Finally found one!!

[Sam Rush]

As I have posted before in this forum, I have been a medical doctor for 39 yrs. and have never seen a case of AN until my own in 2004.  Since then I have been actively looking for one, assuming I had missed some in the past.

I even promised Dr. Brackmann at House that I would find him a case from my own practice, he was doubtful as most of his cases come from ENT, not from a general internist.   Nevertheless, I finally got a positive MRI in a pt. w/ unilateral hearing loss and balance issues. As usual, I had to fight the ins. Co. to have an MRI.
Now , I feel that there may have been some value to my having an AN, or else I wouldn't have known to look for one.

I'm sorry this lady has one, but I'm glad I found it.

Sam

[Brendalu]

Good for you, Sam!  My general practioner is the one who found mine.  I think if the truth be known more GP's find them than ENT's.  Seems like ENT's are always looking for something else and not the obvious.  Great job.  I'm sorry your patient has one, but I'm glad you found it!
Congrats,
Brenda

[OMG16]

I'm very happy for you and your patient (I say this with mixed emotions of course).  You saved her all of the grief that many have gone through by diagnosing early.  There is nothing better than a Dr who has gone through the same thing to help you along in your process.  How did you get the ins co to ok the mri?  This maybe a good example of how others might go about getting one ordered for themselves.

Happy Valentines Day Sam.  I hope you have something special planned for you and your wife.    16

[Jim Scott]

Sam:

I concur with your mixed feelings.  Finding a patient who presents with AN-type symptoms but doesn't have the AN is probably fairly common.  While I wouldn't want anyone to have an acoustic neuroma tumor and the possible complications that can bring, finding one via an MRI scan ordered based on your own AN experience did your patient a great service.  I trust the AN is small enough to be easily treated and I can certainly understand your feeling of accomplishment in this case. 

My internist was looking for a sinus problem to explain my imbalance, fatigue and lack of appetite when he ordered an MRI for me.  He was genuinely surprised when the AN appeared (at 4.5 cm) on the scan and he said so when he called me (from his home) as soon as the report was faxed to him from the MRI center.  He expressed his regrets but in a way, I managed to avoid wasting precious time going through the usual runaround with ENT specialists and other doctors diagnosing incorrectly before getting an MRI.  My internist has no qualms about ordering tests he needs to diagnose correctly and my insurance company (BC) didn't object to the MRI order.  True, his initial suspicion (a sinus problem) was wrong, but the MRI told the true story and it all worked out well.  He is still my PCP and we maintain a cordial professional relationship.  I hope your patient is as fortunate as I was.


Jim

[Joef]

Hope you told her to come here! 

[Sam Rush]

Joef

Not yet, but I will.  She is going to talk to Dr, Brackmann and make an appt. to go to House to decide on a treatment. I have a meeting with her next wk, and will encourage her monitoring this forum.

[leapyrtwins]

Sam -

very interesting; I mean, what are the odds?

While it's unfortunate that you had an AN and your patient has one, in my opinion, it's kind of nice from a patient's perspective to have a doctor who can say "been there, done that".  I would personally find it very reassuring.

You will be an invaluable source of important information for her and that's great.

Jan 

[lori67]

Sam, how fortunate that she came to you!  It's possible another physician would have missed it altogether.  And I know it must make her feel better to know that you have gone through it and came out still able to do what you do!  She's obviously in good hands.

And it was my GP who diagnosed me too. - the first time I had ever met him.

Lori