Acoustic neuroma

[Haggisfish]

Hello everyone
Just looking for some reassurance!
Symptoms are: intermittent hearing loss for over ten years. It suddenly vanishes in my right ear and sounds and feels like I am underwater. It is accompanied by loud tinnitus. It usually fades back to normal after a couple of minutes.

occasional bouts of real vertigo, where the room spins and I have to stand still/sit down so I don't fall over.

A vague dizziness all of the time, akin to having had a couple of glasses of wine (I haven't!).

Sore inner right ear, with no obvious cause.

Headache in one particlar place, constantly - not agony, but just annoying.

A sense of 'pressure' under my right eye, next to nose.

These are all becoming more common, with the last three constant now for over a week. Am thinking it could also be an inner ear problem.

I'm going to doc to ask her to write a referral letter for a private MRI as it's 'only' £200 and will make me feel better if nothing is found.

Anyone else had this and it not be an acoustic neuroma? Or, has anyone had an acoustic neuroma and had it treated? It's the hearing loss and ear ache that worry me - the hearing loss has been happening for years, but is getting more common.

Thanks.

I'd ask to be referred to an ENT Consultant. You may need many other investigations to get to the bottom of what is wrong with you so no point just going for the MRI.

Acoustic neuromas are very rare (I worked with an ENT surgeon who was a regional expert in these and he operated on very few), it could be some other inner ear problem so please do wait until after you have had ALL the investigations you might need before fixing on one specific diagnosis.

All the best

Hi,
I agree with follyfoot get a ENT consultant. I have had a problem with my ear and have been dx with atypical neuralagia of the ear but I saw a ENT consultant and had an MRI scan and a camera down my nose. It was all done very quickly.
They do take it seriously and hopefully you will be well looked after by the NHS like I was.
Good luck

Thanks - I am going to see my GP this afternoon. I suppose I am slightly worried about the possiblity of having to wait 6ish months for referral and investigations etc - it al takes so long! And, also, if the scan came back clear, I would fret less about wasting NHS resources. I'll see what doc says.

I had something very similar but over a shorter time period - sudden hearing mild loss in one ear, dizzy feeling, tinnitus. I went to the GP who prescribed anti-dizzy stuff and did a basic hearing test (just with tuning forks) and basic neuro exam (touch you nose, etc). I was then referred to the ENT. Neuroma was one of the things that he wanted to rule out but he assured me it was incredibly rare. Had a proper hearing test and an MRI - all clear. Didn't take all that long - 2 months I think.

Thing with private is you might also have to pay for an initial consultation and a consultation to tell you the results, etc. - which all adds up.

Should say that my hearing loss was constant and permanent - but it was very mild so I don't really notice it. Dizzies stopped after a couple of weeks and tinnit. only noticeable when tired.

It could be an acoustic neuroma or it could be Meniere's disease. I have Meniere's disease and get all the same symptoms of you apart form the hearing loss as kine was caught in time. I follow a regime called the John of Ohio regimen which if you google lots of people with Meniere's have success from including me. E N T is your first port of call.

*mine not kine!

And as you not of you I'm on the bloody iPad sorry.

\link{http://www.patient.co.uk/health/Meniere's-Disease.htm\meniere's disease info here}

Thank you all - I went to see GP, who was very reassuring and referred me to ENT, and essentially told me not to waste my money on a private scan. It does help to have reassurance from here, too!

There you go, definitely the best way to deal with your symptoms It could be one of a host of things so please dont worry too much in the meantime

I also suffer from sinus problems which also gives me similar symptoms. it may be worth googling the John of Ohio regime and takingthe supplements it recommends I take them all apart form the vinpocetin and it really has transformed my life, here I googled for you. \link{http://www.menieresfoundation.org/johnsregimen.htm\ good luck}

Acoustic neuromas are really rare, it's highly unlikely to be one, you know!

My dh has an acoustic neuroma. His only symptom was tinnitus, constant not intermittent. No dizziness issues or headaches.