Possible AN diagnosis & scared.....

[LtBJH]

I am 35 years old and generally in good health. I could afford to lose about 50lbs but, because of being on night shift for the past 8 years and doing my best to help my wife with our 2 children during the day, my sleep patterns are all messed up and so my weight gain/loss is erratic. For the past 3 years I have been having bouts of vertigo. At first it was once a month and then slowly increased to about 2-3 times a week. About a year ago I also started getting real bad headaches that were focused at the base of the scull on the back right hand side. Then about 6 months ago the ringing started in the right ear. It is not a loud obnoxious ring it is just a constant steady tone. At first I kept looking for the fluorescent light that was about to die but then realized that it was in my head. I have been having regular check ups every year even though I am only 35 yrs old because I have the insurance that pays for it and I do not want to leave my wife and kids prematurely, but the Dr didn't put the symptoms together until this year. I have a MRI coming up next week and am honestly quite afraid of what might or might not be found there. From the few posts that I have read so far I understand that this is not the first of these stories that you have heard but when I talk to my wife about she just starts to worry and I really have no one else to turn to. Thanks for listening and for any responses that come in.

[CHD63]

Welcome, LtBJH to this forum .....

While we all hope you do not have an AN, it is vitally important that you find out what is causing your symptoms.  You are doing the right thing to have an MRI ..... make sure it is ordered with contrast or a small AN might not show up.

Please try to think about other things until you have the report from your MRI.  If it is an AN, you will know and you will have plenty of time to research your options then.  Remember ANs are almost always benign and slow-growing.

Be sure to let us know what the report is ..... even if it is something other than an AN.

Best thoughts.  Clarice

[Jim Scott]

LtBJH ~

Hi - and welcome to the ANA discussion forums.  I certainly hope the scheduled MRI scan doesn't show an acoustic neuroma but if it does, remember that they are almost always benign (non-malignant) and treatable with surgery and/or radiation.  I was in otherwise good health and almost twice your age at the time of my diagnosis.  I'm happy to report that I experienced a very successful and near complication-free outcome, as do many other AN patients.  To be honest, complications can and do occur with AN removal surgery and with radiation treatment, too.  However, they are generally temporary and/or correctable.  Your concern about the future, should the MRI indicate an acoustic neuroma is present, is understandable.  Your wife's worry, even more so.  This is why the ANA and these forums exist.  To educate, advise and support folks facing a (possible) AN diagnosis and those struggling with issues before and/or after surgery/radiation.  Our members have walked in your shoes, as it were, and we can empathize with most of what you and your wife are going through.  You are not alone in this and we want to help and support you in whatever way we can.  Please consider this your resource for all things related to acoustic neuroma.  I still hope the MRI comes back as 'normal' (no AN) but - we're here if you need us. 

Please let us know what the MRI report says, AN or no AN.  Thanks.

Jim

[TJ]

L+BJH

Both Clarice and Jim really sums it up nicely.  You have found a great place to just "vent" if need be.  All of us have gone through something similar but each of us has their own story.  If it is an AN I am sure you probably know by now that they usually are slow growing.  That gives you and your wife the time to do your research on which option will be the best for you.

Although you are the one, please allow your wife share in this journey.  She can help you make the best decision for you and your family.

Please let us know how you are doing, and by all means ask lots and lots and lots of questions.

TJ

[leapyrtwins]

Good luck with the MRI and try not to stress until you actually have a diagnosis (hard to do, I realize) 

The only definitive way to diagnosis - or rule out - an AN is with an MRI (typically with gadolinium contrast).

I'm hopeful your MRI will be "clean" but if it isn't, you've definitely come to the right place.  We've all been there (or are currently there) and are here to support you and your wife in any way we possibly can.

And believe it or not, there are worse things to have than an acoustic neuroma.

Please keep us updated on your situation.

Best,

Jan

[jaylogs]

I just wanted to chime in and wish you good luck on the MRI...you'd be surprised how many people have come here with all the symptoms of AN and then they get their MRI's back with NO AN!  So you know it is indeed possible to dodge that bullet, but if it does come back positive for AN, you at least found a very good resource for making decisions.  Just hang in there, let us know how it goes!
Jay

[LtBJH]

Well here it is now almost two weeks later and I finally have my MRI scheduled for noon today.

The last few weeks have been a rollercoaster. I had cataract surgery 3 weeks ago, then a routine checkup where the Dr suggested the possibility of the AN, and then blood work found that my testosterone had dropped over 200 points in the last year and so that has to be treated also.

I thought that life was supposed to be downhill after 40 not 35. 

Oh well. I am still hanging around and not planning on checking out yet so I will let you know what the Dr says after the MRI today.

[suboo73]

Hi LtBJH,

I wanted to stop by and say WELCOME to the Forum!

Good luck with your MRI today.
I know I wanted to get on with it and get the results asap.
So, I asked for a copy of the report and CD of the results, so I didn't have to wait to hear from the doctor (who was in another town.)

We are all hoping that your MRI is 'clean!'  Keep us posted.

Prayers all around.
Sincerely,
Sue

[moe]

Peaceful wishes coming your way for today's MRI.
Let us know the outcome, we are here for you, one way or another!
Maureen

[Mark241]

Welcome! And please let us know.