I also posted this as a reply on a lower thread, but thought I would post it separately as well because of fear it will be overlooked. This is my first posting. My apologies if the double post is rude.
Greetings,
My MRI a few weeks ago showed an AN (right side) of 10mm x 10mm x 17mm
I have been having symptoms for over a year, as follows:
headaches, nearly continuous though not very bad
hearing loss (moderate according to audiologist, very slight according to neurosurgeon)
tinnitus in right ear
minor nausea, intermittent/occassional, some evidence of declining frequency
poor balance, peaked before Christmas when I started using a cane to avoid falling, diminishing now
earache, right side, nearly continuous
pressure in the right ear, continuous
as the original poster stated, I feel ill a lot, though not severely
exhaustion, can't make it through the day without napping anymore, most days
The neurosurgeon I was referred to by the ENT told me it was impossible for me to have these symptoms due to AN. He used the word "impossible" more than once referring to headaches, exhaustion, ear pressure. He said it was unlikely to be the cause of my earache. He said the AN was the likely cause of the tinnitus and balance issues. To be fair, I am not clear if he meant impossible for an AN of my size, or impossible for AN in general, though I am sure he made the "impossible" comments as general statements, whether he meant them that way or not.
He also said that any surgery attempt would be 70% likely to result in total hearing loss of the affected ear, which is certainly contradicted by what ANA has to say about it.
He recommends doing nothing and getting another MRI in a year. And he said I should consult with a neurologist about the other symptoms which he viewed as impossible. In the meantime, I have left my job (of 24 years) because I can no longer do the work in a consistent or quality way and because I can't get through an 8-hour work day without taking a 2-hour nap in the afternoon.
I am spitting angry about being dismissed like this, but perhaps I do need to consider the possibility that something else may be wrong as well, which is what the neurosurgeon said.
Very interested in any responses.
Thank you for your time and thoughts.
Robert
