Hi Curly Jo,
My tumor was relatively small, 1.5 cm, located on the vestibular nerve. I too had facial issues for about 2 years. Excessive mouth watering, aching feeling on left side when I smiled that progressed to weakness. I noticed the difference in symmetry on my face when I look back at pics, albeit very slight. Also, I was biting my tongue, lip and inside of my mouth. I've said this before and I'll repeat, "Size doesn't matter." It's the location on the nerve that seems to cause problems for some, but not others. The protocol for me was "wait and watch" but I was not happy with this as I knew my facial nerve had been compromised for a few years and made the appointment to have surgery three months from talking with my neurotologist. At the time of surgery, other signs began showing and most notable was leg weakness, poor balance, extreme nausea with vomiting. On the day before surgery after hearing about what was new, he told me that the time had come and glad I set the appointment when I did. So, at 1.5 cm some will wonder why my facial nerve was involved, and glad I didn't "wait and watch" any longer. As it was, my tumor destroyed alot of my bone before poking it's head out the canal. Had lots of fat packing and waxing to seal off the large area. Don't wonder any longer why you experience this and not others as it's been stated on this site before our AN journies are unique, and difficult to put us (our symptoms) in a box and tie it up with a bow.
It is now over three years since my surgery having had to go back in recently for a labyrinthectomy, and I'm doing GREAT. My facial nerve is intact, with only a slight eye twitching.
