 2003. I intend to update this story as further progress is made.

This story is dedicated to the surgeons, doctors, nurses and physiotherapists who have contributed their skills and dedication to my recovery from the tumour. It is also dedicated to my family and friends who have had to contend with my illness and specifically my wife who has been my carer during the illness and recovery and had to put up with my more irrational outbursts. I am also producing this for the selfish reason that I hope it will be a cathartic process to help me overcome the illness and move on. I hope that medical practitioners, patients diagnosed with an Acoustic Neuroma, patients recovering from surgery, their carers and others interested in the condition will find something of interest in this account from the patient's point of view.

It is clear that each Acoustic Neuroma Patient has a set of symptoms that are unique to them. The resulting problems after surgery are also specific to the individual, making direct comparisons difficult, however there are always many similarities in experiences.