Author Topic: New balance problems and maybe hearing loss too(?)  (Read 4780 times)

Cheryl R

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Re: New balance problems and maybe hearing loss too(?)
« Reply #15 on: June 18, 2009, 07:39:33 am »
Wendy, don't feel embarassed.       A lot of times people  think when something isn't right that they have something horrible and then it turns out  to be just some problem which is common.              We have all been thru the uncommon condition so it's  easy for us to think there could be more happen to us.                     Nurses think easily of the worse case scenario.      My family dr knows I have a tendency to be that way.        He knows though that I have a rare condition with the NF2 so it can happen and did!
    It's ok to be nervous till one knows for sure the cause and occ a cause isn't found.             
       I am very glad you got good news!                             Cheryl R
Right mid fossa 11-01-01
  left tumor found 5-03,so have NF2
  trans lab for right facial nerve tumor
  with nerve graft 3-23-06
   CSF leak revision surgery 4-07-06
   left mid fossa 4-17-08
   near deaf on left before surgery
   with hearing much improved .
    Univ of Iowa for all care

wendysig

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Re: New balance problems and maybe hearing loss too(?)
« Reply #16 on: June 18, 2009, 10:19:57 am »
Hi Maureen and Cheryl,

Thanks for your replies and understanding.  Discovering the problem was ear wax made me realize how tenuous my peace of mind is.  Of course, the worsened balance problems I've been experiencing played a part in my concern that something was really wrong too.  Next time something comes up, and I'm sure it will, I will try not to over-react, but also not to unde-rreact too.  In the past under-reacting has always been the norm for me but my AN seems to have changed that.  Prior to my diagnosis I thought I had a major erwax problem and used OTC drops for so long I gave myself an infection before seeing my doc, so there you are.  Guess I have to find a happy medium.  For now, t's nice to be hearing better again!   ;D

Thanks again,
Wendy
1.3 cm at time of diagnosis -  April 9, 2008
2 cm at time of surgery
SSD right side translabyrinthine July 25, 2008
Mt. Sinai Hospital, New York, NY
Extremely grateful for the wonderful Dr. Choe & Dr. Chen
BAHA surgery 1/5/09
Doing great!

moe

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Re: New balance problems and maybe hearing loss too(?)
« Reply #17 on: June 19, 2009, 12:37:35 am »
Yep it is all about balance (literally and figuratively!)
Learning how to not over react or under react.
I ignored my symptoms for too many years, and, well, read my sig!
I will never feel ashamed of being extra cautious, even if it means over reacting a tad.......
That's just life post AN surgery. It's our life, ya know :)
Maureen
06/06-Translab 3x2.5 vascular L AN- MAMC,Tacoma WA
Facial nerve cut,reanastomosed.Tarsorrhaphy
11/06. Gold weight,tarsorrhaphy reversed
01/08- nerve transposition-(12/7) UW Hospital, Seattle
5/13/10 Gracilis flap surgery UW for smile restoration :)
11/10/10 BAHA 2/23/11 brow lift/canthoplasty

leapyrtwins

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Re: New balance problems and maybe hearing loss too(?)
« Reply #18 on: June 19, 2009, 06:01:20 am »
Wonderful news, Wendy!

I just LOVE happy endings!  ;D

Jan
Retrosig 5/31/07 Drs. Battista & Kazan (Hinsdale, Illinois)
Left AN 3.0 cm (1.5 cm @ diagnosis 6 wks prior) SSD. BAHA implant 3/4/08 (Dr. Battista) Divino 6/4/08  BP100 4/2010 BAHA 5 8/2015

I don't actually "make" trouble..just kind of attract it, fine tune it, and apply it in new and exciting ways

wendysig

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Re: New balance problems and maybe hearing loss too(?)
« Reply #19 on: June 19, 2009, 08:48:14 am »
Hi Jan!

Thanks -- I love stories with a happy ending too, especially if they're the story of someone I know  or my own!  Between my recent balance issues and then my perceived hearing loss, it felt like "here we go again".  If it had been another AN on my good side, which is what  I was afraid of,  I'm not sure what I'd have done.  I have to agree with Pooter -- I must be having fun all wrong too.  However, I love the happy ending to this part of my story.

Wendy
1.3 cm at time of diagnosis -  April 9, 2008
2 cm at time of surgery
SSD right side translabyrinthine July 25, 2008
Mt. Sinai Hospital, New York, NY
Extremely grateful for the wonderful Dr. Choe & Dr. Chen
BAHA surgery 1/5/09
Doing great!

