Hearing and balance issues

[Wendy2186]

Hi all. I haven't been diagnosed with an AN but have had tinnitus in both ears since last year after being prescribed an anti bio by my gp.

I find that bad enough as have ended up in worse state than I started thanks to anti bios .a recent stay in hospital where given a large dose of more anti bios that I reacted to badly breathing difficulties and shaking and they carried on giving me it . I did try to point out this wasn't a good thing but wasn't in position to argue .while in hospital my tinnitus developed into musical tinnitus where a couple of songs played over and over .night and day I only looked that up when I got home .

After getting home my tinnitus seemed be buzzing constantly in my left ear only. Trying to cope with this. But few weeks ago I started feeling off balance and faint .had to ring 111 but Dr didn't get back to me so next day it seemed to be ok again tho I felt shaky it might occur again

Was just getting confidence back but yesterday I had to ring Dr as I had provoking sharp pains from back head to my forehead right side face. When touched it was v painful . Luckily I got an app to see Dr apart from doing the stroke tumour type checks Dr didn't seem concerned

I mentioned my previous faint feeling episode as he said my ears were ok and I know they aren't. Been complaining for years and gets nothing done still the same.

I asked if maybe it's in my inner ear. But he says no you usually get vertigo if was that. So I told him yes I had had a few probs with balance etc.nausea going clammy . But it passed

Now today I got out bed feeling light headed and unsure of my balance again .darednt stand too long as feel faint . Bit worrying .

I am worried that it may be a tumour or an .I have been to ent a few times about tinnitus and hearing but they don't have any interest in tinnitus and the hearing loss is typical in getting older . They have never looked into it any further and usually my sore throat is investigated and put down to reflux .

I know someone who also was left with tinnitus and hearing loss and finally a year later they investigated further and found an on her brain stem and she had treatment.

I have always been concerned as I can't pop my affected ear which I read means you could have blockage inside inner ear from infection or fluid but Drs never check that . Now I am worried there's tumour or something it's just so hard getting anywhere . Now feeling off balance obviously there's something going on . I am wondering how others were before being diagnosed thanks

[Kristyll]

Hi Wendy I would be looking for an early confirmation of diagnosis then you are sure what you are dealing with. There are often many more symptoms that are very varied in different people and there are many other things those symptoms could be. Good luck x

[Gardener21]

Hello… sorry to hear the problems you are having.. I had a similar chain of events.. couple of years ago doc said I’d burst my eardrum, antibiotics.. tinnitus getting worse, bad decline of hearing in my right ear, got a hearing aid, not much difference, started feeling unsteady.. in the end in January this year an MRI scan picked up a 22mm acoustic neuroma.. long story short, it was successfully removed at Kings in April. Slow recovery but VERY glad it’s been taken out. Insist on an MRI.. xx

[Wendy2186 in reply to Gardener21]

Thanks . Seems finally getting blood tests done after sending message to gp surgery that two weeks of this being unsteady and off balance was too long. .had they any earlier apps. But then was sent link to hospital blood testing where I was lucky had one app available next afternoon strangely the gp surgery then managed get me an app to do bp.and bloods next morning once I had complained .had a cancellation .but I just went to hospital and seems blood tests are ok. Am relieved about that at least but don't think there will be any follow up . As I had another spell of being off balance and felt rough the next day after seeing Dr. I don't think the problem has disappeared . Have to see if Dr gets in touch next week.as always it's hard work getting any investigations .I presume AN wouldn't show up in blood tests. ? I may just suggest that's what I am concerned about and maybe they will disprove it. . Sorry for all the An sufferers. It must be a hard thing to live with. I have a friend who had one she said her symptoms were quite mild tinnitus and bit hearing loss..she had the Gk. But is fine now. Hope you all get through it all well.

[musicman5]

Hi Wendy, I'm sorry to hear about your medical problems. I'd urge you to get an MRI ASAP. My symptoms started with hearing loss in my left ear, which I thought was just due to old age-I'm 67. Then in Feb. I started having balance and coordination problems, which grew steadily worse. I got an MRI in August which showed a 4.5 cm. tumor that was pressing on my brain stem and I had surgery in late Sept. which I'm still working to recover from. Chuck

[Gardener21]

Not sure if blood tests would show it.. I didn’t have any done.. I had a hearing test at Specsavers and the assistant said that as the deterioration was quite severe she would copy my doc in on the result. From that, doc sent me to the hospital for another hearing test, where I mentioned unsteadiness to the nurse, I could tell from her face that that was an alarm bell.. she bypassed any other appointments and put me straight in for an MRI… recovery is slow and hard work, but on the whole I’m ok, still a bit unsteady but used to it now, & tumour free.. good luck, it may be something simple but I would insist on further investigation.. appreciate its very difficult in the current covid climate, be persistent, keep your name popping up in front of them.. xxBxx

[Wendy2186 in reply to Gardener21]

I feel like I am a nuisance and maybe they think I am hypochondriac worrying about nothing. I have seen ent twice this year. As I get reflux and have gall stones I suffer quite a lot with sore throats the gp on phone finally sent me for the urgent ent app to check for any cancer that was fine nothing wrong I then had a hearing test app there at audiology about April I think they said hearing was no worse than the last time . Puffed air in ears and ok . So hearing isn't any worse. Left ear is slightly worse than right but that's one I feel blocked in. Can't pop. Hard to know isn't it without a scan. I had an Mr I for first time in my gall bladder in August after inflammation of gall bladder and a stay in hospitAl July . That was brought on by the gp.wrongly prescribing pain killers to me. I was told not to take them by 111 Dr as wouldn't do me any good. And in hospital the hosp pharmacist actually came on ward to find me and tell me you shouldn't take those as bad for you. Sadly I now have no faith in Drs and try avoid as much as possible. My theory on staying well. Lol the only time I try ends in having these arguments about not getting seen . Which also stressed me out. Feeling they are overstretched and no staff and I am expecting treatment others aren't getting either. I gave up quite few times .everyone's in same boat there I think. I am feeling ok at the moment. With ears inflamed and sore. But not off balance. Hope it stays that way. Good luck with your recovery. My friend is fine now. But had a tough time.

[Wendy2186]

I hope you can recover after op. Thanks for reply.seem to be ok inbetween the two spells of being off balance so far. Is that how it goes normally. ? Could be just inner ear infection maybe .but Drs don't go for anything out of the norm I find .will see next week should they contact me again tho I doubt any of them have the time thanks

[Wendy2186]

Good that Specsavers picked up on the problem. Has given some faith in audiologists. Worth seeing them regularly.