Anyone else diagnosed with acoustic neuroma, a benign brain tumor?

I have been losing hearing in my right ear very gradually over many years. When I mentioned it to my ENT doctor as I was getting two thyroid nodules examined and needle biopsied (which were small and benign), he had me take a hearing test, then sent me for my first MRI because of the auditory test result pattern. I have a small acoustic neuroma 5 x 11 mm. That was about 3 or 4 years ago. Almost a year later, I had another brain MRI, again without and with shot and was told it had not grown and I could wait 2 years before getting a 3rd MRI and thyroid sonogram, which are due this spring. I do not, so far, have other really noticeable problems, except ringing and clicking in my ear and, maybe, sometimes a few balance problems when turning or bending fast or walking in the dark. If the acoustic neuroma causes worse problems and grows too large, I will have to have radiation. These days, the choices are observation, surgery, or radiation. Since I am now 71, the ENT thinks observation of the small tumor is best, and then radiation, if needed. Also, I have been dealing with annoying irritable bowel and refux for several years, too. Hopefully, by the the time I need the AN treated, better treatments will become available. Right now, I am hoping it does not grow. Good luck with your AN journey! Everyone has different circumstances. Hope my story helps you decide what to do and helps ease your mind somewhat. .

I have been losing hearing in my right ear very gradually over many years. When I mentioned it to my ENT doctor as I was getting two thyroid nodules examined and needle biopsied (which were small and benign), he had me take a hearing test, then sent me for my first MRI because of the auditory test result pattern. I have a small acoustic neuroma 5 x 11 mm. That was about 3 or 4 years ago. Almost a year later, I had another brain MRI, again without and with shot and was told it had not grown and I could wait 2 years before getting a 3rd MRI and thyroid sonogram, which are due this spring. I do not, so far, have other really noticeable problems, except ringing and clicking in my ear and, maybe, sometimes a few balance problems when turning or bending fast or walking in the dark. If the acoustic neuroma causes worse problems and grows too large, I will have to have radiation. These days, the choices are observation, surgery, or radiation. Since I am now 71, the ENT thinks observation of the small tumor is best, and then radiation, if needed. Also, I have been dealing with annoying irritable bowel and refux for several years, too. Hopefully, by the the time I need the AN treated, better treatments will become available. Right now, I am hoping it does not grow. Good luck with your AN journey! Everyone has different circumstances. Hope my story helps you decide what to do and helps ease your mind somewhat. .

I'm having radiation surgery to remove my tumor. I just started having dizziness and balance problems. Scared it will last forever. I work part time. I love to be outside. We live on an acreage not far from Spencer Iowa. I love to ride my motorcycle with my husband. I look forward to it every year and we are taking a vacation to Tennessee in July. Scared it's going to ruin my plans. Is there anything g you can tell me about this. I've been reading a lot.

Donna

Hello- looking for info as well about acoustic neuroma. I have MS and get an yearly MRI. The found it last year but did not inform me it was 3mm. This year it is 4-6mm. I am in the information gathering stage. Thank you

Hi Tracy: My name is Rose. I was diagnosed with a acoustic neuroma in 2014. Very scary indeed. I went in to my doctor with an earache. They gave me 2 weeks of antibiotics . After that 2 weeks the side of my head still hurt and I was loosing balance. I went back and was sent to a ENT who did an ear biopsy, nasal passage biopsy and an MRI in a 3 week period.
The biopsy showed nothing as well as the nasal scan. But the MRI came back showing a 3.4 centimeter tumor in my ear canal and growing and pushing my brain stem in too the point that they saw Hydrocephalus(water on my brain). I had no headaches after the earache no pain or dizziness , nor imbalance. There were no symptoms at all.
Three weeks later I met with my surgeons and neurosurgeons and they explained the surgery to me and my children. It was a scary time, BUT I have a daughter who is an RN and any questions I didn't know to answer she did, and by the time my surgery was scheduled, we had all our answers and were as prepared as we could be.
I was diagnosed February 9, 2014, and my surgery was scheduled for March 10, 2014. I am allergic to a lot of the Anastasia drugs they give people when in surgery, so I had to make many scheduled appointments to the neurosurgeons for testing. My surgery was 12 hours. In this 12 hour period I had 4 surgeons and neurosurgeons flip flopping thru my surgery. When one completed their part they came out and updated my daughter so she could update my family as too progress. It took the full 12 hours.
the amazing part is with this surgery it was non cancerous and they scraped on my nerves for 12 hours and needed to leave 2% of the tumor on my brain stem or it would have severed nerves for my face and eye. I am 2 years since this surgery and I still need to see neurosurgeons for MRI and testing. I have imbalance due to the hearing loss in my left ear where the surgery was performed. Things that never bothered me before do now, my balance is still off and will always be off. I just need to adjust my employment and life to the after effects of having needed brain surgery.
Every day is a challenge, but I by the Grace of the Good Lord am alive.

I recently was diagnosed with an Acoustic Neuroma. I am seeing Dr Thompson in Omaha NE. I am scared to death how this is going to turn out. I have lost a lot of my hearing in my right ear now.
Today I am also dizzy. I have an appointment with the Dr on the 17th for another MRI and a simulation. He is planning to do a one time radiation treatment the following week. What have you found out about this tumor?
This is really bothering me. Donna

@kkkk your thyroid nodules are caused from your acoustic neuroma. I know because mine caused hypothyroidism. It’s common. It also causes neuropathy. The longer you have it the more problems you could have. As for what they are doing Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota is doing some ground breaking work that’s amazing. It’s worth going and talk to them. Do you have a heart condition

I have been losing hearing in my right ear very gradually over many years. When I mentioned it to my ENT doctor as I was getting two thyroid nodules examined and needle biopsied (which were small and benign), he had me take a hearing test, then sent me for my first MRI because of the auditory test result pattern. I have a small acoustic neuroma 5 x 11 mm. That was about 3 or 4 years ago. Almost a year later, I had another brain MRI, again without and with shot and was told it had not grown and I could wait 2 years before getting a 3rd MRI and thyroid sonogram, which are due this spring. I do not, so far, have other really noticeable problems, except ringing and clicking in my ear and, maybe, sometimes a few balance problems when turning or bending fast or walking in the dark. If the acoustic neuroma causes worse problems and grows too large, I will have to have radiation. These days, the choices are observation, surgery, or radiation. Since I am now 71, the ENT thinks observation of the small tumor is best, and then radiation, if needed. Also, I have been dealing with annoying irritable bowel and refux for several years, too. Hopefully, by the the time I need the AN treated, better treatments will become available. Right now, I am hoping it does not grow. Good luck with your AN journey! Everyone has different circumstances. Hope my story helps you decide what to do and helps ease your mind somewhat. .

Do not think so.