Anyone have ear infection lead to AN diagnosis?

[tripsplus6]

Just wondering if an ear infection led to the diagnosis in any of you?  Not that I did not have symptoms before with some vertigo and tinnitus, but I had the sudden onset of an ear infection, and I have never ever had an ear infection in my life that I remember!  Suddenly there was pressure, pain, horrible loud noises, diminished hearing, and then fever.  While the antibiotics got rid of the infection, the other symptoms remained, and now I am on steroid nasal spray trying to reduce the pressure inside so the tests will be more accurate.  Symptoms have lessened, but still feel the fullness, pressure, tinnitus, diminished hearing.  In addition it now feels numb on that side of my face, not totally, I can still feel pretty well, but just a weird numb-like feeling on ear and face.  My ENT doesnt know about that as it is new.  Well, just wondering while waiting for all these tests.  Thanks.        Terri

[Pablo]

In my case, 12 years ago I was diagnosed of an ear infection, then when the problem didn't respond to antibiotic, they sent me for hearing test, they've discovered neurosensorial hearing loss, treated with steroids, hearing improved to 75% of hearing loss. 2 years ago the same thing only that this time I went for a second opinion, they sent me to MRI and discovered the 2.5x2.3x2.8 AN.

[Samantha n Adrian]

Pretty much the same exact thing for Adrian that happened with Pablo.

• First he felt pressure in ear and had ringing. Thought it was an ear infection. Went and got antibiotics
• Pressure got worse. Went back and got ear drops and steriods
• Dizziness and ringing gets worse, went back and had a hole drilled into ear drum to hopefully drain fluid, also received CAT scan. Came back clean
• Vertigo gets out of control as well as facial numbness starts to occur. Sent for MRI w/contrast since Doc suspects MS

All of this was in the span of around 9 months. MRI came back with a 4cm AN.

I wonder how big it was when symptoms first started to occur??? They say it grows slowly... so has he had this his whole life and it just now decided to inflict it's wrath

[tripsplus6]

Samantha and Adrian,
   Thanks for replying (Pablo too) and let me say I am "so" glad to hear you are going to House in LA and out of FL.  Just have too many personal family horror stories with FL medical, even though we are UF grads and avid Gator fans.  Long story, and we now live in OH (horror stories here too).  Anyway, with these tumors being so slow-growing, the body has time to compensate, thus can be fairly asymptomatic until quite large.  Adrian's infection probably led to a sudden inflammation and swelling of an already huge mass, thus all those symptoms.  Still, I'm surprised that a CT did not pick up a 4cm tumor!  Maybe it was done without contrast, or maybe the field it visualized did not include that area of his head?  Or, as a dr once told us, "those things (ct's) are only as good as the people reading them."  Another personal nightmare long story.
    We will all continue to follow Adrian's progress and hope he is soon on the road to good recovery.  Being young, strong, and excellent drs should all work in his favor.  Can he still work out at the gym and run these days, or does it bother him now? 
   Thanks again for the replies and best of luck.           Terri

[Jackie]

Hello Everyone,

I was diagnosed in February 2007 with a 9x11 AN, and had 6 months prior been diagnosed with "Swimmer's ear" and treated with ear drops for that. The pain subsided, but the "fullness" continued. Life was so hectic, I lived with the fullness for several months until I recognized a real significant difference in my hearing on the right side, where the infected ear was. After the holidays I decided I needed to find out why my hearing loss. I made an appt. with  an ENT with Kaiser, had a hearing test first, got diagnosed with SSD, and an MRI was scheduled two weeks later to rule out a tumor! Unfortunately the tumor was in fact there but small enough to give me time to research options! My ENT suggested "watch and wait" I just completed another MRI as it is just shy of 6 months and there has been no change! Fabulous news for sure as I continue to research and hope for miracles for all of us! I have 60% hearing loss, Tinnitis, which is manageable, and that's it so far! I read all of your posts daily, and feel that I am getting to know all of you! While I don't contribute often, you are all in my prayers and hope if the symposium is in the Pacific NW I'll get to meet all of you then! In the mean time Bless you all and may your recoveries be better than you expect!

