New and Anxious About Potential Acoustic Neuroma

Hi all,

I'm sure you have read posts like this 1,000 times by now but at this point I'm very anxious that I have an Acoustic Neuroma.

For a couple years I've had single sided hearing loss with occasional Tinnitus no other symptoms of note except I do have very occasional vertigo that lasts seconds if I wake up and move quickly but other then that no balance issue or facial issues.

When I noticed the hearing loss I did see an ENT but i was younger then and when he told me I should get a hearing test I kinda blew it off. I know that was a mistake but at the time I was busy and well honestly not sure what I was thinking.

Fast forward until now and I finally made the decision to follow up on the situation even though in the 2 years since this all started I haven't got worse but I recently had my daughter so thought it was about time to start looking after myself for my family's sake. So I had my appointment with my ENT today and they confirmed I had mild to moderate hearing loss in my left ear.

The results of my hearing test on my left ear were SRT 40 Discrimination 76% 75dB MCL.

Basically my doctor said there was distortion in my left ear which he was concerned about so ordered an MRI in the research I've done I always knew an AN was possible but it was not until tonight when I was finished with my appointment that it really hit me. I have an MRI scheduled in a couple week and know I will be worried until then and have basically convinced myself that I already have an AN from endless searching about the topic.

I am the type of person to plan and look at everything so I know it's going to have me going crazy until I find out one way or another so I figured I'd join here share my story in case in the event I do have an AN I will be ready to hopefully be in a better place to deal with it.

 

Probably best to wait till the result of your MRI is out before you suffer too much anxiety for the possibility of AN. Even if you have it, it may not be malignant and there are treatments for it. So try to be positive so you don't suffer unnecessarily. If necessary, try to use some natural herbs such as lemon balm, valerian or chamomile to help calm the anxiety. One day at a time. Take care. God bless.

 

Not much you can do until you get MRI results. AN's are extremely rare but are treatable these days.

 

Acoustc Neuroma are slow growing non cancerous tumours and just a yearly check up is needed to keep an eye on it and it does not mean that is the cause still.
They can be removed if needed so please don't worry yourself and let ENT look after you checking things out.
Relax and take care...
Love glynis

 

Thanks Haz I am hoping thats not what this is.

At this point I can live with my hearing in its current state. My tinnitus is very minor the hearing loss is worse but like you its about a 25 Db loss.

I am holding out hope that because this has been an issue with me for awhile and had always been kinda what it has been and not got any worse its one of those unexplained reasons why it happened which is funny to say but I can live with that its going to be hard to accept if it is an AN (which like I said I have convinced myself that's what it is)

 

My MRI is next week question did they put you in head or feet first because I have a plate and some metal screws in my ankle from a break that I suffered

My ENT only asked if I had metal in my head or my shoulders.

You should have your results before my MRI so I hope the results are good my MRI is scheduled for a week from this Saturday.

 

So my MRI is scheduled for Saturday and day by day as that gets closer I keep researching more and more and and the more I'm convinced I have an AN. with my Mixed Hearing loss and Mild Tinnitus I feel like my symptoms are very Classic AN and that's what worries me most.

Alot of others I have heard have just tinnitus or hearing loss that isn't mixed but with my exact symptoms I feel like its highly likely at this point.

 

@DSF767 - I think if you read enough on the Internet, you'll be overwelmed - I finally had to stop researching, and am seeking a second opinion. I know I have scoured the internet looking for "cases like mine" - but remember, we're all unique - good luck - I've taken up some old hobbies like sewing to keep me distracted in the evening - when I am tempted to "research some more" on the web - please let us know how you do!

 

Thats great news Haz I hope my results come out the same! Your hearing loss was it mixed (both bone and air hearing loss do you have any idea what your speech discrimination percentage was?)

Thanks for that article I hadn't come across that one yet.

I will let you know when I have my results next week Happy Thanksgiving to you!

