[shayla]

I'm going to go see my family doctor later today for an odd ear problem that has been bothering me for a few months now. This will be the 3rd visit for the same problem. The first two times, the doctor said it was an ear infection and gave me antibiotics, but they didn't help. It doesn't feel like an ear infection either...it feels like there is a lot of pressure inside my ears. It started on the left side, but now both sides are doing it. It feels like the muscles inside my ears are spasming really hard, that's the only way I know how to describe it. Most of the time, it's just bothersome, but when it keeps on for so long without stopping for a while, it becomes painful (that has only happened in my left ear so far). It started suddenly a few months ago. I was out shopping with my mom and started feeling the spasm sensation and was really dizzy. The dizziness passed after a few days with it, not sure if my body just got used to it or what.
I've also noticed that I have to ask people to repeat themselves a lot more lately so I think it might be affecting my hearing a little bit.
Does this sound familiar to anyone? It's driving me nuts! I'm going to ask for a referral to both a rheumi and to an ENT. I'm a bit worried because I am supposed to take a trip in a few weeks and I'm scared that flying might cause more pain. :worried: Hopefully they can figure it out before then.

 

[KarenM]

Hi Shayla

I am sorry that you are having such a rotten time with your ears, I hope your GP will refer you to an ENT to have this checked out.

Best wishes

 

[Maia]

I would say the ENT would be the most important doctor to see about this issue, and you should get your hearing tested there as well if you believe it may have affected your hearing. There are some autoimmune causes of hearing loss/ear problems; but there are many other things it could be.

Sometimes the fluid just can't drain out and a short course of prednisone is needed to reduce the swelling so it can drain out.

Hope you can get in soon and get some answers.

 

[shayla]

Maia, that's exactly what is wrong. I saw my nurse practitioner. She gave me prednisone, veramyst, and fexofenadine. She told me that it was good that I went in because left untreated, it could cause the bones to paralyze and could cause deafness I'm just so glad that this ISN'T another one of those things that comes in a flare and never goes away, one of those tings that you just have to learn to live with! Whew! I am so glad about that! I just assumed when it didn't go away with the antibiotics before that it was muscular. I'm so glad I was wrong. It's nice to know that this is just one of those things that "normal" people get and it should go away
She said that if it doesn't clear up pretty fast, she is going to send me to an ENT and let them "open it up" since it has already been going on so long. That doesn't sound very fun so I'm hopig the meds do the job. She said that my glands are swollen up in my neck and the back of my head on the left side. Yep, I knew that two months ago when I told my family doc...but he just ran his hand across my neck and didn't even look in my ears. I am going to start looking for a new family doc! Too bad I'll lose my nurse practitioner when I do that, she's really nice and actually listens to me.

 

[KarolH]

Hi Shayla,

If your Nurse Practitioner listens to you then why not stick with her for ongoing treatment???

I have hearing loss in my right ear that has progressively gotten worse but I do not have pain, pressure or spasm that you describe.

I hope the ENT doctor can provide you with some answers and that you get in to see him prior to flying.

Let us know how you make out moving ahead.:wink2:

 

[shayla]

Karol, I would love to stay with my nurse practitioner, but she has to clear everything through my family doc. There have been a couple of things that she wanted to test for in the past that he wouldn't allow her to do, so I feel I'm limited with her because of him. She gets very frustrated with him, but her hands are tied. He knows something is wrong, but he doesn't want to do any tests. That part is weird to me, but he says he would rather leave the tests to the specialists...ok fine, but in order for that to happen, he needs to send me to a specialist! He has mentioned that before, but says he doesn't know if I should go to a neuro or a rheumi. Ok, fine...send me to both or just take your best guess, but I think it's high time he does something! But he just keeps stalling. But, my nurse practitioner is willing to send me to a rheumi...not sure how she plans on clearing that with him, but she told me to do some research and find a rheumi and she'll make the referral, so I guess that's good. I wish she knew of one to send me to, but she wants to send me to Dallas (that's about 6 hours from me), and she said she's not sure who is good there. (Makes me wonder why she wants me to go there if she doesn't know of a good rheumi :?)

 

[Pink Pearl]

Shayla, you need to get this checked out by your rheumy first. If you don't know of one in your area, check with the LFA office you are closest to.

The reason I suggest a rheumy is that there is a form of sle which can cause deafness and you would do better to have the rheumy rule that out. If it is not connected to sle then you can go to an ENT.

Write down when the symptoms showed up, how often you notice them, and what, if anything, helps. Take that to your rheumy with you and go over it together.
Good luck
Sally

 

[onetay]

shayla,
Just a thought but is it possible that you have water in your eye. My daughter has something called swimmers ear. She can get it even from taking a shower or a bath. She describes something similar to what you are saying. She has this sloshing sound once in away also but mostly she said if feels like pressure pushing out to the ear (from the inside out that is).

You have made the right choice by going to the ENT doctor. They often can find things that gp's don't think to look at. I hope you feel better soon and find the answer.