Finally Scheduled for MRI

[Colorado]

I’m a 61 year old man who has been reading a lot here since my problems began late last year.  I started having tinnitus in my right ear around Thanksgiving and made an appointment to see my PCP.  By the time I was seen in March my symptoms had progressed to include a sensation of fullness in the right ear, along with a daily minor earache.  I was given two courses of antibiotics with no improvement.

My symptoms continued to worsen, and now I have stabbing ear pain and headaches most of the day, every day.  I’ve also had significant fatigue (maybe from disturbed sleep), transient minor unsteadiness, and periods where I feel a lot of pain when I swallow.  It’s not like a typical raw, sore throat.  I haven’t seen that mentioned as a symptom, so I don’t know what that is.

My doctor has seemed to minimize my problems and I’ve had to pester him because something is definitely wrong.  He finally agreed to an ENT consult, but that doctor basically said “you’re fine” and dismissed me.  I was able to self refer for an audiology test but I don’t know how to interpret the results.  The report says, “In R ear pure tone testing indicates normal hearing loss through 1000 Hz sloping to a mild to moderate sensorineural hearing loss.”   I also did a battery of vestibular function tests which were mostly normal, only some mild problems.

After all this I have an MRI scheduled on Oct 28th.  The order says “MRI circle of Willis to evaluate causes of unilateral pulsatile tinnitus.”

I’m curious what others might glean from this.  I’ve read a lot about ANs and differential diagnoses and the AN tag seems to fit.  I’m just grateful for having an MRI scheduled.  It might turn out I’m a hypochondriac like my doctor seems to believe, but I hope not.

Thanks for listening, and any advice you might have.

[MarlaB]

I'm sorry it's taken you so long to have a doc refer you for an MRI...I hope your order also calls for contrast, which will give the radiologist the best view.

wishing you the best.

Marla B.
Forum Moderator

[donjehle]

Thank you for making your first post on the forums and for sharing your story.

MariaB is right about the contrast, and being sorry it has taken so long for you to get an MRI.  She knows what she is talking about!

The MRI is the best way to determine whether or not you have an acoustic neuroma.  Symptoms alone may not tell the whole story.  Tinnitus, by itself, is experienced by many people as we age.  Sometimes it is caused by an acoustic neuroma.  Many times it is not.  I'm not a physician, and I cannot give medical advice and I certainly could not give you a diagnosis.  It sounds like your hearing loss is normal for someone your age, but not everyone with an acoustic neuroma suffers hearing loss.

Clearly, something is going on with you.  You need to check it out.  I don't believe you are a hypochondriac.  So, I'm glad you are having the MRI.  It could reveal an acoustic neuroma or it may not.  If it does, then we will be there for you.  If an acoustic neuroma is ruled out, then that's one thing you don't have to worry about.  You can continue on to explore further what it is that is causing these symptoms.

I wish you the best in your health and wellbeing!
Don

[Dlip246]

Wishing you the best!