Thank you LakeErie and PaulW,
I will certainly ask my local ENT what he thinks about moving up my scheduled MRI from early January to November given my new on-and-off symptoms. The facial tingling mainly occurs on my cheek bones (one side at a time) but it affects both sides of my face. Not just the AN side.
At this point, my main fear about Cyber Knife treatment is that I've read many cases where CK treatment has elevated peoples Tinnitus. I've also read of the very real possibility of radiation treatment leaving one completely deaf in the AN ear.
Currently I am treating my "Catastrophic" Tinnitus with a very expensive WIDEX "Zen" hearing aid which has reduced my anxiety and discomfort from the Tinnitus by about 90%. Thank God!!
I have read many cases where people go in for radiation treatment with perfectly good hearing; however, within 3 months or less they may be completely deaf in their AN ear.
If that were to happen to me it would be catastrophic because I would no longer be able to treat my "Catastrophic" Tinnitus with my hearing aid, because my hearing nerve would be gone (and unable to benefit from nerve stimulation from hearing aid) and also very likely leaving me with "roaring loud" Catastrophic Tinnitus which can no longer be treated because my hearing nerve was shot by the radiation treatment.
That is one of the main reasons why I am putting off radiation treatment as long as possible.
I'm absolutely terrified to have microsurgery, that is why when the time comes I will choose CK while the tumor is still small.
Radiation may kill the tumour, but if I'm unable to mitigate my Tinnitus then who knows what I would do...
Do you think that's a valid concern?
Plus, another main concern was wondering what the fastest timeframe has been of someone walking in and receiving radiation treatment with "perfectly good hearing", and then going "completely deaf" in their AN ear after their radiation treatment?
Can you go from "perfectly good hearing" to "completely deaf" within 24 hours in the same day of radiation treatment, or does it usually take months if it's going to happen?
I already know the stats say radiation is very good for hearing preservation, but on the same token, many people will lose their hearing because of radiation treatment. I'm just curious to know the average onset of deafness (regarding timeframe) after radiation treatment if you presented with perfectly good hearing.
As always, many thanks.
