I am not sure how much this will help -
My small AN (was a little over 2MM, has actually shrunk to 2MM in 12 months) gives me some very subtle vision problems, similar to my sister (she had a 3MM removed over 10 years ago - it caused disabling balance symptoms). Before I was diagnosed, I wound up in the ER since my eyes couldn't track lines on a spreadsheet and I was worried I was having a stroke. I was diagnosed with a panic attack, while of course ticked me off, and didn't explain my issue. Several months later, I had an MRI which showed the AN.
I have several symptoms; however, I will focus on vision here. I have subtle problems with viewing patterns, my problems have diminished over time as this tumor has apparently shrunk (which I attributed partially to having regular myofascial massage done every week over the past 6 months which improves circulation).
However, I bring this up since it could be possible that part of what you are experiencing are some vision issues caused by the AN- that are so subtle you may not actually notice them. For example, I was doing well this year and then I happened to use a restroom in June that had "ivy wallpaper". It was moving on me. Now, I had to really look at it to see it. I just knew something was off in that room and then when I looked closer at the paper, the patterns were moving. If I didn't know about my AN and if I didn't know that my sister has things move on her (this still happens to her now), I probably would have rushed to the ER.
There are some other weird things that this AN can do to vision - shiny wet surfaces bothered me for example. I had no idea until after I was diagnosed that my sister experienced issues with shiny wet surfaces. Her doctor has taken out a number of ANs and told her that his other patients experienced similar types of things. Now that I know this, I have regained my confidence in walking on shiny wet surfaces.
I happen to be an accountant, I do sometimes have problems tracking lines even after my tumor has shrunk. Even with reading glasses, I have to use a ruler or my finger to run along a line on a spreadsheet printed out. It doesn't happen all of the time, but it is just an annoyance when it does.
Our carpeted beige basement stairs "shimmer" a little bit. I have to take a bit of extra care going up and down them, hold the rail. Not a big deal, just a little adjustment.
We use those plug in emergency lights and have two of them in our bedroom so it's not pitch black when I get up for whatever reason. I need a little light. Evidently, when the vestibular gets pressed by the AN, it can be harder in the dark since your eyes help with your balance.
Maybe the patterns on the batteries - or the rows they are in forming a pattern - coupled with the AN equals a bit more strain on your eyes as your brain processes the information.
I don't have a solution, it's more of an explanation. But once we realize there is an explanation, then it makes it a bit easier to deal with. So when I realize those vines were turning/moving/the wall appeared to be breathing, I thought - its the AN, it's causing my brain to not possess information correctly from my eyes, and it's okay and I went along with my day, instead of letting it turn into anxiety. Perhaps in stacking the batteries, you may need to periodically take a break or two - more breaks than you used too, and then your strain will pass. Perhaps going for a massage may help too.
Also, I feel that what we deal with is like a brain injury. We have something pressing on the vestibular that then messes up our brain processing and affects our balance and vision. I got a lot from Laura Bruno's book "If I only had a brain injury" that helped me last year as I was coping with this. I also researched how balance works and how vision can be affected and got an understanding of how my body works. I also got an eye doctor who said that she would treat me like a person with a brain injury. She actually got the whole picture and has a vision therapist that I saw when I was suffering a lot last year. Again, my symptoms have overall subsided (thank goodness) and I am hoping that my continual massage therapy along with various oils that I am using will continue to bring a positive result and my tumor will shrink again in 12 months. (I am also declining all dental xrays now, my dentist did them every 6 months, bitwings, and a full set every 5 years. Who knows if it has anything to do with the fact that both my sister and I have ANs but I'm erring on the side of caution).
Sorry I started rambling and it's been a long day so my editing on this posting isn't the greatest but I hope it helped in some fashion.
Sincerely,
Gale
