Acoustic Neuroma - Brain tumour diagnosis

[randomname72]

after a few years of one sided hearing loss and tinnitus I have been diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma. This is a brain tumour on the auditory nerve where is joins the brain

I’m a bit numb at the moment. It’s slow growing and non cancerous and there are treatment options in case it progresses

I am to get a hearing aid to help with the hearing loss and tinnitus and have a neurosurgery appointment booked to discuss.

I just feel it one thing after another with my health. It feels really unfair too. I’ve had an awful few years with various illnesses on top of chronic arthritis. Last year I had chronic post viral fatigue for 6 months and then this year I had a tonsil growth and had tonsils removed and now I need surgery for arthritis in my foot. And on top of that I have a brain tumour to contend with

I’m wondering how anyone copes with a diagnosis like this? It’s so strange. It might e a problem or it might not.

I don't have an acoustic neuroma, but I do have quite severe tinnitus in both ears.

I'm sorry you're facing this. It is surgically removable/curable if necessary, though you may lose your hearing on that side. My friend has one, and has had it 8 years(ish). She hasn't had to have surgery yet. She manages with hearing aids for the tinnitus and hearing loss.

My husband had one. He was advised initially to ‘watch and wait’ but ultimately decided to have it dealt with. He had gamma knife radio surgery which took only a few minutes. The radiation causes the tumour to swell initially and this impacted his hearing nerve. But that was his only side effect. He still has tinnitus though 🥴

Did you have an MRI when it started?

My mum had one diagnosed about 30 years ago when she was 60. A bit of a shock to start with, but treatment was reasonably effective and apart from the partial hearing loss / tinitus it has had remarkably little impact on her life since.

Thank you so much for responding and so sorry I was absent - I was in half term holidays and time got away with me.

I feel reassured by these comments and hope that I can have watch and wait approach. I will up date tomorrow wh o have seen the consultant.

my hearing loss is quite annoying really. I have think I have been a bit deluded thinking that it was normal- or just something to live with- for the past few years!

My aunt has that tumour. It doesn’t affect her at all. Shes had it years.
Think positive. You have to believe that you’ll get through this and you will. You’ll see. 💐