Should watch and wait

[Jcandoit]

Hello everyone I was diagnosed with a 3mm AN in 2019. Any advice anyone ?

[Superpep]

Hi, I was diagnosed in January with a 3mm AN after contrast MRI. I spoke to my consultant at Addenbrooks and am now on watch and wait, they are going to carry out another MRI in July (other ones were at Kettering GH) to get a baseline, then will do exactly as it says....watch and wait. I had tinnitus for many years and as the AN is so small (I think 3mm is the smallest measurement they consider, so may even be smaller than that), it could be that it isn't growing at all, hence the six month MRI to see if there is any change. I've been advised that my scans will start out as yearly, then go to every other year if no change. These little buggers usually grow extremely slowly, if at all, so may well be that since your symptoms started, it has barely grown at all as it is still at the smallest recordable size. The tinnitus is an annoyance, but as long as the AN doesn't grow, I'll just live with it. Rest assured that now you are under medical care with your AN at the smallest recordable size, you're in pretty good hands and any change will soon be picked up, leading to the least invasive prevention if it becomes necessary. Good luck!

[Jcandoit in reply to Superpep]

Thank you Superpep for this valuable information and Good luck too.

[904newton]

I was diagnosed with a 4 x 6mm AN nov 2019 I had an MRI six months later as I have a cancer history and delighted to say totally stable AN so I will now have another MRI in a year after the last. The doctor said mine was very small. I have tinnitus and quite a lot of hearing loss in that ear. Good luck with yours I think treatment depends on size and location.

[Jcandoit in reply to 904newton]

Thanks for this valuable and comforting information 904 Newton. I hope yours will never ever get any bigger. I also have tinnitus in the left ear but perfect hearing in both ears but strangely at 3mm the AN is slightly affecting my balance, which I am not sure is the norm in all cases irrespective of the size.

Is your balance affected at all ?

[904newton in reply to Jcandoit]

No balance issues in particular I do get very travel sick and wondered if that is related ? I had travel sickness as a child and it returned a few years ago?

[Kobegeorge]

Hi don’t know what your consultant has said but I’m on yearly NRI just had second one just monitoring to make sure it doesn’t growMine started with really bad dizzy spells I couldn’t even get off the bed

My GP was really reluctant to refer me said it was Ménière’s,pleased he did

All seems to have settled down well hopefully

K

[handmaid]

Hello Jcandoit,I was diagnosed with AN approx 20 years ago, the neuro surgeon was keen to operate ASAP...... I wasn't.

I requested he refer me to Sheffield to discuss non surgical options such as Gamma Knife.

The consultant at Royal Hallamshire checked my scans & advised that I watch and wait.

I have a an annual MRI scan - the last one was Feb 2021.

BANA British AN Assoc have lots of info.

Look at all the options is my advice.

Hope this helps good luck

[Jcandoit in reply to handmaid]

Thank you very much handmaid and I hope you continue to remain stable.

[Nova-]

Hi I was diagnosed around 5 years ago after a random hearing test..quite a shock to discover this rare AN..the ENT s'gested W&W which I'm fine with I have MRI annually & things are stable... although tinnitus is off/on sometimes worse with stressful times, also if I read with my head tilted forward sometimes a headache but nothing that I can't live with! It's v useful to look at BANA & ANA.... AN associations & sharing is great to understand the complexities of AN pre/post surgery etc! Good luck all !

[Jcandoit in reply to Nova-]

Thanks alot Nova