I went in to my GP then an ENT specialist with ear problems 4 years ago and they gave me an MRI, thought it COULD be MS but I ended up being diagnosed with Meniere's disease. Nothing spotted on the MRI then. I only had one bad vertigo episode before this diagnosis and it was on a plane and my wife was with me. It scared the Beejezus out of me it did! I have since discovered that my sister has Menieres but in her left ear...mine is in my right. I have lived with Tinnitus (sometimes quite bad) for years now and had the "fullness" behind the ear and also have sinus issues to boot!
About a year ago, in my "bad" right ear, I noticed a very faint whooshing sound that came and went. Now it is loud and with me full time, along with a lot of other assorted whining and screeching sounds. I assume the whooshing is the blood flow from an artery being pressed into my ear canal as it beats with my heart. I really notice it at night, when all is quiet, and has woken me up at times.
When this latest episode (worsened sounds) started after a plane ride back from a trip to the UK, I went to the ENT specialist (a couple of weeks ago) and he tested my hearing and said it was worse than it should be given my tests 4 years ago. He looked at my old MRI's and said let's go for another one. I said before we go that route, was there something else it could be and he said given the airplane scenario, it could well be a blocked Eustachian tube. He gave me some nasal spray and set me up with an appt for Jan 21st and if it hadn't improved, he wanted me to go in for an MRI. Well, this is starting to get me down and it is not getting any better, in fact it is getting worse. I find myself being tired and in the last couple of days, the RH side of my face has become a little numb, my neck aches, I've had a couple of headaches, noticed I am drooling a little and I have numbness at the back of my right ear and my right side scalp. I do have hearing in the ear, it just sounds wooly and I cannot hear high pitched sounds.
I believe these are pretty much textbook symptoms of an Acoustic Neuroma but they COULD be a combination of a mastoid/inner ear infection coupled with a looped artery. The only way to tell is for me to have a brain MRI with contrast, compare it with my earlier MRI and, if there is an AN, I understand they can usually spot it. I am seeing the specialist on Tuesday......
I am a 62yo Colon cancer survivor with a positive outlook! My darling wife is just recovering from breast cancer...she had a bilateral mastectomy, chemo and is on oral drugs for another 3.5 years. This we didn't need but I am prepared for an AN, REALLY would like an alternate diagnosis but, whatever it is, I want to beat it. We've been through worse......with the only good news being that if it is an AN, it usually isn't cancerous!
This site has been a blessing......thank you all