compressing on the brain stem?

[Peggy]

I've been reading a lot about this and I'm not sure what they are talking about, even if I have it,  my an was measured at 1/1 x 2.0 x 1.5 cm , the MRI place classified it as large, ok. I also have constant ringing in left ear and some hearing loss.  I was having vertigo about a week ago and that has left has quick as it came.  I do feel slightly lightheaded especially when I'm walking.  Does this mean my an is compressing on my brain stem?

also, reading about GK, if I opt for this (I think I'm leaning towards surgery) does this shrink it or just stop it from growing?  I'm 49 and was also told that I'm young (thank you very much) and should have it removed.  This was told to me by an ent, not a surgeon or a specialist.  I also read that if I go GK that surgery could be more difficult if needed later on is this true?

I love this place, I'm getting so much info and I sure don't feel so alone!!

[Palace]

 

Hi


I did a "reply" in a private post.  (as not to repeat myelf in other postings)  I hope I have helped this person.  I mentioned about CK data and my experience so far with the tumor the size of 22 mm.  (pressing on the 8th cranial nerve)   I've decided that in some cases a private post is better than repeating when there is a new person coming on or a new issue.  I'm having wonderful treatment at Stanford for my problems. 



Regards,



Palace

[matti]

My MRI report stated that my AN was compressing the brain stem. Not all AN's compress the brain stem. Do you have a copy of your MRI report?  If not, you should request one and also a copy of the films. 

My AN symptoms would come and go, somedays I would have constant pressure in my ear, others I would be dizzy as heck and then would disappear for awhile. What seemed consistent for me was the facial numbness/tingling.

Hugs,
Cheryl

[yardtick]

Bruce,
Your knowledge amazes me!!  A question for the "old wise one."  My ENT told me that the substance he removed from my ear and debulked off of my facial nerve was sticky, should I be concerned?
Anne Marie

[TP]

Peggy: My AN was on my brainstem and I only knew about it less than a month before I had my surgery to remove my AN from my brainstem. (I found this website 9 months after my sugery-wish I found it before my sugery). In any event, for over a year I had severe pain in my neck and shoulder, then started to lose my hearing (probably was losing it years ago but the last few months it was almost gone) and fortunately for me the head aches did not start until the very end - about 2 months before my AN was removed. The pain in my neck and shoulder was due to the tumor pressing against my spinal cord. After the AN was removed my neck and shoulder pain went away. Praise the Lord!

p.s. I agree, Bruce is a wealth of knowledge as well as many others on this forum. I think they should write a book! I've learned more from them than any Dr I've met with this past year. 

[sgerrard]

Hi Peggy, you sound a little calmer today.

  My ENT also said "just get a little surgery", and referred me to a neurotologist, which is like a cross between an ENT and a neurosurgeon. They can tell you more about what your MRI means. Mine, Dr. Hodgson, suggested I look into radiation as well, which I am doing.   My neuroma is smaller than yours, but I have most of your symptoms, minus the short bout of vertigo you had. So yours may not be pressing on the brain stem. ANs can cause lots of symptoms anyway. Only a specialist reading your MRI can really say.
 
  This is a link to some of the Drs. at Jefferson I found through Google. I posted it in that "What is FSR" thread you had, but here it is again, in case you didn't see it. One of them should be able to tell you more about your particular case. They also seem to have a balance between surgery and radiation.
http://www.jeffersonhospital.org/otolaryngology/index.html
 
  A tumor can shrink after radiation, but it doesn't always happen, sometimes they just kind of sit there. The question about whether surgery is harder after radiation is hard to find answers on for a good reason - it doesn't happen often enough to be able to say. As Bruce said, try to get a clear picture of the likely outcomes, side effects, and recovery times, see some specialists to find out what your AN is doing, and make an informed decision for yourself.

Steve

[Peggy]

thanks everyone, I will wait until I see a doctor to decide what treatment to go with, I have 2 appointments coming up in August, I wish they were tomorrow, I'm going to Jefferson, and to the Univ of Penn.  I'll see what they suggest and think about their suggestions and of course talk to hubby and come up with a plan, I just received in the mail a packet of infor , went to the beach today for some fun, so I'll look at it all when I'm done here, I'm sure it will help too.  I sure appreciate everyones thoughts.  I truly does help

Peggy