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Wes's story
My name is Wesley (Wes) Stillwagon, age 58. I am a consultant on Human Performance Engineering. Human Performance Engineering; to learn more about me, please visit my personal homepage at my website: http://www.hallowquest.com/wes.htm . I was diagnosed with a tumor of 3 cm in the summer of 1998, after complaining of symptoms for three years to neurologists who told me that there was nothing wrong in the brain. I was falling over and at times could not coordinate enough to put myself into bed.
The diagnosis was finally made by the gifted Neurologist James W. Teener, MD of the University of Pennsylvania Hospital (he's now at the Duluth Clinic in the Mid-West). Dr. Teener put me on Diamox to relieve the symptoms and it worked quite well, although I still have some minor ones occasionally. He then turned me over to a surgeon who talked like surgery was the only option... Of all of the options offered to me, the FSR approach was by far the only choice, and I wonder about the mis-information dispersed out of greed or profit about other approaches.
I was treated in September of 1998 with Fractionated Stereotactic Radiosurgey at Staten Island University Hospital under the direction of Dr. Silverman. Dr. Silverman a young, very positive radio neurosurgeon who works for Dr. Lederman, who is the trailblazer for the treatment program at SIUH. I wouldn't consider going anywhere else for such treatment, they are the most practiced professionals in the world in this type of procedure. I'm sure they've darn near seen it all or done it all, and that's what gives me the confidence in their program. They now attract patients from all over the world.
I had four ~5 minute treatments (one per week). The toughest part of the whole procedure was the initial construction and subsequent fitting of the bracing frame. It does not use screws (thank God), and is constructed to be fixed to your bite. They make a mold of your upper teeth that is placed on a frame. They simply place the frame in your mouth and you bite down. This holds the frame very steady and allows them the excellent accuracy.
I noticed no symptom changes during the four weeks of treatment. Since then, the symptoms have not gotten any worse, and since full recovery isn't expected until about one year, I expect they will until the tumor begins to die. I have had a follow-up MRI indicating progress as expected. I am scheduled for another MRI and another hearing exam in about 8 months.
I would recommend Staten Island University Hospital because they have more direct experience with treating this condition than all other institutions combined. I'm sure that if you requested they'd provide a free descriptive video tape on their facility and the treatment.
I hope this has been helpful. I'd be happy to answer any questions from anyone interested in my experience.
Wes Stillwagon <wstillwagon AT hallowquest.com>
December 1998
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Last Edited: Friday, November 01, 2002