Hi Mary,
Time to look for different opinions I would say.
Might be worth hearing about my experience.
About 2 years before I was diagnosed, I could not concentrate the way I used to and I was getting tired easily.
I had the usual blood tests and nothing was found. I thought I was just getting old.
Then my hearing started declining. It seemed like everyday my hearing would be a little bit worse.
From Vestibular testing I had lost 50% of my vestibular function on my AN side.
Typing became difficult, I transposed letters jumbled words, and wrote jibberish.
I also had problems speaking, my memory wasn't right. Words that I wanted just didnt come out.
I am self employed, just as well, I probably would have sacked myself on poor performance.
All of this stuff was happenning at the same time the AN was reducing my hearing, affecting my balance, and giving me tinnitus.
I was diagnosed with an AN and treated with Cyberknife 3 weeks later.
As my AN symptoms slowly disappeared 12-24 months after treatment, so have the typing problems, speech problems. Energy levels and concentration have also improved a huge amount. My symptoms are now gone and I feel back to normal.
The small AN's can be some of the most problematic.
This happens because as the AN grows it begins to fill the Internal Auditory Canal.
As it grows, it will squash your facial balance and hearing nerve into a ribbon instead of being round, and it will squash the artery that feeds the cochlear restricting blood supply to both the nerve and cochlear itself... The tumor itself can also affect the nerve directly... Hmmm I think that makes us very good candidates for Vestibular problems!
Many a doctor has been confused by the amount of symptoms we get, the long recovery, yet there is little or no damage to the brain itself, both before and after treatment.
About 6 months ago we had a Professor Margie Sharpe attend our local support group meeting.
An expert in the field of balance disorders
http://dizzinessbalancedisorders.com.au/I don't think there is much in the world of balance and dizziness that she does not know.
As she talked I was ticking lots of boxes with my symptoms, as were so many others in the room.
Lets face it our vestibular systems are broken, so we will get vestibular problems.
None of the symptoms you are describing would surprise her.
As for the drugs, wow I would definitely seek more opinions..
As an alternative, I found Ginger Root Extract which is a natural motion sickness remedy helped me.
Dont expect anything fantastic, but it did seem to do something at the maximum recommended dose.
I have recently seen Ashwaghanda another herb prescribed by a doctor, work very well for anxiety in a family member, and allowed them to stay off the prescription medication.
2 Years ago I thought herbs provided marginal at best, medicinal qualities, I have changed my tune, especially to see Ashwaghanda work so well for anxiety