Syl

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Re: New balance problems and maybe hearing loss too(?)
« Reply #20 on: June 20, 2009, 01:25:07 pm »
Wendy

I don't think you were overreacting. None of us want to go through the experience of having an AN all over again. I'm glad for your happy ending.

Syl
1.5cm AN rt side; Retrosig June 16, 2008; preserved facial and hearing nerves;
FINALLY FREE OF CHRONIC HEADACHES 4.5 years post-op!!!!!!!
Drs. Kato, Blumenfeld, and Cheung.

wendysig

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Re: New balance problems and maybe hearing loss too(?)
« Reply #21 on: June 30, 2009, 01:32:31 pm »
Hi all,
My doc finally got the MRI report and e-mailed me to say that it sounds like there is no recurrence  (whoo).  He has not yet gotten the films, strange that they didn't send them along with the report, but hopefullly he will have them before the weekend.  He is suspending judgtment until he see's things with his own eyes.  In the meantime, my hearing has improved somewhat but my renewed  balance issues remain.  I am hopeful they are related more to my knee problems than anything new growing inside my head.  If that's the case, my balance will improve once I get a handle on the knee problems.

Wendy
1.3 cm at time of diagnosis -  April 9, 2008
2 cm at time of surgery
SSD right side translabyrinthine July 25, 2008
Mt. Sinai Hospital, New York, NY
Extremely grateful for the wonderful Dr. Choe & Dr. Chen
BAHA surgery 1/5/09
Doing great!

CHD63

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Re: New balance problems and maybe hearing loss too(?)
« Reply #22 on: June 30, 2009, 04:21:42 pm »
Wendy .....

Whew!  So far, so good.  Balance issues sometimes resurface with a change in your activity level, stresses, and/or fatigue so that could explain some of it.  Plus, getting your knees taken care of will definitely help your self-confidence.

Wishing you well.  Clarice
Right MVD for trigeminal neuralgia, 1994, Pittsburgh, PA
Left retrosigmoid 2.6 cm AN removal, February, 2008, Duke U
Tumor regrew to 1.3 cm in February, 2011
Translab AN removal, May, 2011 at HEI, Friedman & Schwartz
Oticon Ponto Pro abutment implant at same time; processor added August, 2011

moe

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Re: New balance problems and maybe hearing loss too(?)
« Reply #23 on: June 30, 2009, 06:49:56 pm »
Wooh what a relief Wendy!
I find that my dizziness gets worse with hormone fluctuation, don't know how, but it is like clockwork!
Maureen
06/06-Translab 3x2.5 vascular L AN- MAMC,Tacoma WA
Facial nerve cut,reanastomosed.Tarsorrhaphy
11/06. Gold weight,tarsorrhaphy reversed
01/08- nerve transposition-(12/7) UW Hospital, Seattle
5/13/10 Gracilis flap surgery UW for smile restoration :)
11/10/10 BAHA 2/23/11 brow lift/canthoplasty

wendysig

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Re: New balance problems and maybe hearing loss too(?)
« Reply #24 on: July 02, 2009, 09:25:32 am »
Hi all,

I got an e-mail from Dr. Choe yesterday, who said it's all good news -- no recurrence so apparently my balance issues are related more to my knee problems.  I decided I really don't need to see him just to confirm this with my own eyes, but will probably get a copy of the report and CD from him for my own records.  I'm relieved this chapter of my journey has a happy ending.  Hopefully next year's MRI will bring the same good news. 

MY PT has given me even harder exercises to do to strenghten my knee joints and I've been swimming a few times a week. I'll probably see either the PA or doctor about my knees in the next couple of weeks and see what they have to say.  Although PT has helped, I still have significant pain although not quite as much as before and my still knees creak and crack a lot.  My insurance company, in it's infinite wisdom, will only allow one more visit for PT --  period.  After that, I'm on my own either going to PT and paying out of pocket or just exercising on my own.  I guess I'll see what the doc has to say and act accordingly.

Wendy
1.3 cm at time of diagnosis -  April 9, 2008
2 cm at time of surgery
SSD right side translabyrinthine July 25, 2008
Mt. Sinai Hospital, New York, NY
Extremely grateful for the wonderful Dr. Choe & Dr. Chen
BAHA surgery 1/5/09
Doing great!