In December 2000 I woke up one morning and was not feeling that great, but then recovered.

I was in Canada at the time, and due to fly back the next day which was January 1st 2001.

Everything was fine until I got to work the next day and found I was a little off balance, but assumed it was jet lag.
I then picked up the phone at work and could not hear well, so reported it as it was not uncommon to have phone issues.

Later that day someone used my phone and told me it was fine.

I went to my PCP who said I had an ear infection and to give it a few weeks.

Two weeks later I went back and was sent to an ENT where they did an Audiogram, brain stem, and sent me for an MRI and found something abnormal, but no positive diagnosis.

I then went to a Neurologist who did a full Neuro work up, sent me for another MRI with contrast and that was when they found the AN which was pretty small.

This took 3 months to diagnose, and another 3 months for surgery as I was considered a perfect candidate.

By this time my hearing was down to 88% in the right ear.

My surgery was very successful and I was considered a miracle, as they said the tumor was totally removed and I maintained the 88% hearing. I also had a very easy and quick recovery.

I was told to come back in 3 years and get the all clear for life.

Months before I was due to go for what I thought was my final MRI, I sensed more hearing loss so went to my Surgeon sooner then planned.

The MRI showed scar tissue as these tumors are very slow growing and it is virtually unheard of for them to come back but was told to come back the next year.

I went back and low and behold it was back again and they same size it was at the time of removal.

After lots of Dr. visits and family meetings, I decided to go for Cyberknife Radiation at Stanford University in CA, and not do invasive surgery again.

They did 35 minutes a day for 3 days and that was in July 2005.

I have gone back yearly since then for an annual check up. I see my Surgeon and take my MRI and Audiogram with me.

Unfortunately my hearing went down to about 54%, but that was prior to radiation.

I have some Tinitus and equilibrium issues which are very frustrating and limits what I can do, but for the most part the radiation has done what it was intended to and stop the tumor from growing. I also have a dry eye as I lost some of my tear ducts, but keep it moist and wear sunglassses as I am sensitive to light at times. I also don't do well in dark or crowded and noisy places, but things could be a whole lot worse.
July 1st 2008 I go once again for my annual visit with MRI and Audiogram in hand and am hoping that things are still on target and that I may be able to go every other year from now on.

What was very rare in my case was the tumor coming back.

I have come across a few people that also have AN's, but not too many.

What I want to know from others is if this changed their lives in any way, as I feel that I am not the person I was prior to the 2001 surgery and that is something that has always bothered me?