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Leslie:
Thanks for the responses, right after i wrote the post i took a nap :),  i figure related to the AN or not I needed it.   I am from Northern California,  and so far have not run into anyone that has this,  of course other than this forum.   My ENT told me that there is no in in my town that does this type of work, so he is sending me to either UC San Francisco or Stanford.  He told me my tumor was "large", and therefore the type of surgery I had to have would cause me to lose my hearing. he said he was going to expedite getting me to the specialist to have it removed. When he said i wasnt going to be able to hear out of my left ear i said "for how long" and then he said permanantly. After he said that I think i went into shock.
For the past several months, as you may have also experienced, it feels as though I went swimming and never got the water out of my left ear.  It has been frustrating.  The vertigo is getting worse. it used to be intermittent,  but now over the last couple of months it is every day.  I do not have ringing in my ears though, which i am grateful for.  The thing is that i kept saying to myself, is that i cant wait to figure out what this is and get it fixed so i can finally hear normal again......
I am still going to

Pembo:
Leslie, Your symptoms sound very similar to mine. I was 36 and my tumor was 4 cm. I went to the ent because of a little facial tingling and vertigo. My ear felt like I needed to pop it, like on the airplane and my phone was getting quieter. I was also very tired. I could fall asleep whenever and wherever. I'm happy to report that after surgery I hardly ever have to nap and the vertigo is completely gone.  My hearing is gone now thoug but more on that later. Since you are in California, look into the House Ear Clinic in LA. It is the best.

Keep posting and I sent you a private message....

Barb

matti:
Leslie - I am from northern California and had my surgery at Stanford 8 years ago. If you are thinking of having surgery up here, then I would suggest The California Ear Institute in Palo Alto and I would highly recommend Dr. Joseph Roberson. He was my surgeon and has a lot of experience with AN's. My AN was also 3.5 centimeters and pressing on the brain stem. I did end up losing my hearing, but have managed quite well. There are hearing devices available for single sided deafness. I know how scared you are, and please know we are all here for you!!!

I will send you an e-mail with more info about my experience at Stanford.

hugs,
Cheryl

Obita:
Hello Leslie and welcome:

I am so glad you came on here right away.  I did not find this forum until waiting (stressing) for my two year MRI results.  I felt so alone when I found out I had an AN. I had translab surgery in May of '04 for a 2.5 cm AN and other than loosing my hearing in the left ear, I am just fine. 

I too (along with tons of other people on this forum) was mis-diagnosed with fluid in the inner ear.  I was put on allergy meds, nasal steroids etc....from mid. Nov. until mid. Mar. when I was finally diagnosed with the AN.  I must admit I was perfectly fine thinking it was fluid as I had read about ANs while researching my symptoms and skipped right over all the info about them.  No way could it be a tumor. ::)

I am very glad your ENT is trying to expedite your surgical consult.  Once I met the surgeons, set the date etc... I relaxed.  The unknown is stressful.

I wish you well and you can email me anytime if you have any questions.  As others have said, single sided deafness is a pain in the butt in loud situations but very managable in day to day life. 

Best of luck,  Kathy O'Brien - Minnesota

ps:  the fatigue is indeed the AN.  Your good side vestibular nerve is doing all the work to keep you upright so your brain gets tired. 

Palace:
Hello Leslie and all,


Leslie, you can reach me by having the forum forward email privately and this way I don't have to make my email addy public. 

I'm at the same stage as you only slightly further in a possible treatment date.  I could give you my phone number privately and maybe be of some help.

Right now I have my own dilemma.  I went yesterday morning for a flu shot (and BTW, there was a mercury durivitive in it and had to sign a paper/release for that) plus, I got my blood drawn to see if the kidneys can handle radiation. 

I went home for lunch and then had an afternoon scheduled appointment which was with my regular doctor.  (who has BY THE WAY been out on leave for 8 months)  I told her the news of my newly diagnosed 22mm AN.  She felt that radiation was "nasty," as she put it.  Now, she is calling my ENT to talk with him personally and is hoping I will cancel the rad appointment and go with the full surgery!  She gave me the Valium for my neck and sleeping.  I did get a good night rest.  (7 straight hours sleep; hasn't happened since last Spring)  I feel rested but, my neck isn't better.  I will use the other ideas the forum suggested since I have all those things I could use for the neck.  I have everything I need, even the hot-tub which I use morning and nightly.  I don't get my neck in the water, though.  I have long hair and put it up.

Anyway, I'm still connected with Stanford and it sounds like I live near you, Leslie.  You may call me and I will give you my phone number privately, if you like.  I'm in No. CA., also and a Stanford connection.  I'm ahead of you only by a slight bit, in this.  (have had the cons with the surgeon, a radiation doctor, (both Stanford) spoke with a holistic doctor who schooled at Stanford and last night talked with my physician! 

For the forum people.......I took 5 mg of the Valium last night and quit all other drugs and of course, quit the 2 ounces of red wine.  Now, it is Imitrex for the migraines and the Valium at night until I get through this.  My physician wants me to cancel the Ct. scan and the rad appointment and go the full surgical route.  I have no clue what will happen next so, I'm not booking the San Diego trip to meet the other forum members.  (also, this thing is costing my part about fifty thousand dollars before I'm through and maybe lots more if I change plans mid-stream and go the full surgery.......and not just the radiation)  If you all have anything thoughts on this latest development, please let me know.

In shock again at the thought of not the radiation but, full surgery.  I have waited months for this date I have at Stanford at the end of the month and now, I may cancel that.  My physician will call the ENT doctor and discuss my case.  (then call me next week)

I put all this down here in this topic for Leslie so, she can see how this can go, before she gets too deep into all this, at my stage of the game.



Cheers,



Palace

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