Thanks for your message, I hadn’t read it yet because I am trying to not think too much about the neuroma. Nonetheless, messages like this are comforting.

 In the meanwhile, I can report my hearing continues to get worse, but thanks to anxyolitics and anti-depresssants, I am managing to go back to my day to day routine.

Something is lost though. I may feel pleasure in many everyday activities, but I have no attachment to the idea of being alive anymore. If I could press a button and just disappear, I would most likely do it (even knowing that my wife and children - whom I love very much - would suffer a lot with it).

Hi Everyone,

I'm a US citizen currently living in Denmark on a temporary residence permit. I was diagnosed with a 7mm Schwannoma in early July of this year while abroad. The overwhelming majority of small tumors here are watched, which was my initial plan of treatment. I have been, however, experiencing increasing hearing loss, most recently estimated last month at 30 - 40 % loss. This has lead me to seek out more proactive options, including returning to the US for surgery, however I'm no longer employed there and without insurance.   

As I try to navigate my insurance options, I was wondering if anyone could provide input or has been in a similar situation? Do I need to reside in the US to start applying for a healthcare plan that will cover a potential surgery? I have had consultations with UCSD and NYU and was a former resident of New York State.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations or advice.

I came across your post while searching for info myself, and I thought I'd share what worked for me. I’ve tried both CBD and THC for things like anxiety and sleep problems, and honestly, I was surprised by how much THC vapes helped. I wasn’t looking to get high or anything, but the ones I used didn’t have any weird additives, just pure stuff, and they were super smooth.
For me, it made a difference, especially with relaxing and getting better sleep. I know it’s not for everyone, but if you’re open to trying something like THC vapes, it might be worth checking out.

Really appreciate all the shared stories. Doing my best to do all the research I can without getting wrapped up in the anxiety stages if I spend a few hours browsing the fb group or similar. I can see why scheduling the surgery would have a sense of relief as there's so much unknown in terms of next steps right now. It is really nice to have a group around this who understands, looking into support groups in my area as well.

Great reply, skier!