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Acoustic neuroma?

Posted , 3 users are following.

sue24324
sue24324

had my ent appointment today, my hearing in my right ear has got worse, he said the pressure test was normal but he is sending me for a mri to check there is no tumour. Could it still be a tumour even though the pressure test came back normal?

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • alison28608
    alison28608 sue24324

    Posted

    Unfortunately, yes. Get the MRI even if just to rule it out. Mine was, but on my balance nerve and I have lost my hearing almost completely on that side. It was 2 years before it was picked up after my hearing started to go. However, after my radiotherapy, it is shrinking slowly. Take one step at a time. My treatment, after the diagnosis, was first class. Stay positive Sue. Best of luck.

     

    • sue24324
      sue24324 alison28608

      Posted

      Thanks for the reply, some of my hearing went 9yrs ago now but today he said it has got worse, its only since last october that i have had the ringingnoises in my ear, dizzy, and i feel really run down and tired. I also have ear ache on and off. He said because the mri 9yrs ago was clear he thinks this one will be too, does that make sense?? Last time i didnt have any other symptoms only hearing loss, thanks x
    • alison28608
      alison28608 sue24324

      Posted

      I too had problems on and off and always in my right ear. Dizzy and tired too, but a low grade infection could have the same symptoms. Once you have had the scan, you can decide what you need to do. Hopefully, it wont be a neuroma, but if it is, its not the end of the world. Cross that bridge if and when necessary. I dont know if I mentioned that when I went for my ent apointment, I thought it was to see how I was getting on with my hearing aid. He came straight out and said "I think you have a brain tumour" I had gone alone, couldnt think what to say or ask and when I got out, I burst into tears and called my husband to collect me. On the scan, it was the size of a plum. Don't know how long I had had it. But they usually grow quite slowly. You are not alone, even if you do have this. Keep me posted.
    • sue24324
      sue24324 alison28608

      Posted

      Wow that awful, bet you were worried sick. How long after the scan did you find out?
    • alison28608
      alison28608 sue24324

      Posted

      5 days. To be honest, they way it was delivered was worse than dealing with it. Once I found out my options, I was better.
  • delphine85169
    delphine85169 sue24324

    Posted

    I was told I had a neuroma about a week after my scan, that was a year ago and am now on watch and wait, hope your news is good , I have adapted well even though I am almost completely deaf in my other ear as well. With my aids I function reasonably well, , not sure how old you are, I am 74, and have hearing problems all my life.
    • sue24324
      sue24324 delphine85169

      Posted

      Awww poor you, sounds awful. Im 44yrs old. Just cant wait for the mri now to know one way or another. Take care x
  • Olizzieo
    Olizzieo sue24324

    Posted

    Hi Sue, the pressure test looks at how your ear drum and middle ear are working. There is a tube that runs from your middle ear to the back of the nose, called the eustachian tube. Because your pressure test was normal it means all of these parts are working as they should.

    Behind the middle ear is the cochlear which is the size of a pea and sends the information from the middle ear to a nerve that runs to the brain. It is on this nerve that you can get an acoustic neuroma. Most MRI's come back clear so try not to worry. An acoustic neuroma is not cancer and doesn't spread to other parts of the body, so not as worrying as a cancerous tumour. It can affect your hearing though so that is why your ENT is being careful and checking out the most extreme cause. I hope you get your results soon. It is like a pap smear, you know it is probably ok but until you get the results you worry.

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