ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => Inquiries => Topic started by: designergal on November 08, 2009, 07:21:51 pm
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Greetings!
I just found out that I am pregnant....a bit of a surprise pregnancy! I was scheduled for surgery on Nov. 17th! I was just wondering if anyone is/was diagnosed with an AN and then became pregnant! Both my OB and Neurosurgeon have said that it should be a smooth pregnancy. This is my third pregnancy and I am sure that I had the tumor with my other 2 pregnancies. I have read that the tumor may grow faster with pregnancy and that hearing can diminish....I currently have full hearing in my AN ear.
Thanks!
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Congratulations! I don't have any advice for you but I'm very pleased for you!
Nikki
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Hi and welcome!
First of all, congratulations! And a bit of diminished hearing might not be a bad thing with three kids! :D
My AN symptoms started at the very end of my pregnancy and I have heard that those raging hormones can make the AN have a growth spurt. I'm sure since your doctors are aware of your situation, they'll be keeping a very close eye on you to make sure everything is okay. I'm pretty sure my AN was present for the last 3 of my 4 pregnancies - I guess that 4th one is the one that pushed me over the edge (ha ha - in more ways than one!).
Do you know the size of your AN? And what were/are your symptoms? Just curious.
I hope you have a smooth and wonderful pregnancy and have a beautiful bundle of joy! Keep us posted. We make great virtual aunts and uncles around here! ;D
Lori
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I agree with Lori - being deaf in one ear can DEFINITELY be a bonus with a baby ("Honey, wasn't it great that the baby slept the WHOLE night last night?" "She didn't..." "Oh...you should have awakened me...")!
I trust that everything will go well and know that your Dr's will keep a strict eye out for you & the baby!
K ;D
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Congratulations! ;D I just LOVE babies!!!
Virtual Aunt Jan
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Hi Designergal and welcome
I'm sorry about your AN but also extend my congratulations on your future bundle of joy. I have to agree with Lori and K that diminished hearing can be a blessing in disguise with three kids, especially if your better half ends up hearing the baby during the night while you blissfully sleep through the night! :D In all seriousness though, I'm sure your docs will keep a close eye on you to make sure everything is okay. Please keep us posted regarding your AN and the baby.
Best wishes,
Wendy
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Thanks for the well wishes! Sad part is I was thinking I may drop a few pounds with the surgery....now it looks like I am about to gain a few! Urgh!
And yes...its a running joke in our house about my hearing...I keep wondering when it will diminish! LOL! And say often......I wish it wasn't so good! And as far as night time....I am a heavy sleeper....my poor husband takes over the midnight shift with our 2 year old! I just don't hear her! Hehe!
My AN is 2cm.....and I currently have lightheadness, balance issues and constant ringing in the ear.....which seems to be both ears! I hear it more in my left....the AN is on the right side. I sometimes get stabbing pains in the AN ear...which I assume are typical.
Again...thanks for support!
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Congratulations!!!
I've always heard that these things grow very slowly. My surgeon gave me the option of waiting until next summer to remove my tumor if that fit into my school schedule better, so I don't see why it would be a problem to wait until after your pregnancy is over. I hate to point out the negative, but there is a good chance that you are going to lose hearing in your ear even if you had surgery tomorrow, so although waiting isn't ideal, it certainly isn't the end of the world either. Enjoy your pregnancy. :)
Lyn
P.S. I'm still giggling about "Virtual Aunt Jan." That was so adorable!!!
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Congrats!
For what it's worth, my youngest just turned one when I was diagnosed with a "giant" AN, so I'm positive I had it through the pregnancy. Everything was just fine (aside from the normal pregnancy things.. haha), including my homebirth (had both at home) - so I'm sure all will be well for you, too!
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I like the idea of virtual aunts and uncles ...... I'll volunteer as a virtual grandma! ;D
CONGRATS, by the way!!
