acqustic neuroma

Hi, i have just had my op to remove a tumour from my ear.  It took the doctors nearly three years to find out what is was!  During that time i have had mild pain to severe pain.  After being diagnosed i had many sleepless nights not knowing what was going to happen to me.  I now have no hearing in my right ear, just a constant noise that is driving me mad.  The consultant said it would get easier, but after 8 weeks it is worse that ever.  How do i adjust to the fact i am off balance most of the time and i feel people must think i'm drunk or on drugs or something.  I have a constant screaming in my ear and i am embarrassed because i am always asking people to repeat themselves because i can't hear them.  I thought after having the last couple of years so bad that, after the op everything would be great?  I wonder how this is going to affect the rest of my life?

I am at the moment off work which, i have been for 8 weeks.  The problem is it has made me feel very upset and down I had fallen out of love with my job that, i used to love, and now i don't want to go back.  The thought of going back really upsets me, i know i have to because we all have to pay our way.

I really want to feel positive, but i feel a little lost at the moment??

Hello Shy,

I thanks for replying, yes the doc gives me strong pain killlers and tabs for killing the pain in the nerve endings, also tabs for the noise. The first are used as anti-depressants and epilepsy but, i am unsure about taking them, i already feel out of control enough. I don't know what effect they will have, i have just been putting up with the pain.

I went Back to the consultant last week. He told me it will take at least a year to get my balance back to any kind of normality. I am starting on a course of balance physio and keep taking the tablets??????????

They suggested before my op to have a trial run with a baha (bone anchored hearing aid) i did this for 4 weeks. It is supposed to transmit sound from the bad to the good so it feels you can hear both sides. It didn't work, i think once the hearing has gone you can't get it back. Thats one big problem to come to terms with, i have no hearing in one side after years of 1st class hearing. I feel like i have become less of a person. I look at forms i have to fill in and the any disability to declare and, i don't know what to put?

It took them all that time to find out what the problem was, i think if they had acted earlier could they have saved my hearing??

There are so many questions and nowhere near enough answers.

Post Edited (pieball) : 8/13/2007 11:52:46 AM (GMT-6)

Hi pieball, I am so sorry for what your going through!  I have MS and sometimes I will get a ringing or a vibration feeling in my ears and head.  It's weird but at least I know it will go away the next day if it happens.

Please by any means at least give the medications a try that your doctors have prescribed for you.  I would think they have your very best interests at heart and wouldnt prescribe something they didnt think wouldnt be helpful for you.  You will never know unless you try them.  And if it does ease some of your pain then why not take them?  There is no reason to make yourself suffer as you are.

The funny thing about some of these medications is that they have dual uses and purposes.  As do a lot of medications on the market...so dont let "antidepressant or epilepsy" scare you.

Hello Pieball,

Welcome to Healing Well. I am so glad you have joined this special forum where the members are so very warm and caring.

I am sorry about your surgery and the hearing loss and I know from experience after a very minor ear surgery that coming out of it and having my hearing diminished was scary. So I can't imagine how it must be for you. :(

Please know I am here and you have my support.  Keep posting. ((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))

Hi kitt, really nice of you to say hello. It's great to have so much support, i wish i had joined ages ago.

Thanks so much

Your most welcome dear    Please do let us know how you do and feel free to post as often as you like we are always here.

Pieball
I know it has to be frustrating,but there is a light at the end of the tunnel now.

I think that when I was looking for a job,and basically sitting around home most of the day my depression was way worse. Going to work will help you keep your mind off of things,at least for 8 hrs a day.


Shy