bmock,
Welcome to the Forum - but sorry you had to join this crazy AN club
![Roll Eyes ::)](https://www.anausa.org/smf/Smileys/classic/rolleyes.gif)
I live in Virginia and have been both to UVA and John Hopkins.
These major medical centers have doctors who have more experience with ANs.
[My local ENTs dismissed my symptoms for over 12+ years...]
After being diagnosed in Oct. 2008, i continue to do research and decided to choose Watch & Wait for now.
The important thing is to have an MRI with contrast and then do follow-up MRIs - i have had 2 and will have my one year follow-up before the end of 2009.
My AN is approximately one cm and i have minimal symptoms right now, a feeling of fullness in the ear, some tinnitus, and one crazy bout of vertigo in late Jan. 09.
After everything i have learned in the last year, i am ever mindful that i don't want to get to the point where my symptoms increase/get worse - it's a roll of of the dice, but i think i know what kind of treatment i would have if i needed to do so in the near future.
Please keep posting and we will try to answer your questions/concerns.
You are now part of the Forum Family and will meet some of the most AMAZING, WONDERFUL FOLKS, ever!
This is one
AWESOME group!
![Grin ;D](https://www.anausa.org/smf/Smileys/classic/grin.gif)
Sincerely,
Sue
PS Were it not more for sister, i would not be here today - she was diagnosed in a matter of months, 6 months before me. I am grateful to HER ENT for recognizing the possible AN; and grateful to my doctor at UVA for writing my MRI script. As they say, knowledge is power!