 

Awesome sauce @Hazel - I actually got a second opinion yesterday - new ENT - who thinks I have/had a viral infection of my inner ear!!

 

Thanks here is my Audiogram don't know if yours looked similar to this:



I think you have less hearing look then me but it does not seem to effect me day to day for the most part I am very glad you came out clear and I am hoping I am the same still very nervous though as I am sure you can imagine

 

@Hazel - my new ENT - a female (about 4 years out of residency) told me that they really can't diagnose the SSHL due to viral infection - but since I did have an ear infection about 5 days before symptoms started to manifest, that she thinks this is the case. Ironically for me the tinnitus did not start until day 3 of the prednisone - and peaked after I finished my 12 day course. She told me that the increased noises and pops were a sign that my hearing was trying to return to normal - I told her I would make an appointment for 3 weeks out and at that time, we would (together) see if it made sense for me to have an MRI. I have no dizziness and with just the one bought of vertigo with vomiting (which was 3 weeks ago) she said "all signs point to a viral infection". Right now, it seems that cold wind (even with ear protection) seem to set the ringing on fire. She did however, do a very thorough exam and ask me so many questions - quite the shift from the last ENT (Mr. Green Pants, I refer to as) - she told me she has seen about 5 cases this week alone of similar hearing impairment following a virus.

@DSF767 - I will see if I can scan and post my audiology test. But I remember seeing it and the curve was down in the first part of the test - and my word recognition was 100% - sending good thoughts for tomorrow.

 

Well I'm sitting in the office right now waiting for my MRI needless to say very nervous.

I still think an AN is my issue but i guess I'll find out soon stilling hoping it's not even though I'm very positive it is (thanks dr. google)

 

Let us know how it went - sending good thoughts

 

Any update @DSF767 ? I have my mri on Tuesday , so nervous can’t sleep or eat

 

@Dna_420 No they wouldn't tell me anything at the MRI. They said i had to wait until next week to get the results from my ENT.

They did give me the CD which I'm not going to look at because of other things I've read saying there is lots of stuff that lights up so i could easily misread it i don't want to make myself more anxious then i already am.

I read your post on here as well and saw you have similar symptoms how much hearing loss did they find with you?

 

@DSF767 im glad your MRI went ok, no point looking at it as we wouldn’t know what’s what, are you going through NHS or private?

They said I have a little loss in my left ear , looking at the chart I can see it’s circled at 40db and right one at 20db,

I have major health anxiety so I just think they will find something bad

 

@Dna_420 i live in the US so went though my private insursnce i should have the results sometime next week and obviously if you have read my other posts in thinking they are going to find an AN for sure.

Do you happen to have a copy of your audiogram like i posted above is it anything like mine?

 

@DSF767 the ENT didn’t give it to me but yes it looks like yours expect the cross was at 40db

I live in London and the ENT I’m seeing is pretty qualified , he doesn’t think it’s AN but because I have one sided T and slight hearing loss they have to do an MRI on the safe side, what worries me is what if they find something else

Do you have a slight balance issue? Neck stiffness? Headache?

 

@Dna_420 i don't really have balance issues, neck stiffness, or headaches.

From what I've read at the high end a 10% chance of having an AN with our symptoms you can look at the link Haz posted above.

 

@DSF767 I think we will be okay , don’t worry, do you still have T?

 

@Dna_420 yes i still have my T though its very faint in the morning if i sleep well and gets louder throughout the day though in a scale of 1-10 it probably peaks at a 3.5

 

@DSF767 that’s the same as me, right now I would say it’s 3.5 but if I get up in the middle of the night it’s probably a 6

If my son screams I can instantly sense my T go up and up

Did you just have the T out of no where or was it noise induced?

 

@DSF767 mri done, that was scary , felt like I was in a coffin !!

Doctor thinks it looks ok but have to wait for official mri report

Hope you are doing ok ,

 

@DSF767 do you have any update buddy? Hope you are ok!