Well, it has been an interesting, and exhausting day. Got there at 9:45 this morning, for my appt at 10, and left at 2PM this afternoon.
First, Dr Groves (VA ENT) doesn't think it is cerebro-spinal fluid and could not detect any fluid at all. He thinks that whatever problem I was having is clearing itself up. He has ordered another CT scan to see if the mastoid bone is still showing fluid, so we'll see. It has been dry before, with most of the leakage happening at night, and I can still feel the pressure of the fluid - so, we'll see.
He also ordered another hearing test, which was done this afternoon. The really good news is that the VA does provide hearing aids! I didn't know that, and in fact, the local VA office here in Aiken, had told me last year that they didn't. My hearing, aside from whatever is going on with my right ear, is neural damage and "well within hearing aid range" - whatever that means. The second part of the good news from the hearing test is that the difference between right and left is not as significant as it was before. The bad news is that the right eardrum is still not vibrating at all and with no fluid behind it, no idea why not.
I have to say that, at first, I was very aggravated with Dr. Groves - which I don't hide well - because he came in the room without any preparation at all - he had no idea why I was there or what the last year and half of history has been. Since I know my PA in Aiken scanned all the medical records in from Aiken ENT, that made me feel somewhat frustrated. Why bother transferring medical records if they aren't going to read them? But, at the end, Dr. Groves convinced me that we are on the right path....I think.
I was concerned that the first thing I would hear is "spinal tap" and "bone grafts", but since he doesn't think it is CSF, then he doesn't think all that is necessary...so that does make me happy.
All in all, I'm happy that when the medical condition is cleared, I can actually get hearing aids and that the two biggies (spinal tap and bone graft) are, for now, out of the picture. It will be nice to hear the TV without having it loud enough for the next county over to know what we're watching.