For whatever it's worth:
In the 6 months prior to the discovery of my AN, my appetite was 'off' and I 'filled up' easily, eating about a third of what I would have normally eaten at any one meal...even desserts. I dropped over 30 pounds within six months. My digestion remained fairly normal. Just fewer BM's due to eating much less. I had a typical middle-aged male 'gut' and most of the lost weight came from there, so I didn't really care much - I lost almost 2" off my waistline - but I
was getting noticably thinner (and lighter) so my wife became concerned and scheduled a doctor visit on my behalf. With my increasing lethargy and equally noticeable loss of equilibrium, I think she feared the worst (cancer).
After ruling out a thyroid problem (with a blood test) my PCP ordered an MRI scan (with contrast) and thus, my 4.5 cm AN tumor was discovered. A month later, I had
retrosigmoid approach surgery to de-bulk it. Following the surgery, my normal appetite returned. I still haven't put on a lot of weight - about 5 pounds or so. However, as part of the treatment plan to destroy my AN, I underwent a series of 26 daily 'fractionalized' radiation treatments during September and October, so that might be a factor. My digestion and BM's are perfectly normal. My gastroenterologist said that the stress of the AN on my body (it was encroaching on my cerebellum) was likely a factor in my weight loss. I have to assume that the 5-week low-dose radiation regimen also had an effect on my system, even if there were no outward signs. My neurosurgeon said that loss of appetite was sometimes a symptom of an AN if it was anywhere near the trigeminal nerve, as mine was, although I didn't experience any problems chewing or swallowing, pre-op (or now).
Frankly, I enjoy being thinner. I'm now at about what I weighed 20 years ago (140 lbs. on a 5'7" frame). I also believe that I'lll probably begin to re-gain weight in time, so I've had my wife cut down my meal portions in anticipation of having to watch my diet in the future. Right now, I eat whatever I want. Please don't hate me.
![Smiley :)](https://www.anausa.org/smf/Smileys/classic/smiley.gif)
In any case, it is becoming pretty obvious that an Acoustic Neuroma tumor can have far-reaching implications for the patients health.
Jim