Acoustic Neuroma - Real Mum story on MoM

I am a mum of a beautiful and very active 2 year old boy named Riley.

and am currently 23 weeks expecting our 2nd baby boy “Michael”.

My hubby and I have been together for 5 years and couldn’t be happier.

One day my son and I had decided to go and visit my brother aka Uncle Drew, and as I was enjoying a nice lunch with my son and brother I had this pop in my right ear and constant LOUD ringing and I mean LOUD! I couldn’t hear ANYTHING but ringing and when someone spoke it just sounded like morse code,

I thought maybe an infection or build up of wax and continued trying to “pop” it by yawning and holding my nose and blowing but nothing relieved it. I got home and when Hubby finished work I told him and he tried to “unblock” my ear with warm water but just made it worse.

After 2 days of constant ringing and little sleep and started to have severe dizzy spells and blackouts I booked into the doctors where they checked everything and referred me for an “EMERGENCY” appointment with an ENT.

3 Days later we went off to the ENT where I had found I had lost 70% of my hearing in my right ear literally over the period of a few days after having very good hearing my whole 20 years of being alive. This concerned the ENT so was rushed off for an MRI.

I had to wait another 2 days with this HORRIBLE ringing. The day of the MRI came and found out I had a 3cm Acoustic Neuroma in my right ear which would need to be removed ASAP. A week later we found out that I was pregnant, A million things where running through my mind…. “I just had an MRI did it harm the baby?”…”Whats going to happen if I cant have this surgery..” So many things ….

I had been referred to a surgeon who specialises in this type of tumor, Dr Melville Da Cruz in Westmead.

I went down and saw this dr who was wonderful, But also added to my stress, Being pregnant I couldnt have this surgery and was told I now had to wait until a week after my due date for another MRI to see if this tumor had grown more ( Pregnancy is known to give tumors a severe period of rapid growth).

I am now waiting….waiting… waiting . It is such a scary time for all of us with such uncertainty as most people aren’t faced with this tumor until 50+ so it is very rare for me to have this…. The Dr said to me that because of my age he has to treat me for a lot longer time, as most patients are generally in their 50s-60s and by the time the treatment is no longer affective they usually have another health concern that they pass from.

I will keep you all updated on my journey as it unfolds. Thank you for reading. I posted a photo of my inspiration to get up every day <3 My beautiful son Riley

Posted by rileynmikesmum, 18th November 2013

6 Comments

- - My Little Buttons said
  - 27 Mar 2022
    1:27 pm
Oh wow Yes I know what a horrible and scary time it can be I have the same Acoustic Neuroma

- - mom57522 said
  - 09 Jan 2015
    2:17 pm
What a horrible scary time for you. Hope everything worked out.

- - pamela preece said
  - 20 Nov 2013
    10:05 pm
oh dear what a very scary time for you. You sound like a strong person. Just keep your eyes on the prize. I hope everything goes smoothly and that the tumour doesn’t grow too much more before you can have surgery. sending you love.x

- - jocelynwong31 said
  - 20 Nov 2013
    3:40 pm
keeping you in my prayers. I hope everything will turn out well for you. Does the ENT specialist have temporary relief for the horrible ringing that you are hearing?…

- - happygal said
  - 19 Nov 2013
    6:19 pm
My thoughts and prayers are with you and I truly hope that everything works out fine for you.Yes your insperation Riley is a big factor such a beautiful little boy.Wishing you all the best with this xxxxxxxxx

- - cinta said
  - 18 Nov 2013
    6:05 pm
I hope everything works out for you and your family xxxx