ANA Discussion Forum
Treatment Options => Radiation / Radiosurgery => Topic started by: Nancy Drew on October 23, 2010, 06:06:17 pm
-
Hi Guys,
I haven't been on here for a while, but I thought I'd update folks about the good news that I received yesterday when I got the results of my two year MRI. Last year there was some slight swelling which I was told was normal. This year the AN is starting to decrease in size. ;D ;D ;D
Last year it was 6.8mm x 5.5mm, and this year it is 5.9mm x 4.9mm. I also have NOT lost any hearing. In fact my hearing is "normal" for my age group. The radiation had killed 70% of my balance nerve, but my balance is almost back to normal. My doc says the GK is on track. Will continue to monitor with annual MRIs for three more years, and if all is still good...then I'm essentially "cured".
It was certainly a delight to get good news while in the midst of trying to figure out how to deal with this stupid fibromyalgia that I was diagnosed with last year. But, the good news about my AN has sure relieved a lot of stress.
Best wishes to all of you radiation folks and to those trying to make your decision about what route to take.
Nancy
P.S. The ANA started a support group here in Denver last weekend. We had 11 AN people show up for the first meeting and expect more once the word gets out.
-
Great news! Just what we like to hear. Keep it up.
Clarice
-
Nancy....great news!! Always happy to hear about positive MRI's.
-
I just completed Radiation 3 weeks ago and love hearing such great news. Keep up the great work!
Shannon
-
That's wonderful - thanks for taking the time to keep us posted and may you have continued shrinkage!!
Sheryl
-
Wow!! This is wonderful!! Thanks for the update, and keeping hope alive for us out here!
-
Nancy ~
Congratulations on your AN shrinkage - and thanks for the great update.
Jim
-
Thanks for all of the kind replies.The worst thing about radiation is the "waiting game".You are right GM...annual MRIs are hard.I didn't sleep for a week before I got the results of this MRI. I came home from the doctor's office, and I slept for six hours.Now it's on with the "waiting game" for the next MRI....but, I feel so much more positive than ever.
ummm...it's snowing in the Colorado Rocky Mountains right now!!! Skiing, snowshoeing...thank goodness for ski poles to help with balance!!! :D :D :D
-
Nancy,
That's great to hear. I'm three weeks out after CK myself. Glad you had a great report, shrinkage is what I'm hoping for; so, keep up whatever you're doing.
Connie
-
Hi Connie,
Hope all is going well after your CK. All I can say is keep the faith. It's just a waiting game, and it can be really hard sometimes. This forum is great to turn to for support. You are beginning your post treatment journey...best wishes. There are so many success stories, and I hope you will be one, too.
Nancy ;D
-
Wonderful news! You said that your balance nerve was 70% gone, but now you have no issues. During the last two years, have you experienced imbalance as your brain learns to compensate?
-
Nancy ---
Everyone is right --- we love to hear good news. When we are on here for the first time, we never think we are going to be at the point of reporting how we are doing after the fact. I have been able to do the same ---- I had a 3 month after my last treatment and that report told us that there was a slight decrease in size. That sure gave me hope!!!!
Thanks to everyone that visit and share their experience --- we need that.
Again, Nancy thanks for sharing!!
Patt from Minnesota
-
That's great news Patt. Keep on hanging in there for more good news.
Tisha, it is possible that the rest of my balance nerve has died. I guess I would know that if I had another balance test, but I don't think I need to really know now. When I found out I had lost most of my balance nerve, I went to vestibular therapy for a while. The therapist gave me some exercises to do, but I wasn't very good about doing them. When I did the exercises, they usually made me sick...bad vertigo, nausea, headache. I worked a lot on tracking with my eyes, and it seemed to help a lot. Gradually I noticed that my balance was getting better...or maybe I have just learned to compensate. I notice that I skim the wall with my hand when I am going down a hall, always use the hand rail, and I try to limit my time standing in crowded situations. So, I think I am just getting use to it. When I am tired, my balance seems to get worse. I fall sometimes when I am not being careful...but, I have always just ended up with bruises. I can do most things...drive my car, bike, snowshoe, ski, hike, walk and go to the gym. I use poles, however, when I hike and snowshoe. I have to look at the ground when walking or hiking because I forget that I have to be a little more careful now. However, my doc said my balance might get back to totally normal in time. But, I am satisfied for now because I know it could be a lot worse.
Nancy from Denver!!!
-
Nancy! Hey, there! Great to hear from you and with such great news! You had such a time and I know the fibromyalgia was yet another bit of bad news for you...but sounds like now you can at least not worry so much about the AN! So glad for you!
Enjoy the snow...75 here 8)
Hugs,
Cindy
PS - How's Steven?
-
:)Hi Nancy - it's good to hear you are doing so well, despite those bumps in the road. Sounds like you are overcoming the battle and that is encouraging for the rest of us and makes for good reading! Not sure if you remember me, but we had GK about the same time. I will be going down to Mayo the day before Thanksgiving for my 2 year check. I had kind of forgotten about the AN which is always a sign of what, "normalcy"? I'm sure I'll hear soon how I am, but doing great as far as I know.
Keep on with the updates and enjoy those winter sports to the fullest!! Regards, Joey
-
Wonderful news, Nancy. Good to hear from you again. I go on Dec 9 for my MRI.
Grace
-
Of course I remember you Joey.Seems like we are all in this together.I hope your two year check up at Mayo goes well.Also best wishes to you Grace.Hope to hear good news from both of you.
;D ;D ;D
-
Hey, Anybody know where Steven is...the moderator? I was sure he would pop in and give me some cheers!!! I would be disappointed if he has forgotten who I am since I bugged him so much before I had GK!!!
Nanc
-
Who could ever forget Nancy Drew? ;D
I am a bit like Joey now, I think. I tend to forget that I even had an AN these days, and lately I seem to forget that I'm a moderator on the forum, too. My apologies for missing your initial post. Here are some belated cheers!
It is good to hear that things are working out and settling down. It sounds like you are doing very well and being active, and getting on with life is really the main goal anyway.
I will try to keep an eye out for further updates and respond more promptly next time. ;)
Steve