Jackie

[sgerrard]

Hey Bruce, as Crocodile Dundee might say, "That's not a dwarf; This is a dwarf!" 
It really is amazing how they can decide to show symptoms at such a wide range of sizes.

[Samantha n Adrian]

Hey Terri,

Adrian can still work out and run, he is honestly on a mission and has amazed me with his determination and will power to loose weight and become healthy. Through all of his symptoms he has never let anything stop him from hitting the gym DAILY! I spoke with Dr. Luxford at HOUSE yesterday and asked him if Adrian should take it easy with the workouts in fear of him putting pressure on his head. His response was that of course working out was great and as long as he isn't trying to be Mr. Olympia and lifting extremely heavy weights that it is a great thing that will help him through his recovery as well.

We are more than happy with the response we have received from HOUSE and we are people who like to follow our gut.

As much as your symptoms sound like you possibly could have AN, I do so hope that your MRI results come back clean. Please let us know how the results turn out when you get them.

In the meantime I will be keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Sam~

[Captain Deb]

I actually thought I had an ear infection which sent me to a really good GP who looked in my ear and said "nope" no ear infection, but if you have single sided deafness and headaches, you need to have an MRI tomorrow and here's what they found:



(actually I doctored it up a little! A bit o' humor is good for the soul!)

House is a great place, full of caring docs who are the very best at what they do! I've had pretty bad headaches since my surgery, but I can't imagine what shape I'd be in if I hadn't had the best of care there.

Capt Deb

[susier]

My diagnosis came after several weeks following a trip to the emergency room for vertigo and nausea.  The ER doc said I had an inner ear infection and referred me to my GP.  Afer a visit with him, he assured me it wasn't an inner ear infection, as my vertigo happend while sitting and laying down.  He sent me for a CT which came back normal.  He referred me to an ENT who sent me for 2 MRI's (brain/iac's).  She then showed me the dreaded "tiny white dot" and referred me to a specialist.  My symptoms are manageable most days.  The AN is in my right ear.  My hearing has not been affected as yet, some tinitus in both ears, but I'm hearing noises in my left ear like there is fluid in there.  My ENT assures me there is no fluid and has no explanation for the noise in my left ear.  Anyone else have this problem?

[Battyp]

Deb that was too funny!

Bruce thanks for swashbuckling the FL comments.
There are good and bad doctors everywhere. Friedman specializes in radiosurgery. He performed microsurgery on a friend of a friend who I've spoken to and she had a great outcome, back to work fulltime, riding horses without issue. I have a list of drs in FL. And of course my favorite, Dr. Brem, who was not a choice for Ceecee. We all have the one who clicks for us. Like Adrian and Sam said..TRUST YOUR GUT!

I was told I had an ear infection and to wait a year and it would go away. Even with single sided hearing loss and the vertigo the doc stuck to his guns. He was wrong. We need to be our own best advocate as we know ourselves better than a doctor.

All my best to All!
M

[mema]

I got bad vertigo attacks 4 years before my AN was diagnosed.  My primary and gastriologist chalked the vertigo up to stress following my hubbys illness. After 2 1/2 yrs of vertigo I had a MRI(without contrast).  Showed nothing.  I remember making the comment to family that at least I know I don't have a brain tumor Then at work I noticed hearing loss while on phone.  All my co-workers offered their opinions.  Wax in ear, fluid in ear etc.Glad I didn't listen to them and made an appointment with an ent.  After the audioolgy test he knew it was an AN. Sent me for a MRI with contrast to confirm.  Odd my AN was 8mm x 8 mm. I thought someone said AN's grow an average of 2 mm a year, well that pinpoints my growth in 4 yrs.                                                                                                       

Susier,  I alo get a feeling of fluid in my good ear.  Sometimes it sounds like a sizzle, or a crackling.   Sometimes I get a feeling of wind that feels like it goes from one ear to the other.  This happens only when I's walking.

[susier]

Good to know.... My first ENT had me thinking I was crazy.... then got concerned that there could be a problem with my good ear too.  My MRI's were done 3 weeks ago so I think its pretty safe to say the godd ear is still "good" (I hope).  Anyway, thanks for letting me know i"m not alone.