MRI next week...Please help...

[SVed]

Good morning,

I had severe allergies back in March 2016. I started having a lot of pressure and muffled hearing in my left year. I went to a general physician and she prescribed allergy medication, she said I have Eustachian tube dysfunction, she asked me to visit her later after I finish my course of medication. I could not book an appointment with her later as she retired. I had to wait till November 2016 to get checked with ENT doctor and she puts me on antibiotics and asked me to come back after 2 weeks. I started a new job and our insurance changed, with all the stuff going on in life, I never went back to the doctor until last week( June 2018). The ENT doctor was very shocked because I neglected hearing loss since November 2016. My audio test was very bad and she said I should get my MRI done and she thought it is highly unlikely that I middle ear problems.

My MRI is scheduled for next week. I am very very scared and anxious because I am 34 and I have two young kids(5 and 3).
I am very very anxious and suffered two panic attacks this week alone, thinking about MRI and the results and most importantly my kids. I don't have any other family and I am the only person who takes care of my kids. All this makes me terrified and nervous. I have limited friends circle who live very far away.

I am really scared with all these thoughts in my head since I neglected it for so long( 2 and half years ) will the AN have grown so big or do I really have AN ??

I do not have any other symptoms except the hearing loss, I don't have vertigo or fatigue. I don't have any balance problems too. What is the possibility of having AN for just having hearing loss and no vertigo or dizziness or balance problems?

Please help me. I am really anxious and living in fear every single day thinking about the hearing loss that I neglected for 2 and half years. I just don't know what future holds for me. I was taking care of my kids alone and put myself on the back burner for so long.

Thank you so much for your patience and time,
ved

[Mrd1030]

Hi,  I was diagnosed in April 2018 with 2.3cm AN.  I was experiencing hearing loss and constant ringing in my right ear for 2 years before I went to my ENT.   I had several hearing tests and rounds of steroid for fluid before being sent for my MRI.   Very surprised when finally had MRI and AN was diagnosed.   I have no other symptoms, just 50% hearing loss in right ear and constant ringing.  With this  AN location and size, my DR Team has recommended surgery but I want to image again in September (6months) - I have to know if it will grown anymore.   My recommendation to you is use this group to learn learn learn as much as you can.   Trust and believe in your Doctors, pray and ask God for wisdom and don’t second guess your decision.   Acoustic Neuromas- the best and worse kind of tumor—- Best because they will not kill us /worst because they can make us crazy trying to make the best decision concerning treatment.  Now just reading and learning from this sight and waiting on next MRI on September 18, 2018— expecting no growth.

[Patti]

After all these years I can still empathize! Every time I have a follow up MRI I let my thoughts go wild and unchecked.  I can't help it.  But i went through a bad case scenario and am here still and have a great life.  That being said, I had tons of support.  Try to get thru the next week by keeping insanely busy.  Then you can figure out what comes next.  I will pray for you!  Patti

[notaclone13]

Sved, it is human nature to jump to the worse possible conclusion when faced with a possible health issue. I know I certainly have. But people lose hearing for a multitude of reasons, most of which have nothing to do with an acoustic neuroma, which is a relatively rare condition.  So until you know for sure, don’t borrow trouble. Try to relax and don’t think the worse at this point. You have no other symptoms of an acoustic neuroma, such as dizziness and imbalance. As acoustic neuromas are slow growing benign tumors, even if ignored for a couple of years, it would not be likely that the tumor has grown much even if you do have one. So please don’t worry at this point, especially to the point of giving yourself panic attacks. For the time being, think positive.