Recent Posts

Pages: 1 ... 6 7 [8] 9 10
71
Physicians / Birmingham vs Houston vs Nashville
« Last post by JackieB on March 29, 2025, 09:24:52 am »
My husband has a 4 cm tumor, and it’s causing issues with mobility and hearing.  It needs to be removed very soon.

Please give me pros and cons about Baylor, UAB, and Vanderbilt.

Have you had experience with the doctors in any of those locations?

Also, what about lodging.

We live near one of the hospitals, but we will go to the one where he is the most comfortable with the doctors.

Thank you for any advice.

72
Post-Treatment / Re: How many have growth after Gamma Knife on the 6month MRI?
« Last post by DanFouratt on March 29, 2025, 05:34:38 am »
I had CK and at my 8 month MRI it shrank a little.  The doctor warned me the six month check up could show growth do to swelling.  Before treating the tumor it did cause SSD and tinnitus, my balance was never effected.  good luck,  Dan
73
I wish I could take some of your anxiety away.  You are doing the right things, your son is not in any danger.  There are many living a full life watch and wait status.  I know it is much harder to relax when it is your child then yourself. Even today, 20 years past son's cancer, if there is a lump on his throat my wife grabs his neck to feel it.  He is almost a foot taller then her and 32 years old so it is a interesting site. The fear never leaves. With that said please try to relax and live life.  Good luck,  Dan
74
AN Issues / Re: New member, symptoms questions.
« Last post by Mark F. on March 28, 2025, 08:53:50 pm »
Your signature at the bottom says you were fitted with a CROS hearing aid.  Do you like it?  My ENT told me that was the only option that could work for me, but he said he honestly didn't recommend it because he said in his experience most of his patients who tried it hated it.  And he said the hearing in my right ear is very good so I am actually not missing much.   Just really quiet sounds on the left. 
75
AN Issues / Re: New member, symptoms questions.
« Last post by donjehle on March 28, 2025, 07:43:36 pm »
Thank you, Mark F., for posting your story on the ANA Forums.  Please keep us updated on what your neurosurgeon says on Monday.

Like you, I lost my hearing in my left ear and have struggled with balance issues.  And like you, I wanted surgery to have the acoustic neuroma gone!  But as years have gone by and my vestibular schwanoma has not grown, I have seen wisdom in waiting and watching.

However, in your story, you do have growth, so I will be interested to hear what your neurosurgeon recommends.

Best wishes on your journey!
Don
76
AN Issues / New member, symptoms questions.
« Last post by Mark F. on March 27, 2025, 09:05:18 pm »
Ok.  I've been reading posts on here for a while but this is my first.  I was diagnosed in 2022. At the time it measured 10x6x6.   I just had my typical 6 month MRI and as of 3/24/25 it is now 12x8x8. I have been wanting surgery since I was diagnosed, I am one of those people who just wants it gone.   Anyway, I have most of the typical symptoms, legally deaf in my left ear, balance issues, I've literally had a headache for over a year, it's always there just usually mild, and then gets worse at times.  But I have had some odd things pop up that I think are related, but my neurosurgeon claims is not.   One is recurring double vision particularly when I'm tired or at night which makes night driving really interesting at times, and the other new symptom seems really odd, at night only and not all the time, I struggle sometimes to say what I want to say.   I know in my mind what I want to say, but I have to concentrate way more than I should to actually say the words.   Several years ago I had a pretty bad concussion from a traffic accident where I bounced my head off the steering wheel and the air bag did not deploy, for two weeks after that I had this exact same issue.  Then it was from the concussion, now I am wondering if it is somehow related to the acoustic neuroma.  Has anyone else had this type of issue?  By the way, the issue is just in speech, when I feel like that I still have absolutely no problem typing an intelligent text.  I will be talking with my neurosurgeon on Monday and I really want to push for having the surgery soon.  As a background, I am 56, but other than this tumor I am in very good shape.  I have a very active job, and until last year when the balance started becoming more of an issue I was one of those people that ran 5k's every chance I could.  So my overall health shouldn't be a factor in weather or not to have surgery.   
77
For those in the 'watch and wait' status / Re: Newly Diagnosed Son - Need Help Please
« Last post by JLR on March 26, 2025, 04:35:28 am »
Hello your doing all the right things. Your son needs to know he is fine and just has to follow doctors orders and check his health every 6 months.  I have had 3 surgeries.  AN with Dr. Steig.  A tumor in my skull with Dr. Cameron Brennan at MSk and a throidectomy at White Plains Hospital with Dr. Kaare Weber. The last two surgeons I mentioned were fabulous. I would highly recommend them These doctors are amazing.
78
Post-Treatment / Re: How many have growth after Gamma Knife on the 6month MRI?
« Last post by tsaff88 on March 25, 2025, 03:35:55 pm »
Hi,

Back in 2010 I had the Gamma Knife surgery and it was followed by growth. The dizziness I had post gamma knife was because of the balance nerve dying and it eventually stopped.

The ENT told me roughly 20% of people experienced growth post gamma knife. I had translab surgery in 2012.  My balance issues stabilized over the next several years leaving reduced balance and SSD as the long term effects.

The ENT and the Neurological surgeons both stated that the area was clean and the surgery very straightforward. They left a small tail to avoid other nerve damage. I have had many MRI's since and there has been no growth.

If I had this to do over I would do it the exact same way.

Hope this helps.

TSaff88
79
Post-Treatment / How many have growth after Gamma Knife on the 6month MRI?
« Last post by GMDizzyndeaf2 on March 25, 2025, 11:19:14 am »
Hello Community,

My 6 month MRI after GK shows growth. How many of you had this result at 6 months? Did the AN stop showing growth at the 1 yr MRI? I am scared that the gamma knife is not working, it just ruined my balance and caused SSD!

Hoping someone has hope to share,
GMDizzyndeaf2

AN 10x4x5mm 7/19/2024
GK 9/17/2024
AN 13x6x5mm 3/23/2025
80
Facial Issues / Re: Hemifacial Spasms beginning 6 months Post CK in Jan 2022
« Last post by Dlip246 on March 25, 2025, 10:54:31 am »
Hello everyone - It's been way too long since I have updated the forum.  I am doing this with the hope that it gives some people a little insight into these facial cramping/contractions that I am experiencing.  I am just over 3 years post CK.  I had little side effects (some light headedness) afterwards until 6 months post treatment.  That's when these terrible involuntary facial cramping/contractions started to occur.  Please read back to my previous posts to get the chronology of all I have tried to get better.  I am not thrilled to say that I am still going through it.  The good news is the "events" have lessened to 0-3 a day depending on the circumstances.  They can be triggered by sneezing, laughing, yawning, rubbing my eyes, but mostly by getting worked up emotionally or with exercise.  We believe the nerve is still swollen and gets triggered (it even happens in my sleep).  So, yes, this is better than the 20/day when it first started, but unfortunately, I don't see any permanent relief in sight.

I will keep you posted with any new updates or progress.

As always, if anyone has any questions please post here or feel free to DM me and we will connect!  Information sharing is very important!

Pages: 1 ... 6 7 [8] 9 10