ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => AN Issues => Topic started by: wendysig on June 16, 2009, 05:58:53 am
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Hi All -
For the past few weeks I have been experiencing some increased balance problems. At almost 11 months post-op, this is fairly distressing, although as many of you know, I have been having knee problems and have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis and runners knee and have been in PT for these problems. My knees are actually feeling a little better but I sometimes also have some (usually) mild dizzyness. I sent an e-mail to my doc who said joint disease can cause balance problems but not usually to the point of causing vertigo. I didn't mention to him that the hearing in my good ear seems to be flutcuating too I can't really decide if it's my BAHA or my actual hearing tha's causing the hearing problem and the device seems to be working well. I have an MRI scheduled in a few days but have not mentioned my perceived hearing problems to my doc. I keep going back and forth between thinking I have a problem and thinking it's my imagination. The fun just never ends. What do you thinkI should do?
Wendy
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Wendy -
sorry to hear about your problems; hope things improve very soon.
IMO you should get a hearing test to see if you are really losing hearing in your "good" ear. Once you have that question answered, you can move ahead accordingly.
Good luck; keep us posted.
Jan
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Wendy .....
So sorry about the recurring problems. It is distressing when we have these set-backs, isn't it? I'm glad you are scheduled for the MRI soon and as Jan said if you have not had an audiogram recently, that should be done, as well. Really the only way to know for sure if your symptoms are caused from the AN or not.
I know my recovery has been an up and down pattern all along ..... just when I thought "Ah, this is the end of these annoying symptoms" ..... wham, a fresh set would hit me again.
Keep us posted.
Clarice
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Wendy~
So sorry this is happening - that just stinks! I agree with the others - lay ALL your cards out on the table so that you can really see what you are dealing with! Let us know...I know you will!
K
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Definitely get it checked out, for your own peace of mind! And then let us know. You are in my prayers, of course.
Priscilla
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Wendy,
Yep it is so normal to dwell on recurring symptoms and wonder if something else is going on. And worrying is normal too. I still do it.
We are just more in tune to our body now post op, after what we've been through.
Let us know what the MRI and hopefully audio gram show-hopefully nothing you can't deal with ;)
Maureen
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Get your hearing checked and stop doubting your instincts. It took me 2 years to figure out it wasn't just my imagination, I was really having hearing and balance problems. If I had gone to the doctor when I first noticed the changes in stead of wondering if it was all in my head (which is was LITERALLY) I'm sure I would have been able to take care of my AN before it was 3.2 cm.
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Hi Jan, Clarice, K, Maureen, Priscilla and Epodjn,
Thanks for all of your responses. I sent Dr. Choe an e-mail and he must have been online because he responded immediately and told me to come in for an audiogram tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. This is why I really feel blessed to have this man as my doctor -- he is always right there for me. Hopefully it will turn out not to be as bad as I fear it could be and I won't have to wait another week to wonder if there is something to be really concerned about.
Wendy
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Wendy,
I think it is quite normal to loose self confidence once in a while and to be afraid to trust your own feelings. I think your doctor will be very understanding if you mention your problem. In my opinion, get it out of your system in stead of keeping it inside.
Wish you the best, Kenneth.
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Kenneth,
Thank you for your good wishes. As you can see I did conact my doc and he was understanding and concerned. Hopefully things are better than they seem.
Cheri,
I've had knee problems for a while (pre-AN or at least before my knowledge of it). I've had many knee injuries and they finally caught up with me. Looking back, it's possible that some of the injuries I've had were caused by balance problems brought on by my AN before I knew of its existance. When I was diagnosed, my doc told me he believed I'd had my AN for at least 10 years. As far as the actual diagnosis, that is recent but a lot of the problems were there long before the diagnosis was made. I'd just written them off as the inevitable results of past injuries until the symptoms got too painful to fluff off anymore.
Wendy
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Wendy -
glad you're being tested tomorrow. Please don't forget to update us on the results; you know how we worry.
And, kudos to you on choosing such a great doctor. Dr. Choe sounds like my kind of guy!
Jan
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Hi all,
Welll, I'm sort of embarrassed to tell you this, but my hearing problems seem to be due to earwax. I can usually feel it when I'm having this problem but not always. It turns out this part of my story has a fairly happy ending. I audiogram did show a slight loss and the audiologist said that could be due to retesting and not a real loss. Hopefully, my MRI next week will bring no new surprises. Until then, I'll still feel a little uneasy. Thanks for being there for me. You are great!
Wendy
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Wendy .....
Don't ever be embarrassed to share your concerns with us ...... we never know when it is little or big ...... and many of us have walked in your shoes! Thank goodness your hearing problems were due to earwax. I can relate because recently I suddenly began having so much feedback with my hearing aid (in my AN side ear) and could not hear nearly as well with it. A trip to the audiologist was the same answer, earwax ..... and I have almost never had any buildup of earwax in my adult life so it was quite surprising.
Now we will concentrate on bringing good thoughts that your MRI next week will be OK.
Clarice
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Clarice,
Thanks for saying exactly the right thing to make me feel better. I know my doc was relieved for me too, but I couldn't help feeling just a little silly for not realizing what the problem was. And thanks for your good wishes for next week too. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I will get more good news.
Wendy
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Wendy,
Great news about the earwax!
Really, don't be embarrassed. I was hoping for news like this.
The ear wax can probably be stuck way in there and needed to come out anyway.
Maybe invest in some ear wax removal drops for prophylaxis.
Good vibes your way for a clean MRI.
Maureen
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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
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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
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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
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Wonderful news, Wendy!
I just LOVE happy endings! ;D
Jan
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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