Dear b28,
Immediatlely preceeding my diagnosis by my ENT, and verification by the first interviewee Dr. Golfinos. My initial diagnosis for my tumor size was a large 3.1 AN! I do remember feeling tired but I remember immediately being motivated by the news and launching into "my summer from hell" in 2004 where I interviewed and communicated by mail with 14 physicians (in an attempt to avoid surgery at all costs). In the end, I did not avoid surgery!! I was operated on and spent Thanksgiving in the Hospital.
I cannot stress enough that this is not necessary (you must limit your interviews) to a number that you ultimately feel comfortable with, that with these resources available now, like the ANA forum, coupled with other sources on the Internet and the ease of sending your MRI scans out, that this process be a lot easier on all of you.
Make use of us here, we are "experts" in that we can give you much needed support (which I didn't realize at the time) ask and confirm our opinions with medical professionals before you procede with treatment.
All in all, it is necessary for all of us to "listen" to what our bodies are trying to tell us (subtly), I most regret not having acted sooner, I might not have had to have an operation at all, if I had caught it sooner. I might only have had to do non-invasive Gamma Knife or Cyber Knife.
It is essential that you act, don't get into denial once a definite diagnosis has been made, as some of our Acoustic Neuromas are slow growing others fast,
As always, let your gut guide you. God bless all of us on our individual journeys, I wish all of us to have a pain free Memorial Day Weekend!
Mike