Clarice
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I too giggled when I saw the vitual Auntie Jan! Read it last night at 2am.....I can sleep through our 2 year old yelling for Mommy and Daddy...but can't seem to shake the dog pawing my face to be let out!....ugh
Love the vitual Auntie and Grandma! Thanks!!!
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Designergal ~
Congratulations on your (unexpected) pregnancy! I'm sure you'll do just fine. Frankly, although I've read that pregnancy may spur tumor growth, I'm not sure this is scientifically proven. In any case, I'm confident that all will go well and you can have your AN surgery in due time. Perhaps some of the 'virtual aunts' can baby-sit. ;)
Jim
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With all the virtual aunties and grannies, you will be busy posting pictures for all of us to see! You should be just fine. Your drs. know about your condition (both of them ;) ), so they will be keeping a careful eye on you. Read, research, and rest. You are going to be one busy mom!
Priscilla
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I'm still giggling about "Virtual Aunt Jan."
Actually I can't take credit for that idea, since it was Lori's.
I think being a virtual aunt would be great - and yes, I'd babysit if I could.
I'm also open to sending birthday and holiday gifts; just don't count on me for the college fund - I have two of my own to fund 4 years from now, if I can get them to pass 8th grade ;)
Jan
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I'm still giggling about "Virtual Aunt Jan."
Actually I can't take credit for that idea, since it was Lori's.
I think being a virtual aunt would be great - and yes, I'd babysit if I could.
I'm also open to sending birthday and holiday gifts; just don't count on me for the college fund - I have two of my own to fund 4 years from now, if I can get them to pass 8th grade ;)
Jan
Oh, I see! I missed that the first time through. Either way, you ladies are a hoot. (As we say down here in the South!)
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where in the South are you from? I am in Texas?
K ;D
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My husband and I are laughing about the college fund thing...had it somewhat under control with just 2...now with a third child in the mix..... it will be a toss up with which kid gets to go.....LOL! Hope this one is smart!!...............<grin> My husband tries to take credit when they say something bright...but I remind him that I was the one that breastfeed!
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I will say, from my own experience, that I DO believe pregnancy can make these tumors grow faster, and that breastfeeding is even worse. All about the hormones. I had my first symptoms during my first pregnancy, they escalated for a few months afterwards and then stabilized for a couple of years. Then during my 2nd pregnancy the symptoms worsened. And in the first several weeks post-partum they worsened dramatically. My daughter was 6 weeks old when I was diagnosed and 13 or 14 weeks when I had surgery. At diagnosis my tumor was estimated to be 4.5 cm, and by surgery it was "a lot bigger"--they couldn't or wouldn't tell me how big it actually was, but they told me I was lucky to have come through unimpaired and that it was "one for the record books".
The good news is that they can do supportive measures to get you through the pregnancy, if it becomes necessary. There are so many of us diagnosed post-partum that you'll more than likely make it through just fine though.
Good luck to you and Congratulations on the new baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Vonda
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My AN was diagnosed when my 2nd was about 4 months old (I suddenly lost hearing halfway through the pregnancy, but no one would do any tests while I was pregnant). I know I had the AN during that pregnancy, and am fairly certain it was there for my first as well. It shouldn't affect the pregnancy, but do be careful about watching for changes in your balance. That was a big problem for me with #2 (before I knew the cause of the problem). When I hit the second trimester and starting to get some of the normal pregnancy swelling, my balance was completely shot. Between the swelling and vestibular changes and the regular pregnancy-induced center of gravity changes, I had to be extra careful to not hurt myself! :D
My doctors do believe, though there is not enough of a data pool to scientifically prove it, that the hormones related to pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause can cause ANs to grow faster than you'd otherwise expect them to, but won't cause an AN to grow that wasn't already there to begin with.
I had surgery when my second was 18 months, and then went on to have a third child earlier this year. My MRI this fall was perfectly clean, so that pregnancy didn't do anything AN-related. Yay!
Congratulations!
Katie