Hey all!
About a year and a half ago I experienced Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss in my left ear and doc prescribed Prednisone course with taper at the end. After day 5 hearing started coming back and by the end of the course I was back to normal. Never did get the MRI then (well I tried, I showed up and the MRI machine broke so... never got around to going back since I was back to normal).
I had no issues for a little over a year and 6 months... then.... Two weeks ago..
My hearing starting diminishing again in the left ear so I immediately went to ENT and was put on another course of Prednisone (60mg for 14 days and then tapered after that).
This time around the symptoms are a bit different. I've had bouts of roaring tinnitus and the hearing has fluctuated from bad to just "ok" on some days, but so far the hearing hasn't returning to "normal" yet.
As an aside, two weeks prior to my most recent symptoms, I was exposed to a gunshot (police were called for a rabid animal in my yard). I was about 15 ft away and my left ear rang after the shot. Next day I seemed to be ok... but then two weeks later hearing started diminishing over a period of 2-3 days. Now voices sound muffled on bad days.
The MRI is coming up so naturally I'm freaking out and automatically assuming I have an Acoustic Neuroma. I know symptoms can vary greatly, I just was hoping to get some opinions on the matter from experienced peeps! Can AN cause fluctuating hearing on a daily basis? Would AN go dormant for a year and a half and then come back with the similar symptoms?
Hearing loss is the only symptom I have so far, no dizziness, no vertigo, no facial paralysis.
Thanks all! I think it's great places like this exist for people to come and talk with others!
