Possible recurrent AN?

I've noticed that over the past few months, I've been having the same symptoms I had when first diagnosed a year ago: ice-pick ear pain that has been almost constant since about October; worsening tinnitus; increasing imbalance issues; increasing dizziness and vertigo that is actually getting worse, especially the kind that wakes me up at night. The room is actually spinning as I'm typing this post. The tumor at that time was small and was completely removed in March of 2018. I'm afraid to go get examined because I don't want to hear the results - that was a very challenging diagnosis to receive. I also don't really have any support. What are the chances that this is AN and it has returned in the same ear (right ear)?

[Ivorbgun]

Sorry to hear this, but I think you need to get it checked out for your own peace of mind

[drdeanbellavia]

Was the first (and hopefully last) tumor removed via invasive surgery or GK (radiation) surgery?

[Hidden in reply to drdeanbellavia]

Surgery. Middle fossa

[drdeanbellavia in reply to Hidden]

My opinion is that invasive surgery probably has a higher risk of growing back than GK surgery. The surgeon may not get all of the AN in invasive surgery due to fears of cutting the facial nerve. In either case it is unusual for an AN to grow back.

Get it checked out and dealt with with GK surgery.

[dcfcram]

You need to get this checked out, the sooner it's sorted the better. No point burying your head in the sand as it won't go away. Go see your doctor for your own piece of mind, and good luck

[Highwycombe]

An's allways come back it's a bit like a root in the garden they keep coming back.

[colbe in reply to Highwycombe]

Highwycombe - your statement is not supported by any research. Only a very tiny percentage regrow. One study showed regrowth in one person out of 81.

Chgoangel - go and see your doctor. Let us know how you get on. Best wishes.

[Scots1234 in reply to Highwycombe]

I really don’t think comments like this are helpful in any way. If you can’t be positive, on any level, better to say nothing at all. Especially when your facts are totally unfounded.

[Ellafen]

Your going to fear the worse, my husband did and he's fine. You won't stop worrying unless you get checked out.

[Hidden]

Hi everyone, thank you for the responses. I did finally go to see an ENT yesterday. From a visual exam, they said everything looked good, but they couldn't account for the decrease I'm experiencing in hearing, the tinnitus and the almost constant vertigo. The ice-pick pain is enough to bring me to tears. Right now, they're saying it's possibly TMD, even though there is no history at all, past or current, of me having any jaw issues, grinding my teeth or anything like that, but as I said before, they can't account for the other symptoms. I'm scheduled for a MRI with contrast, on March 1st. I have to admit, I'm nervous and scared senseless.

[Hidden]

Hi everyone, I met the doctor and was told the results of my MRI. In addition to seeing the surgery that I had to remove the AN, they are seeing some "inflammation" which they said could be indicative of the AN regrowing, but they can't be sure. I will need to have another MRI in a year. Has anyone else experienced this?