Last week, I realized that I'm almost certainly dealing with one or two AN. To explain:
When I was a kid, I had a ton of ear infections. By age 12, I had permanent tinnitus in both ears. It wasn't bad. During my teens and early twenties, I played in bands and went to concerts, though I tried to protect my hearing at the latter. Tinnitus got a bit worse back then.
In 2008 (age 37), I had a routine hearing test at the company I worked for. The tester said, "You've lost some high frequency hearing in your left ear." I figured this was just a result of the damage done from earaches, loud noise, and time.
In 2011 (age 40), I was working on some music at a normal (not loud) volume, when a spike in tinnitus hit, and I thought I could tell that my hearing had changed. However, as I began to process the situation, I realized that my hearing had probably been going in the direction it was, and perhaps the tinnitus spike was new. Went to an audiologist in 2011 who said that I have otosclerosis. Went to an ENT in early 2012 who said that my hearing is still very good in the left ear (the right ear is great) and made no recommendations.
Five weeks ago, I developed persistent vertigo/dizziness. I'm not really sure how to term it. Sometimes I also have some odd feeling in my head, and I had some headache. Three weeks ago, a clinic doctor thought it was a sinus infection that he could clearly see was in progress, so that was treated. Went back when that didn't fix it, and another doctor put me on meclizine, but told me that I could see a neurologist if that didn't help.
I saw the neurologist on Monday, and she was very helpful. I'm getting an MRI in four days, then I go back to see her on 8/29.
Unfortunately, I've begun to deal with odd facial sensations. Nothing is permanent, but the little feelings of momentary sensation line up with what I've read about here. Looking back, I realize that there were very minor (and easily ignored) symptoms when I was living up north. I had some weirdness with conjunctivitis in one eye that was intermittent, but again, I'd had that as a kid off and on, so I was used to it. I also think there were other little things, but I couldn't put my finger on what they were.
It gets worse.
My insurance lapsed in April after I left a job to move back to Arkansas. I had intended to get new employment or a new plan, but I ended up focusing on some pet issues that my parents and I are having (I'm staying with them), and just didn't give it the thought I should have.
On top of that, I may have NF-1 or NF-2. I had congenital cataracts (not juvenile), and I have a few cafe au lait spots. I realize that nothing is ironclad, but I'm concerned that just because I don't have much in the way of right ear symptoms doesn't mean something isn't going on there.
Mainly, please keep me in your thoughts and/or prayers. You're a very informative and helpful community, and I've learned a lot just by reading posts. I already have pretty good ideas of how this thing will go, though I'm not sure how I'll pay for it or where I'll be having surgery (in AR or possibly at Duke or Kansas City; it needs to be somewhere that will provide some discount/charity care/assistance). Please chime in with any thoughts.
Stuart
