Hello - and welcome, Kevin.
I'll assume FNG is an acronym for 'Friendly New Guy'.
As we often state to those just receiving a diagnosis of an acoustic neuroma: I'm sorry you have a reason to be here but glad you discovered the ANA website and posted on the forum.
Your experience with Dr. Leonnetti and Loyola University Hospital is clearly horrific and I can easily understand both your anger and frustration with both. I'm pleased to learn that you've basically recovered from that episode but receiving the news about the AN and then, possibly another, has to be discouraging, to put it politely. Or, in the vernacular: this really sucks.
Of course I hope the upcoming tests prove there is no second AN. Our 'NF2 club' doesn't need any more members but then, no one really gets to choose whether they'll be joining that club, or not.
Fortunately, when it comes to dealing with ANs, the folks that populate these discussion forums are knowledgeable, compassionate and eager to help. They also have a well-honed sense of humor, which, as you obviously realize, is crucial in dealing with this kind of medical complication. I think you'll be pleased with the response your post brings. This is a very active forum and you won't have to wait days for a reply to almost any question. We're not doctors and cannot offer actual 'medical' advice but we have a wealth of practical experience in handling acoustic neuroma issues, from diagnosis to choosing treatment to the vagaries of post-op recovery.
I assume you're aware that with small tumors, you're very likely a candidate for irradiation treatment, which is - obviously - non-invasive (no real risk of infection) and relatively painless. Of course, radiation carries it's own inherent risks but it should be worth your consideration. Many of our members are 'veterans' of either the GammaKnife, CyberKnife or FSR treatment - and most have had relatively good experiences. However, this is a personal decision that requires research. Whatever approach you ultimately chose to address your AN, know that we'll be here to support you. We bring no biases regarding treatment and never question another AN patient's treatment decision. We only want to help you in any way we can. You've been through enough. It's time you had some help from folks who understand what you're dealing with. Now, you've found a place to get that kind of empathetic help and support. Welcome home, Kevin.
Jim
