Symptoms pre and post treatment

[Echo]

I have read and been told on several occasions that what symptoms you have pre radiation you will have post radiation.  This makes sense to a degree given the tumor is not removed.  I have also read several posts where by the 4th to 5th year post treatment, all pre treatment symptoms are gone, people are back to normal.  I am especially interested in those who had balance problems and how they are post treatment. 

With thanks, Cathie.

[PaulW]

I had balance issues pre treatment, not terrible, just felt like I had a constant mild hangover, without the alcohol.
Head felt like I was in a cloud and walking in the dark was clumsy. Activities like snow skiing in the fog, bicycle riding, canoeing, were more challenging and not enjoyable as a result.
After radiation this did get worse. 3 years later things have improved a lot.
Most of the time I really feel totally back to normal.
Every now and then I still get a very small reminder, a slight disequilibrium. Its nothing...

That's the only reminder I get these days
At this point in time my hearing is preserved and my balance nerve appears to be intact too

Tumour removal does not guarantee your balance issues will stop.
Gentamicin treatments to destroy the vestibular organ are available as a treatment for vertigo
 

[Alison]

Hi,
I am 5 month post SRS. I had balance and dizziness problems before treatment. These were much the same post treatment until  3 months post, when they started to get worse. They have continued to be so. For example walking is difficult, like being very drunk, but carrying some shopping makes progress even slower and staggering pretty damn awful. I don't go out much and not on my own anymore. I just hope that things begin to improve before too long, but some days I am in despair that things will not improve!

But as Paul says, surgery may not help balance either.

Alison.

[goinbatty]

I had very mild balance issues pre treatment and with tumor swelling post treatment, that got a little worse but that and other side effects were gone by around 9 months post treatment.  Tinnitus increased but has remained at the same high pitch and is tolerable.  My hearing has slowly decreased and I'm now researching hearing aids.