ANs and breathing problems?

[mk]

Hi all,

I was wondering, has anyone experienced, or heard of breathing problems caused by an AN? If yes, what do the symptoms feel like?
I am thinking along the lines of larger ANs that cause brainstem compression, which might in turn interfere with the breathing mechanism.

The reason that I am asking is that I have been dealing with a nasty sinus infection these last few days, with all the fun symptoms of headaches, feeling light-headed etc. One thing that has been bothering me is that I feel "short of breath", as if I cannot get enough air into my lungs. Most probably it is due to blocked airways, but I want to exclude the possibility that it might be associated to the AN.

Marianna


 

[sgerrard]

I don't know for sure, Marianna, but I haven't come across that before. My impression is that when you get to the point where the brainstem is getting enough compression to cause real symptoms, you are either struggling to walk, or you are unconscious and on your way to the ER. I think it is much more likely that it is bronchial congestion of some sort. Hope you get well soon.

Steve

[jazzfunkanne]

hi is your AN large? mine was over 4.5 cm and pressing on the brainstem, i had no breathing problems, but i did have alot of sinus infections and i was block up alot of the time.

[Jim Scott]

Marianna ~

I'm not a doctor, nurse or orderly but I suspect your breathing problems are not related to your irraidated AN.  As the eminent Global Moderator Steve noted, for an acoustic neuroma to affect breathing, there would have to be serious brainstem compression and you would have other, acute symptoms.  My AN was 4.5 cm and 'pressing pretty hard on the brainstem', as my surgeon put it.  Yet I had no breathing problems prior to my surgery.  Loss of balance, loss of taste, stabbing pains at the AN site, yes, but no breathing problems.  Some tests might offer a more definitive answer to your question but as a non-physician, I'll venture the opinion (worth what you paid for it) that your breathing problems are directly related to your sinus infection.  I hope that clears up very soon because it sounds unpleasant.

Jim