ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => AN Issues => Topic started by: GallopingSally on January 31, 2011, 08:45:06 am
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Hello....this is Kathleen. I have my MRI tomorrow (Tuesday)
Both my ENT and Neuro feel that my symptoms are those of an AN.
I have one in particular that is just bizarre. My right ear rings (very high pitched) pretty much 24/7 but often will suddenly feel as if it is full of water. Have others felt this? Also, I am interested in any visual disturbances. Things blur, but more often I feel as if my brain cannot interpret what my eyes see, so things "whoosh" by and make me dizzy. Anyone else have this?
Thanks,
Kathleen
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A feeling of fullnes in the ear is a common symptom.
Good luck with your MRI.
Kenneth
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i have tinitus 24/7....had AN removed 2008.....ringing in the ear very,very loud is what made me go to the ER ...I also side swiped a couple cars....perception was off...dizzy on and off for 10 years.Visual disturbences are a sign also.....I would be sitting in my car at a stop sign and it would feel like i was rolling backwards.....actually did one time.
Best of luck w/ your MRI....HUGS!
Cindy
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Kathleen .....
Wishing you well on the MRI tomorrow. (Make sure it was ordered with contrast .....) ..... and yes, the feeling like your ear is full of water is very common. When it first happened to me, I kept trying to pull on my earlobe and turn my head down ...... as if I could open it up. Didn't work!
Be sure to let us know what you find out.
Thoughts and prayers.
Clarice
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Hi Kathleen:
I am a caregiver and my husband had a 3 cm AN , which was successfully removed 9 months ago. He did experience problems with his vision not his hearing. He is doing very well at this time. This is a wonderful caring group of people on this forum who will address any of your questions/concerns. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Karen
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Your eye problem is common. You have your vestibular system, your muscle system, and your eyes that balance you. All three must match up in your brain. When they don't, you get a balance problem. If you have an AN, your vestibular system is under attack from the tumor, and telling your brain you are not balanced. But, all along, your other vestibular system is saying you are just fine. Your muscles are receiving messages you are not balanced from the brain, but your muscles are sending out messages back to the brain that you are balanced, and your eyes are trying to latch onto something trying to figure out what is really going on. Massive confusion going on in your brain!
This is when I started vomiting all the time. I had surgery 10 months ago, and my eyes still wander around sometimes, but not much. I rely on my eyes BIG TIME to balance. At night I have to have some lights on or a flashlight to walk. I could not drive a car for a while, even in the day. It felt to me that my eyes were spending so much effort to balance me, that they were not really "looking" at things, they were just trying keep me up-right.
Hopefully you don't have an AN, but if you do, you are in the right place. Your brain will begin to adapt to all of the new confusion, and you will on the way to getting back to normal. Good luck to you.
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Thank you all so much for the feedback, especially about the vision symptoms. It is so disconcerting.
As for my MRI, yes it is with contrast.
Just curious if anyone has had all the AN symptoms but not had an AN. What other issues could cause similar symptoms?
Kathleen
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Hi Kathleen
I'm sure it has happened, but I doubt you find that information here. Once they got the "all clear" from their doctor they would probably go on with their life and not bother with these forums.
As for other reasons, I was not lucky enough to find out that one. But I'm sure other things could cause similar symptoms.
Best wishes with your MRI
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I had an MRI today, both with and without contrast. I see the Neuro tomorrow for results. All I can say is that the MRI Tech was all happy when I went in and then scooted my Hubby and I out of there with a grim look on his face just as soon as I was done. Who knows what THAT meant?
Kathleen
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Kathleen, it could mean everything and nothing at all. Try not worry about it much tonight.
When I had my MRI, the tech was very grim and told me the radiologist wanted to see me. He then told me he had already called my referring ENT's office, spoken with his partner (this was early morning NYE), and then said, yes, I had a tumor, and my ENT would want to see me Monday. Mine was relatively large.
I wish you well tomorrow and hope the news is good. The tech very easily been the subject of a bad case of intestinal distress.
-Tod
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I had an MRI today, both with and without contrast. I see the Neuro tomorrow for results. All I can say is that the MRI Tech was all happy when I went in and then scooted my Hubby and I out of there with a grim look on his face just as soon as I was done. Who knows what THAT meant?
Kathleen
I agree, you can't read anything into the technician's response. It could be that they just got their hydro bill and are trying to figure out how to pay the fees.....There hasn't been one MRI tech yet who has let on a thing. Most of the time I knew I had a toomah but they wouldn't give a bit on what they saw....
Hang in there..know we are there for you if it is an or not.
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It probably does not mean anything. The MRI is digital, and my guess is that the tech never bothers to look at it. Some little gizzmo tells him the exam is done, and he forwards the info to the doctor. Look at this as a step forward in finding out what is going on to cause your current problems. You are on the way to getting better. Thank goodness for technology and highly trained medical professionals.
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Hi Sally,
I was lucky enough to get an all clear and the tech is trained not to give you results or any inclination to the results. I hope everything turns out ok for you.
Deekon
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I saw my neuro today - happy to report that my MRI is perfectly normal :) This is the 2nd time in 7 years that I have been told that I likely have an AN yet do not. MS was also ruled out, which is great.
At this point my Neuro has asked that I try a month of Verapamil, which is used to treat migraines. She describes my symptoms (visual disturbances, vertigo, tinnitus, fullness in ear) as stray activity in my brain. My ENT still thinks it could be vestibular Meniere's. If the Verapamil works it will pretty much indicate that this is a brain issue rather than an ear issue.
Thanks everyone for your input. I truly feel for those who have AN. Best to all of you!
Kathleen
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Great news, Kathleen! Thanks for letting us know.
Good luck with the Verapamil.
-Tod
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Glad to hear of your good news. Hope you get better soon.
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Kathleen ~
Thanks for the update. I'm pleased to learn that your recent MRI didn't indicate the presence of an acoustic neuroma - or MS. Now, I hope you and your doctor can find the source of your symptoms - and a way to alleviate them. Our best wishes to you!
Jim
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Have you tried having the crystals reset in your inner ear....a vestubular rehab therapist can do this sometimes it help w/ the balance.Congrats you have no AN!