ENT Visit

[Deb61]

I saw the ENT, today, as suggested by Quix.  He answered my question about the Morse Code problem in my ears (something to do with muscle fasciculations)--sorry I can't explain.  He also told me that that weird burst of sound in my ears when I moved my eyes has something to do with optic neuritis.  

He looked in my ears and said that my ears looked great and told me that the problem is not the ear canal, ear wax, or middle ear.  He said that more than likely it is the inner ear, lesion on the 8th cranial nerve, or other brain lesion.   Because I'm getting an MRI in a few weeks (ordered by neuro), he'll know more about what's causing the problem by reading the MRI himself (he wants a copy).  He also referred me to an  audiologist for an comprehensive audio and impedence test.    

Thanks everyone for the suggestion you gave me on my thread!  It will solve lots of mysteries.  Maybe something can be done about my hearing.

Deb

[Deb61]

OMG!  That web site has to be added to the favorites--that's hilarious!  

Deb

[GrannyJo6]

Thanks, Quix,  for the explanation of oscillopsia. It was too late last night when I posted to try to make any sense of it! I never could figure out what it was called and then figured maybe if I looked at vestibular disorders I might find something and I did! (Vestibular having to do with balance, vertigo, things like that, right?) I was actually quite excited to find a name for the very strange and unnerving sensation of objects moving when I move my head. Herky jerky to boot. I always have the sand running thru my head at the same time. Once in awhile I have the sound independently, but it almost seems to be in synch with the eyes.

[jensequitur]

I've heard that the tapping-thumping thing can be a twitch of the soft palate.  I think mine was in the eardrum, though.

>  I looked through a list of Beatle's songs to remember and wonder how on Earth they came up with the titles of their songs

Er... psychedelics?  ;-)

Pinky and The Brain sing "The Parts of the Brain"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li5nMsXg1Lk

[Quixotic1]

I think oscillopsia (seeing stationary objects that appear to be moving) is a brain problem and not an eye problem.  It;s a visual integration problem, I think.

"Lend me your Comb" - from the theme song to "77 Sunset Strip".  One of the main characters was Kooky, who had really COOL hair! and was always combing it a la James Dean.  Sone went "Kooky, Kooky lend me your comb."

"Mr. Mustard" of the CLUE game?

Clueless here, Quix

[Deb61]

Is oscillopsia a visual problem?  I've never heard of this before.  I get all sorts of different sounds in my ears (actually I hear it more in my left ear--the better one).  I hear a sound burst when I move my eyes and I've occasionally will see a flash of light when I do so, too (like I've been struck by lightning).   My ears have a clicking Morse Code (which I get a lot of).  They ring constantly, too.

If my ear problem is related to brain lesions, then I've had MS much longer than a year.  I can trace this symptom back at least twenty years ago to my college days.  Maybe I've had a milder form of MS then.  It will be interesting to hear what the ENT finally says after he gets all his reports he needs.

Thanks again,
Deb

[Deb61]

Quix, cool pictures of the brain.  I found pictures that were the actual human brain pictures.  I can tell you this, if I was a med student in the same room in an autopsy, surgery, or lab with an exposed brain, I'd be out like a light.  However, the pictures give me a good idea of what they need to get a "picture" of. I think the machine is a 1.5T, though.  

ess- I love the Beatles.  I'm not too young for Beatlemania.  No one's too young.  My daughters have their own Beatles CDs and know the words to many of them.    

I looked through a list of Beatle's songs to remember and wonder how on Earth they came up with the titles of their songs-- "Lend Me Your Comb", "Mean Mr. Mustard", "Octopus's Garden", "Sour Milk Sea", and "Take Out Some Insurance on Me Baby".  

Richard--Nope.  No codes have been broken.  How 'bout you?

:) Deb  

[OperaMBA]

Deb,

The key thing is, DID HE BREAK THE CODE?????

Richard
OperaMBA

[essdipity]

How could Paul be the walrus?

We all know the track played backwards says   I Buried Pawwwlll.

Anyway, I Am The Eggman!

