Where do I start....I'm back on the site reading posts and completely anxious and nervous. In 1998, at the ripe age of 23, I was diagnosed with an acoustic schwanomma on my right side. The tumor was approximately 3 cm, and the choice was made to remove it by surgery. The surgical approach removed all the inner ear, and unfortunately, the facial nerve was severed as the tumor was growing from it. Since, I've gotten married and have two beautiful and healthy children. I was living my life, with my slight facial paralysis, but with no balance issues, tinnitus, or headaches. I felt the surgery was a success and sometimes question myself if the gamma knife would have restored my smile. Those are small things to worry about and I seemed content. I've had follow-up MRIs every 5 years with clean results.
A year ago, for the first time, I felt some auditory issues with my "good" ear. I was going through a cold and was given decongestants and antibiotics along with earwax removal. The issues went away within a few days and my hearing returned to normal. Here I am a year later, and these auditory issues have returned. My ear feels full and seems as if I'm in an auditorium with a motorcycle humming in the background. I did the ear wax irrigation on my own, and did the nasal decongestant, but its not going away yet. Its been 5 days or so. I went to an urgent clinic to look at the ear hoping there was more ear wax, but it was clear. The General Med doc said the ear drum was flat and suggested I had fluid build up - gave me a Z-pak and requested I follow up with an ENT. I'm on day 2 of the Z-pak and not noticing any results. I have some popping when I swallow at times, and maybe thats a good sign that it is just fluid built up in the eustachian tubes.
I can't help to think I may have another AN in my "good" ear and the possibility of being deaf or having NF2. This forum helped me so much a decade or so ago, I regret not checking back and continuing to share my story of success. My last MRI was about 3 yrs ago, so if there is one, it hasn't been growing long. I need to get a CT or MRI to have some relief. I do recall a situation, now, a few months back sitting in a restaurant bathroom playing on my cell, and having a dizzy spell where I thought the room was turning upside down. I initially thought it was maybe the tile set-up causing some confusion with my vision. I was able to leave with no other symptoms and balance did not seem to affect me after that.
I just lost my father yesterday and this stress is adding to that one. I just feel like something isn't right. I pray that it is everything going on around me and my ears need to drain which could take more than a week?
I'm extremely worried about the possibilities and going down that road again with a rougher patch. Can anyone tell me if they have had any issues with their "good" ear or recall similar symptoms in their AN ear prior to any procedures? I'm trying to get into the ENT, but have been pushing it off due to my circumstances. I need to get this addressed quickly, and unfortunately, this process is anything but quick.
Totally appreciate the feedback.
Thanks,
Pablo
