ANAwareness Week 2024 is June 16 - 22. We look forward to presentations from a variety of guest speakers on AN topics and
helping to raise awareness of acoustic neuroma.  Thank you to our presenting sponsor, Akouos, and all our medical sponsors for partnering with us.

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For more information and a list of events, visit www.anausa.org/awareness

Thanks for your kind words.

The SSHL is very bad, also because I cannot distract myself with music or audiobooks anymore,  but it is also that the other ear seems to be hurting all the time, especially when I block the bad one. I have to live with this idea that I may become completely deaf, and that I find terrifying.

As for the rest, the reactive tinnitus is probably the worst symptom… very hard to live with, I just hope it gets better.

I will try to believe there is light at the end of this tunnel although, to be hones, I don’t see it.

I'm grateful for any opinions anyone might have. I had gamma knife Aug 2022. My one year MRI in July 2023 showed a stable tumor at 1.6x1x1.1.  I developed mild headaches and facial twitches. I had an MRI April 2024. I met with doctors to discuss it today. The tumor is 1.7x1.3x.09 now. The MRI was done locally and the measurements differed. It also shows mild ventriculomegaly which could happen as we age or could result from increased csf pressure. Ventricles are larger. The tumor is resting on my brain now. I'm supposed to get another MRI in six months to measure the tumor and ventricles again. I was told the tumor could possibly decrease but they feel this is more than swelling and indicates growth. I will know more in six months. They said they can't be 100% sure because its been less than 2 years since GK. Has anyone experienced a  similar situation? I really don't want surgery. They told me it's
 common for the AN to swell three years but they feel its too large to only be swelling.

Thank you, Michele. It's been less than 2 years since I had gamma knife so hopefully it is just swelling. All I know until my appointment is that the size increased. Thank you for the advice. Where do I find Chang's video?

My understanding is the first 5 years are response- swelling, shrinking etc - see Changs video. Definitely the first three years its unlikely regrowth. So try not to stress. Watch that video and maybe also chat to a member like Paul Wellen here who was told it had failed- but it was in fact pseudoprogression and he waited and it shrank again. Unless its pressing on a critical structure maybe consider waiting or even a steroid - chat to your specialist or get another opinion.