I went to see my GP yesterday who was strongly suspicious of an AN based on my tinnitus. She has referred me to ENT. My GP said it may be a telephone consultation first, then MRI before seeing the consultant face to face due to covid. I'm OK with this. Far easier with work etc. Can anyone suggest how long I may have to wait for the telephone consult and the MRI? I didn't think to ask my gp yesterday. Unsure of waiting times etc with covid pandemic. The tinnitus is driving me mad! Thank you.
HiI don’t think it will be a telephone consultation as you will need a hearing test
When I had my first consultant appointment I had to go 30 mins before appointment have hearing tests then saw consultant who checked tests then referred for MRI
Hospital appointments are going ahead even with CV I have a neurologist app today for headaches which my consultant doesn’t think it’s due to AN
I think I waited bout 3 weeks for consultant appointment then the same for MRI
Hi, I was referred to my GP after a hearing test showed I was missing high and low tones. I had tinnitus for years before that, which was why I went for the hearing test. Had telephone consultation with GP who then referred me to audiology at Kettering General for an MRI. GP appointment was early January, I had my MRI on Jan 25th (without contrast dye) and this showed nothing, but was asked to come back for another MRI with contrast in mid Feb and this showed a 3mm AN. Had another consultation (face to face) in early March at KGH and have now been put under the care of Addenbrooks. Had a telephone consultation in April with them and have a staging MRI set for July, then follow-up scans initially annually, going to every other year if minimal/no change.
If I were you, I'd ask that the first scan is done with contrast dye as if it shows nothing, they'll call you back for one with dye anyway.
Thank you for the reply. It's interesting that the 1st without dye showed nothing. I will certainly ask for thr dye.I'm not sure if they will send me for hearing tests as I'm known to have little hearing in my left ear anyway. It's hard to say if it's any worse as I've battled with my hearing all my life.
It's good you didn't have to wait too long, let's hope I'm the same.
Hi! I had a similar experience with the gp referring me for an MRI last Sept due to one sided tinnitus. I had the MRI about a week later, and two days later received a call from the gp to say I had a AN, and that I would need a further mri with contrast dye to see its exact size and position. He also referred me to Kings as they have a specialist team and to our local ENT and audiology for a hearing test. All that happened within about a 3 week period, and I was put on watch and wait as it’s 15mm and other than some hearing loss and tinnitus and the odd twitch, it’s not causing too much trouble. The service was excellent! Audiology tried their best to help with the tinnitus with a masker via the hearing aid. I turned to hypnotherapy to help try to ignore it. All the very best, Hope you have a speedy turnaround
Some of this is really reassuring, thank you all so much.Unfortunately my GP said she is unable to order MRI scans directly anymore hence the referral to ENT. I just hope it's not to long to wait. The not knowing is also driving me mad!
A good shout with the hypnotherapy, definitely something to consider.
Similar to the other post replies, although my first scan did some "something" which they had a strong suspicion was an AN. A second scan a few weeks later is where this was confirmed, along with size etc (17mm at the time). I was initially under my local ENT for a while having test for other potential causes, but once these were eliminated and the talk of AN came up, I think I only waited about 3-4 weeks for that first scan. 2nd with the dye was at Addenbrookes in Cambridge where they specialise, and ultimately where I also had my surgery for removal (I'm currently 2 weeks post surgery small steps, day by day, on the mend).
Fingers crossed for you, you'll have your MRI date soon.
Hi there, I initially went to an audiologist in January to have my hearing tested due to experiencing tinnitus for years. The hearing test showed high-frequency hearing loss they referred me to the ENT at the hospital (which I think took about a month). They referred me for an MRI, which I had in March, as when they did a hearing test it came back with hearing loss only in my left ear. The MRI (in March) showed an acoustic neuroma and I was fitted for a hearing aid, which has really reduced my tinnitus. I was then referred to a specialist team as the ENT I originally saw said it would be managed by a specialist. I'm still waiting to see them, it's been over two months now but assume that's because AN's aren't urgent cases. After some chasing I think they're trying to arrange another scan with contrast as the one I had was without. However, I believe they're finding it hard to schedule scans right now with delays caused by COVID. Hoping to see them soon so I can actually find out more about it and discuss my related symptoms.
Hi - I got a hearing test yesterday - my ledt ear is profoundly deaf my right ear is severely deaf - I have very bad tinnitus in my left ear mostly - can't hear a thing - they quoted me 5700 for two hearing aids!!!! - have no balance problems - or pain in my ear - havnt a clue what's causing it? - any ideas anyone? - James
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Waiting for Gamma knife 
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New diagnosis of acoustic Neuroma 
