ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => Hearing Issues => Topic started by: Tricia Marie on February 24, 2015, 08:21:31 am
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Hi all,
I'm new to this forum. I'm 25 and was diagnosed with a 1 cm AN on my left side in 08/2014 when I had extremely loud ringing and fullness in my left ear. I have been in the watch and wait status since then with fairly frequent MRIs of my brain and spine. I have recently been having tinnitus on my right side as well, mostly when I am trying to sleep on my right side. Although this is annoying and completely disrupts my already disrupted sleep schedule (I am a night shift nurse) what I am most concerned about is the possibility of a tumor on my right side, indicating nf2. My question is, have any of you experienced tinnitus in both sides due to a unilateral AN? I don't know if this is at all normal. I have just recently spoke to my doctor and am getting an MRI in April, which is the 6 month mark from my last brain scan.
Thanks,
Tricia
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I meant that I was diagnosed in 08/2013.
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Hi Tricia and welcome to this forum .....
Many of us have experienced bilateral tinnitus associated with a unilateral AN. I never had tinnitus until after my left side AN was surgically removed, and then only on the AN side. Some time later ..... I do not remember exactly when it started ..... I developed tinnitus on the right, but at a much lower volume level. To this day I have my own little orchestra in my head because the two sides are different pitches/clangings! I am due for another MRI in May, but all previous MRIs have been left-side ANs only. I am SSD on the left and only very mild high-frequency hearing loss in my right ear.
What are your audiograms showing? As I am sure you know, tinnitus is usually the response of the brain to hearing loss. An audiogram might be your indicator.
Thoughts and prayers that your AN is stable.
Clarice
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Yes, I have very mild tinnitus in my non-AN ear. And here's the really funny part, sometimes the tinnitus in my good ear will suddenly jump up and be louder than my bad ear. I'm talking about for just a moment or so. I was stopped at a light just yesterday and suddenly I had a very noticable ring in my good ear. It sounded like a hearing test. I turned the radio off to make sure it wasn't one of those emergency broadcast tones and it wasn't. By the time the light turned green, it stopped.
I know I do not have NF2 because my Dr told me at my age it would have manifested itself in obvious ways by now. I am 47.
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Thank you that is very helpful. I was concerned it was completely unheard of. My last two audiograms have been really good. Of course I don't expect that forever, but so far so good. My left ear is slightly below my right, but not by much. Thank you guys again I wish you the best of luck with this awful situation. I have an air purifier in my room to sort of drown out the ringing.. It helps me to sleep. I'm sure you guys have tried a plethora of different techniques, but if not I would give it a try!
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Hi Tricia Marie .....
A couple years ago I purchased a sound machine with under pillow speakers to use at night. Total quiet is often when I am suddenly aware of the racket in my head. The sounds of the babbling brook are a relaxing distraction for me so I use it most nights.
..... just a suggestion for what works for me.
Clarice
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Only at night while sleeping, I will hear thin crispy claps of thunder that wakes me up. It sounds like what I would expect electricity to sound like. About once a week it will happen a couple of times and it shocks me awake. It doesn't cause any problems or pain, but it's just a weird sensation and this thread prompted me to ask the forum. In the back of my mind, I'm hoping it's my damaged nerves coming back to life.
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I have been falling asleep with the TV on "sleep timer" for most of my adult life just because I have always liked it. I have to have something boring on. Star Trek (original version), Honeymooners, King of Queens, Bob Newhart, all shows I've seen a million times. I know all the words, I know how they end, there is no compulsion to see how the story turns out and no feeling that I am missing something by falling asleep because I know the same episode will be on again in a few weeks.