Yes, I'm feeling better from your two responses.
I am really hoping it is an ear infection that just went haywire and decided to go deeper and deeper. The steroids (or time?) have helped tremendously.
(I've had problems with my left Eustachian tube clogging for about 6 months, I had a lot of problems this summer with it as well, so it is good I'm getting the MRI).
The feeling that a jelly bean is stuffed in my ear has gone. (yeah!) Most of my hearing has returned, not enough to keep the doctors from shooting steroids into my ear drum, but enough that I'm comfortable with this level of hearing). (The hearing loss was so sudden and so profound, that it really was scary, and took some getting used to).
My ringing isn't too bad, my facial numbness I notice, but I can adapt. The shooting pains are only occasional, and brief, along with the vertigo and feeling drunk, which hasn't happened in a few days!)
Yes, the most likely explanation really is ear infection gone deep, and it is just taking a longer time for the nerves to heal.
Obviously, there was some sort of pressure/swelling/inflammatory response exactly where an AN would be. Now, I'll just keep my fingers crossed that the MRI comes out clean, and I'll come back telling you all that yes, just a nasty ear infection...
Before last night, the 3,000 newly diagnosed a year made me feel safe, then I realized with the hearing loss pattern like mine, it is 5%, then with the facial numbness...... Regardless, I'm being well taken care of, I'm getting my MRI tonight, and I'll call to confirm it is with contrast, and I'll know more next week. Going in for my last steroid injection into my ear, and a referral to either neurology or neuro surgery depending on what the MRI finds.
