You know I think a month does not go by when I ask,
“What is the cause of these acoustic neuroma tumors? What the heck caused mine? Could these be possibly prevented?�I have many theories- to which none I can yet prove- of course.
I have had a lifetime of dealing with a stuffed up nose that was often unbearable during colds etc. I was a nasal spray user from an early age (Dristan Mist, Afrin, etc) … and I swear there was a time when I was
habitually using this spray stuff, as I was addicted to it. (We did not have “breath right nasal strips� in those days. I have my kids wear these now, when they are home with cold, as an alternative to decongestant and nasal spray use). I can proudly say that I am a graduate of AA (Afrin Anonymous
) now.
It was not until I had the MRI (looking for the 1 in 100,000 chance acoustic neuroma
brain booger) did we realized how deviated my septum actually was. Was the constant irritation to my inner ear from either the bad nasal breathing structure I have …or the constant nasal spray use… a possible cause of a tumor?
I am thinking that the “deviated septum� question should be posed on the next ANA survey of patients. There really needs to be a clear study on the relationship and commonality of this among acoustic neuroma patients.
I have one child whose nose is growing with more and more asymmetry- and this has me concerned. She has to wear nasal strips at night and is currently miserable with allergy season at its peak. 3 of the 6 children in my paternal grandmothers family went deaf in one ear. (No MRI’s to answer questions in their day
) I look at old photos- and these women had asymmetrical noses- big time. It concerns me when I look at one of my children whose nose is growing this way now. I know that my tumor pathology was not NF2- nevertheless it still has me wonder and be concerned for my offspring.
Thus this deviated septum thread has me keenly interested to find out how many other acoustic neuroma patients have this- also.
IS there a possible link?For all those medical students that are lurking our forum here- I see a potential research project here…
Daisy Head Mazy