ANA Discussion Forum
Watch and Wait => For those in the 'watch and wait' status => Topic started by: Notanotherthing on January 11, 2016, 07:32:16 pm
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If a VS decides to go in hyperdrive, exactly how quickly can it grow? In two months time I have gone from only sway/stumble balance problems & tinnitus to louder tinnitus,increase in ear pressure & now an earache all day & night.
My understanding is it may also just be irritation of the facial nerve causing the symptoms not necessarily compression?
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My own grew 20% in 6 months and that's when I decided to zap it.
Even if an AN doesn't grow it's still destroying the acoustic nerve (hearing) and/or the vestibular nerve (balance).
The symptoms you describe have nothing to do with the facial nerve although, at some point, a large AN could put pressure on the facial nerve and cause additional problems.
Give us your chronology and AN dimensions. That will help future discussion.
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Mine grew 50% in 6 mo.-that's when I stopped W&W
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Mine grew from 1.8cm to 2.4cm within a year. I didn't wait for further growth and proceeded with Gamma Knife.
What is important to remember is that your symptoms can change but the size of your AN may not - or your AN can change but your symptoms do not. That's why it's important to monitor your AN with regular MRI's. If it's been over 6 months since your last MRI and you are noticing substantial changes to your symptoms, you may want to consider having another MRI to check things out.
Cathie
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Mine grew from 2.7cm to 3.5cm in nine months. But that is highly unusual. Usually they grow much slower. I agree with the previous person, your new symptoms might not mean its growing. And others might not have symptoms increase, and theirs is growing. Only way to tell is another MRI. If you are in wait and watch, might be good to check that part of the forum.