ANA Discussion Forum
Watch and Wait => For those in the 'watch and wait' status => Topic started by: jsanders1379 on March 29, 2013, 10:36:40 am
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The last 2 days, my left eye (AN side) has been twitching a lot--is this a sign of tumor growth pressing on facial nerves? :(
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Hi there Jeanne...
This is a very common occurrence and not just applicable to those who have been diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma. It usually manifests when you are unduly stressed, anxious, tired or lacking quality sleep. If it persists then get your doc to check it out and try not to worry about it!
Regards
Derek
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I had a spell of eyetwitching underneath my right eye last year and I assumed it was the AN but it went away on it's own after a few weeks. It was pretty bad too. That was before I had gamma knife treatment here in the UK on January 8th this year. I haven't had any eye twitching since thankfully so it's difficult to say if it was really caused by the AN or not. I'd be inclined not to worry too much about eye twitching although I quite understand your concern.
As for progress I'm twelve weeks out nearly and my main problem is as it was before GK, the tinnitus. Doesn't look like I am ever going to be rid of it and it's so loud and uncomfortable. I hate it. I've had the odd pain/strange feeling in the back of my head and a couple of times feeling dizzyish that I had to sit down but I figure I'm doing ok. at the moment. I'm looking forward to getting past the six month mark which is when the radiologist told me I would be most likely to have swelling but I know it's difficult to predict. Presumably something is happening already. It's nice to have this forum to tune into now and then and see how everyone is doing. I know there are those of you who have had a much harder ride than me so far for sure.
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I have eye-twitching on the same side as my AN and raised it with the specialist in March. He said that my AN (which is a similar size to yours), being confined to the IAC, is nowhere near the facial nerve that affects the eye. So they do not seem to be connected. I think that was the story anyway :)
I have also heard that it can be caused by tiredness, stress, lack of certain vitamins, etc.
Where is your AN located?
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Mine is on the AN side(left),and also IAC...just too strange that the twitching is alsways in the left eye...
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Hello;
Though it is the same side, as a pt. myself, I'm doubting whether the twitch is AN related. I wouldn't solely use comments of a support group in determining whether or not to ask a neurosurgeon or neurotologist about this however.
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Eyelid twitching can be caused by irritation to the eyelid.
Could be the start of an eyelid infection..
A known short term side effect of radiation especially within the first few weeks is dry eye.
If your tears are not working correctly on your AN side it could cause slight dry eye on that side.
This could lead to irritation in its own right causing the twitch.
Dry eye in turn could cause a mild infection of the eyelid which also causes twitching.
If your eyelid feels slightly tender, or you can see some changes along the edge of the lid, its a very mild infection.
Not enough sleep and too much caffeine could be another cause