If you don't have a clue what this is all about, you're too young for Beatlemania!

coo coo cachoo

[GrannyJo6]

I didn't see the original post, but the sound when you move your eyes caught my attention! I have had several bouts of oscillopsia and when I do, I have what I call "sand in my brain"! Which is actually a sound in my ears! Interesting!

[Quixotic1]

It isn't a matter of getting them in one shot.  It's a matter of what region of the CNS is requested.  The cranial nerves all arise in the brain (2 of them) and the rest in the brainstem.  The brain MRI should show the brainstem, but some docs request specifically that it include the entire brainstem.

Here is an upclose view of the brainstem.  It sits atop the spinalcord and adjacent to the cerebellum (also called the hindbrain).  The cerebellum is the wrinkly little disappointed looking thing under the big, wormy cerebrum (main brain).

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.virtualworldlets.net/Worlds/Listings/Neuro/BrainStem.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.virtualworldlets.net/Resources/Hosted/Resource.php%3FName%3DInterruptingBrainstem&h=485&w=544&sz=116&tbnid=clqgiXhJ0hgJ::&tbnh=119&tbnw=133&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpix%2Bbrainstem&usg=__pYHSZtONX6r_rfbVsjwHn5ZCa_w=&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=4&ct=image&cd=1

(if this won't copy and paste then google   pix brainstem    and look at the pictures.)

This is one of the areas that did not show my lesions on the 1.5T, but did on the 3T.

The cranial nerve that controls vision is the optic nerve.  That is usually well shown on the brain MRI.

Quix

[Deb61]

It would be a shame if the MRI did not include what the ENT needs to see--since I only get MRIs 6-9 months apart.  I'm for sure going to contact them to ask if the MS protocol is enough.  I'm glad that you pointed this out--it seems like it would be just my luck that this region didn't show up that well.  

Hopefully, extra cuts are placed on the cranial nerve that controls vision, too.  My neuro knows I'm having problems with ON (found by opthamologist when he dialated my eyes).  He may be putting me in the hospital for IV steroids if this problem gets worse or doesn't improve soon.  

I'm a little bit anxious because of the positive TB test I had many years ago (chest x-ray normal).  I'm going to have to talk with him about this to see if I need to start the antibiotics (he mentioned this when I first met him--I wonder if this got overlooked).  My eyeball aches, but the color problem is only noticeable when I'm a little overheated.  However, the night vision is crummy and continues to be blurred and doubled.  

Thank you, Momma Quizzle--:) Deb

PS Are those two cranial nerves close to one another to get them in one shot?  

[Quixotic1]

Deb, I may be wrong here on that topic.  My intent is to emphasize that when another physician takes an interest in the MRI that is already scheduled, it is important to ask if the orders for the MRI need to be adapted to include the new area of interest.  Too often we see that the second specialist comes back and says, "Well, it didn't show the region I was looking for."  So you don't need to mention extra cuts, but just ask if a regular, MRI of the brain with MS protocol is sufficient to show what he wants to see.

Old lesions that are still active can be visible for a very long time.  They just show as scars (old lesions).

No, the Mother Ship is in good shape and waiting for us all...

Quizzle

[Deb61]

I thought the code was an SOS that the mother ship is going down!  I had no idea it was actually just Paul is the Walrus!  I'm a bit relieved--phew!  

I'm going to tell my doctor ASAP before the MRI gets scheduled to get back with me.  Thanks, for the suggestion on faxing the note.  I did ask if the 8th cranial nerve lesions are hard to see and he told me they weren't.  However, I wonder if knows about the special cuts.  

Do you think if the lesions were ancient, he'd see them?  I've had hearing problems for years.  

Deb

[Quixotic1]

You're welcome.  Yes, the clicking is likely due to twitches or fasciculations of the tiny muscle that moves the eardrom to help equalize pressure in the ear called the "levator tympani."  (Raiser of the tympanic membrane).

Yeah!  Someone else mentioned my beloved (and problematic) cranial nerves!  There will be a health page on them.

Hmm, usually when they want to narrow down on the inner ear, they ask for special cuts through that area.  Deb, you might leave a message (fax a note) to the ENT asking if the MRI people need any additional instructions to proper view the inner ear.

I'm glad the mystery is making more sense.  I still sthink it is Morse Code and the message is that "Paul is the Walrus."

Quixz