Sharing my thoughts

[lholl36233]

Hi,

From what I've learned on this board, AN's start on the balance nerve.  It seems like my hemangioma started on the facial nerve (which I thnk is worse).

Feel free to tell me if that doesn't make sense?

Thank you.

Laura

[Vivian B.]

Hi Laura,

I thought AN's started on the acoustic nerve. I am not sure about hemingiomas but I thought if it was growing over the facial nerve they would call it a facial neuroma. Anyway, just my thoughts.

Vivian

[TJ]

I think I Agree with Vivian, AN's are on the acoustic nerve.  As far as I am know AN stands for Acoustic Neuroma.

TJ

[Kaybo]

I thought that the 8th nerve was the hearing and balance nerve...

K

[lholl36233]

I took that from the other term for AN which is Vestibular Schwannoma.  I believe the balance nerve is the vestibular nerve???

[cindyj]

Yes, the balance nerve is the vestibular nerve...

That's the extent of my medical knowledge

cindy

[ppearl214]

An AN (also known as Vestibular Schwannoma) is a benign growth on the 8th cranial nerve, which has 2 components, 1 for hearing, one for balance.

Please reference this page from the ANA home website:

http://www.anausa.org/what_acoustic_neuroma.shtml

Phyl

[lholl36233]

Thanks Phyl.

Which nerve is the facial nerve?  That is where my tumor is.

[Jill Marie]

Hi Laura,

The Facial Nerve is good old #7.  There's where my tumor WAS!  As far as that being worse than an AN tumor, it all depends.  Everyone has different results after the tumor is gone whether you have an acoustic or facial tumor.  It depends on how big the tumor is, exactly where it's located and how soon it is discovered.  I don't like the fact that I can't really smile &  I use eye ointment 24/7, but then there are others on this board that deal with balance issues and headaches and I wouldn't want to have those issues either.  Take Care, Jill

[leapyrtwins]

Yes, vestibular schwannoma is another term for an acoustic neuroma.

My AN was on the 7th and 8th cranial nerves.

Your IAC (inner ear canal) contains 3 nerves - balance, hearing, and facial.

I learned that from my neurotologist - since as an accountant I have no clue when it comes to anatomy 

Hearing nerves are very delicate - so if they are injured, they do not regenerate.  Facial nerves are more resilent so they can regenerate over time.  If your balance nerve is destroyed, your body will compensate and learn to "manage" with one rather than two.

Jan

[Lilan]

Laura,

What you said in your original post was correct.

However, the good news for you is that while ANs arise *from* the vestibular nerve, which is why the nerve has to be cut to remove it, hemangiomas are not *part* of the facial nerve in the same way; they are exterior to it. Thus the facial nerve doesn't necessarily have to be cut to remove it!

[lholl36233]

Thanks Lilan.

How is your facial nerve doing?  That is my number 1 concern.  Losing hearing seems minor to me compared to losing the facial nerve.

Waiting to hear when my next appointment is to plan my proton treatment...

Laura