Hi, everyone!  I am scheduled for Gamma Knife radiosurgery this Thursday, January 8, 2026. 

I had vertigo in November which has since subsided, but my trouble is the tinnitus--the ringing isn't so bad, but the echoing and amplification of sounds is rather challenging!  I find I am getting used to both, but I really wish the echoing would go away.  Does anyone have that symptom? 

I will see an audiologist the day before the radiosurgery to get an updated hearing test (the one in early November was "fine" but my hearing got much worse only 12 days later).  Does anyone have suggestions of what questions to ask the audiologist?

Finally, my PCP had given me a referral for a neurologist.  I have an appointment for later in the month, but is it necessary for ANA patients to see a neurologist if there are no neurological issues present?  (As I mentioned, the vertigo passed several weeks ago.)  Thanks in advance for any replies.

I am sorry to hear of the continued growth of your tumor.  I wonder if you have had the surgery yet, and how did it go?

I had dizziness in November and then it went away, thankfully!  I will have radiosurgery this week and was told I might have some dizziness after the radiosurgery.  I have a cane to use just in case!  But it should be temporary, if it does happen.

That’s really tough, I’m sorry you’re going through this. The wait-and-watch phase is stressful enough, and seeing growth on the MRI can really shake you. I don’t have personal experience, but I’ve heard a lot of good things about Johns Hopkins for AN care, especially when it comes to radiation options and getting a balanced opinion. It might be worth meeting with both a neurosurgeon and a radiation oncologist there just to feel more confident in your decision. Hopefully someone here can share their firsthand experience and doctor recommendations. Sending you strength- you’re definitely not alone in this.

I think it is a good idea to talk to someone about your feelings.

I find that writing it down helps. I am not a journal person. I tend to write it down in haikus. Writing helps me with the thinking part of feelings.

But there also are other outlets for anger than words: dance, hammering something, exercise, or my husband's "stomp around outside." They have their place too.

And since at least part of my anger is at the lack of control, doing something creative where I have more control can also help.