Hi Audrey--very glad to hear that the ENT is on the ball. Sudden hearing loss should be considered an emergency, but since yours resolved, that's a good thing. Sounds like the ENT is going to follow you closely, as he should. Good luck with the new neuro!
Tonya:
I'm in Limbo Land.
I've had sx starting in 2002 and went through 2 rounds with neuros, giving things a break when I got worn out by the number of doctor's visits and no clear direction in terms of diagnosis. Know a lot more now than I did then and given the length of time symptoms have cycled on and off, this is not just aging. Have to see it through to some sort of resolution.
First LP was done in 2003 without serum. I don't know what the neuro was looking for other than gross infection, but my new neuro said that it was probably done too early to be conclusive, given the onset of my sx.
Went to another neuro in 2007 when sx interfered with life too much. Only had a couple of visits and then had to stop when I quit work to take care of my son and lost health insurance. Second neuro did a brain MRI and told me I did have some white spots, which were probably age related and did not correlate to my neurological sx.
This year sx are really bad, with me missing too many days of work. Went to ENT, who ruled out vestibular problems. When I mentioned history and MRI, he immediately ordered another. I got hold of the previous disk and report and was shocked. 11 lesions and report suggested twice demyelinating disease. Most recent MRI shows several more lesions and report concludes demyelinating disease.
Have been referred to a neuro who specializes in MS/demyelinating disease. Basic neuro exam "not bad, but does show some problems". She says lesions do not appear typical for MS and is going through the process of elimination. Extensive blood work, LP, MRI of C and T spine ordered. Blood test results in; rule out babesia, B-12 deficiency, syphillis. Tests associated with arthritis all non reactive, minimizing likelihood of Lupus. Tests for risk of heart attack/stroke all well within normal limits. Am low on coag tests, but carry defective Factor V Leiden and have history of clots.
Might get copies of LP lab work today. If not MS, my suspicions would be Lyme Disease, since I had a flu like fever in late May 2002 and sx started late July. 1st neuro wrote several times in his notes to test for Lyme, but never did (he was hyper-focused on Meniere's disease almost to the exclusion of anything else, considering other sx of various etiologies).
Recent blood work came back non reactive for Lyme; given possible length of exposure/disease, it's not unusual to have a false negative.
ENT did return call last night. He considers the hearing loss sensorineural in nature and gave me some guidelines as to when to contact him. By the time I had spoken to him, the hearing problem had resolved itself, lasting for about 10 hours. If it repeats itself on a daily basis or lasts for more than one day, he'll get me in pdq and do some testing.
So far, impressed with both the ENT (Chief of Otolaryngology at hospital) and neuro. Both are approachable, communicative and recognize something is not normal. ENT asked to be copied on all test results, so he is following my case!
I am not sure if we have chatted or not. So just in case we have not..Welcome to the Forum :)
Sorry you are dealing w/ both the hearing issues as well as the post LP Headache!
Do you mind if I ask why they did a second one?
Are you currently dx or in Limbo Land?
Feel Better,
~Tonya
sorry to hear your having such a bad time.. hope your headaches feel better and I too have had hearing loss that lasted about a day.. I told the Neuro and he wrote it down on my file.
it has only happened the one time and the GP I saw, said my ear was fine, so I'm gathering it's a neuro thing.
take care and let us know how this go
wobbly
dx