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[Avarose2010]

Hi everyone , well it's now seven weeks since I had confirmation of a 13mm AN . Still not got an appointment through from LGI for the AN , think I have been lost in transit . I have now decided to go private and see the consultant I have been seeing for my Menieres as he also treats AN . I realise that I am very lucky that I can do this because my husband has cover through work but reading some of the posts , the granddaughter who has been through such a lot has made my mind up, now been put on watch and wait and go back for another scan in a years time . Though I realise this is proberly the best option , I do have concerns that if I needed an operation it would be better sooner than later , while I am in decent health , I am 69 years old and don't want to may be having surgery in my 70s . Anyone know what size they have to get before they operate ? Many thanks .

[whiteleye]

From what I have read, your AN is of a size that can have treatment via surgery or gamma knife or continued "watch". I was diagnosed a little over a year ago, and the AN grew on the six month MRI 2 mm and is now about 11 mm but it also grew in width. I am on "watch and wait" and will wait to see how much it grows on the next six month MRI to decide if I will consider gamma knife. I am 74 and caregiver for a very ill husband so I am happy to continue to wait. I have lost all hearing on AN side so saving hearing is not a consideration.

Best of luck!

[drdeanbellavia]

Avarose210:

Gamma-knife surgery is the preferred method, but can only be done if the AN doesn't get too large: 13mm is getting close to that limit. GK surgery is simple with little to any recovery time. In 2001, in less than a month my fairly symptomless AN blew up to 15mm. I had GK surgery a month later in the morning, the AN is dead and shrunk 33% and my recovery ended that afternoon.

Of course it depends on where the AN is located, but you might want to get rid of it before it becomes too large and needs invasive surgery; good luck!

Dean

[Avarose2010 in reply to drdeanbellavia]

Many thanks for your kind reply . I think I need to look at all options now .