Thank you everyone

[bigblock73]

Well, I just returned from my second trip in two weeks to the Mayo Clinic. Last week I met my ENT there for the first time, he reviewed my previous CT scan, my history, my past charts, looked in my ear, and performed a few test. After spending 45 minutes with him (unheard of at regular clinics where I live) he could not find the cause of my strange ear problems. He then suggested a blood test and MRI be performed to give him a better "picture" as to what is going on. So today I had my blood tested and had the MRI...not quite the way I wanted to spend an entire day but hopefully this will provide some answers. After I had these two things out of the way, I had to kill three hours until my Dr. appointment. My fiance and I went to lunch and spent some time together walking around downtown Rochester...quite enjoyable compared to the last few weeks if you can believe that. At 4 I met with the doc and he informed me that my left ear looks completely normal (NO LVAS), and my right ear DOES have LVAS but since I am deaf in that ear anyways it doesn't matter. I also found out that the LVAS in my right ear is what caused my inner ear not to develop before I was born...thus causing the deafness in that ear...I never knew this until today...pretty cool to finally find out. Bottom line is...he does not know what is causing this. He is assuming fluid is getting in my inner ear somehow, but cannot say 100% for sure. As a test, he is having me take a diuretic and a low sodium diet...to pull all the excess fluid out of my body. I am supposed to try this for six months and then go back for a follow up.

Sorry for the long post, but if you are still sitting there reading this I have one more thing to say...

I want to say thanks to everyone on this board who has shown their support, said prayers, and been there for me. When I "signed off" a couple weeks ago I had no idea it would get the kind of reaction it did...it was quite heart warming reading that earlier today! You guys and girls are the best! In a world that can be very cold and bitter at times...this place and the people who hang out here prove that wrong and make this one of my favorite places to be! After leaving something I truly enjoy it has shown me how much I miss this place and the people who frequent here. No more pity parties for me!

...Jeff