Welcome to our forum, hayneshome. I'm sorry you are feeling so poorly. We all know what that's like, and we're here to help in any way we can.
If your dizzyness and nausea only recently began, there is hope that they will mostly resolve as your brain adapts to the wierd signals it's getting on your AN side. The tinnitus is more likely to persist, although it too may diminish to the point where you don't even notice it many days. Tinnitus can be maddening at first, but believe me, you will largely get used to it should it persist.
The nausea, like your dizzyness, is caused by damage to your vestibular nerve (which controls your sense of balance). Over time, your brain should adapt at least a little --possibly a lot -- to signals it's getting from the damaged balance nerve and reduce these symptoms. At the onset of my symptoms, I had vertigo so bad I couldn't even move my head slightly without vomiting. I was so nauseous, I couldn't hold down water. I had to go to the ER (what a nightmarish ride in the car that was!) for rehydration by IV. In a few days, my nausea and vertigo disappeared, but I continued to have oscillopsia for several months. That, too, finally went away. I still have nearly constant disequilibrium and light-headedness, but it's mild enough on most days that I can still go hiking, backpacking and mountain climbing (alpine climbing, but not rock climbing anymore as that requires great balance).
Unfortunately, my tinnitus persists. But it has vastly improved. On some days now, I barely hear it. I believe a healthy, balanced diet and adequate sleep keep my tinnitus in check. Specifically, eating a ton of steamed leafy, green vegetables and a lot of fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids (salmon, trout, etc.), along with strictly avoiding eating sugar works for me. There is no doubt in my mind that this diet has helped me tremendously; when I backslide I feel worse, but when I stick to it my symptoms diminish.
If you have been dizzy and nauseous and having tinnitus for more than a few months and it's not resolving, and especially if these symptoms are getting worse over time, I would agree with Jan that watching and waiting may not be your best choice. If your tumor continues to grow (not all ANs do), it could cause these symptoms to worsen further. However, if your symptoms are new -- and stable -- and you don't yet have a good idea about whether they will resolve over time, watching and waiting is a reasonable strategy. That's because your tumor is very small and is not likely to become large for many years. (The average growth rate is 1 to 2 mm per year, although some don't grow at all and others grow much faster.)
In any case, you shouldn't panic and rush into treatment. Even if you decide you don't want to watch and wait, you can take a few months or more to thoroughly research your treatment options. Bottom line: having such a small tumor, your prognosis for preserving or regaining a high quality of life are excellent.
The toughest part at the beginning, when you first find out you have an AN, is the mental stuff: worrying, shock, fright and anger. That will also ease very soon.
Again, welcome to our group.
Best wishes,
Tumbleweed
