Hi, hurdle07:
Allow me to extend my welcome and my empathy, as we've all been in your position at one time. That original diagnosis is scary, sometimes. My wife was with me when I received my AN diagnosis (by phone, from my PCP). The obvious concern of the neurosurgeon we consulted - that the tumor be operated on as quickly as possible...like, in a week - also gave us pause. I reverted to near child-like status and basically just listened and nodded my head as my wife and the surgeon conferred about the mechanics of the upcoming surgery and what to expect. My only serious input was to make the doctor aware that I greatly feared post-op facial paralysis (I had researched AN"s...just in case) so he went with a plan to de-bulk the tumor (reduce it's size) then, employ radiation (FSR) to kill the tumor's DNA, which he claimed had great success. I hgardly had time to worry much and the surgery date came up fast. I knew I had a problem that had to be addressed quickly, so I just went with it.
The operation went very well with almost no complications. My symptoms all disappeared following the surgery (I remained deaf in the AN-affected ear, of course). Three months later, I underwent 26 daily radiation treatments about 20 minutes in duration. No problems, if you don't count boredom and the screwing up of my schedule.
Now, 18 months post-op, I'm about 95% back to normal. My last MRI showed definite tumor shrinkage and necrosis (cell death). My balance is getting better all the time - almost normal, now - and I feel great. Believe me, there is life after an acoustic neuroma diagnosis. Granted, not every single AN patient has the same exact outcome and, unfortunately, not every surgeon has the same knowledge and skill level, so some patients don't do as well and/or suffer post-op complications. That should motivate you to do as much research as you can - this website is a treasure-trove of AN information - and carefully choose your surgeon, making sure he (or she) has extensive experience in removing acoustic neuroma tumors. Of course, should the tumors size allow it, you may opt for radiation, which is non-invasive and less complicated than surgery but carries it's own risks.
In any case, know that the folks on this forum are here for you in whatever way we can help. We're not doctors and can't offer medical advice but, collectively, we have tons of experience with a condition (AN) that few people have ever even heard of, so we can be a trusted resource for you on many practical matters regarding an acoustic neuroma. That noted, we wish you the best and hope you'll visit the forum as often as you feel you need to. We'll be here.
Jim
