Wife just diagnosed with 5x10x5mm AN yesterday, July 14, 2016

[GattoMarte]

Greetings All. Just found this Site today after my wife yesterday was found to have a 5x10x5mm AN affecting her left ear hearing due to AN covering nerve. It is not touching her brain at this time. We are in the process of setting up appointment with Keck Medicine of USC and I will try to update you all with my wife's progress. AN specialist will determine if we 'watch and wait' or Gamma Knife. Wish Good Health and Happiness to all Good Folks here :-)

[researcher]

Sorry your wife had to join this club. I wish her well on her AN journey. Take care.

[GattoMarte]

Sorry your wife had to join this club. I wish her well on her AN journey. Take care.

Thank you. We are just glad that the AN was found sooner rather than later. Our family doctor who we have been seeing the last 40 years, has dragged this out for the last nine months saying it was fluid in the ear and kept assuring us it would go away. Very disappointed in his prognosis. We finally got fed up and found an ENT specialist who said he saw no fluid and said to get the MRI.

I've already read through a lot of useful threads here and would like to thank those responsible for this site. The information is extremely helpful. 

Personally, I had triple bypass heart surgery back in early 2013 so we are no strangers to medical journey's. 

[GattoMarte]

Heard from Keck today. After their review of the MRI images they advise to W&W. We will make an appointment to go and talk with them as soon as we can, but this is not an emergency situation. They want a second MRI in January 2017. So, I will keep this post updated as best as I can. My wife needs to see about getting a hearing aid (aids?).

[Kathleen_Mc]

GattoMarte
If you wife goes for hearing aids be sure they know for what purpose (that she has A.N.)......the nerve isn't functioning properly in that ear and the aid(s) required aren't likely just the usual ones
Kathleen

[mandihester]

Gattomarte-
I was also treated for fluid on the ears but my PCP did make the ENT referral when my symptoms didn't get any better.  My tumor is 1.5cm and I have just elected to have surgery.  It isn't scheduled yet, but I will hopefully get the call soon. 
Good luck to your wife!

[Director]

Hi Gatto Marte,

You and your wife might be interested in these Questions for the Doctors- you can print them out and take them to her next appointment. There is also a Questions for Yourself list. https://www.anausa.org/pretreatment/questions-for-your-physician
Best wishes
Allison Feldman, CEO, ANA

[GattoMarte]

Thank You All Very Much for the helpful information. My job requires me to travel a bit this time of year so it's hard to find the time to check back here.

We are going to Keck tomorrow morning for our first sit down talk with them.

[GattoMarte]

Update: We talked with two wonderful Keck doctors last Wednesday. My wife has not developed any other symptoms other than the original partial hearing loss per testing and interview results. So, we now wait for her next MRI results in January to best determine the next step.

[GattoMarte]

UPDATE: February 8, 2017

Today my wife and I went to Keck Medical Center of USC to be advised of the results my my wife's second MRI, the first being done six months ago. We were told the AN has remained the same and not grown, so, the next step is to schedule yearly MRI's to keep an eye on it. If any dizziness, numbness or facial tics appear we are to immediately contact Keck to take the necessary steps.

So, we are thanking God and all Good People at this time. I will keep this thread updated as time moves along.

[ANSydney]

Congratulations to you and your wife. That's a great result.

[GattoMarte]

Congratulations to you and your wife. That's a great result.

Thank You very much. Best Wishes to you and all here.

[GattoMarte]

UPDATE:

I last posted back in February, 2017, so I thought I'd keep this thread going with an update.

As of today, June 26, 2017 my wife's AN condition has been stable. There have been a few occasional consecutive days of ringing in her AN ear but that's about it. Her hearing aid has been a huge help in making her and my life easier.

Wish all the best to all you good folks here.

[Citiview]

Congratulations to your wife on one year of watch and wait.
You're working with a great team over there.

[GattoMarte]

Congratulations to your wife on one year of watch and wait.
You're working with a great team over there.

Thank You. Yes, Keck/USC physicians and staff are awesome.