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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Tinnitus / August 2004Recognize this?
I have had a hearing disorder/tinnitus problem over the last 5 years, only with my left ear. Slowly getting worse. Seen several doctors. They don't know what it is. These three things get better and worse together: tinnitus-hearing-swell The only way I notice the swell is that I can't blow air up my left ear when it is swollen. When I irritate my ear by touching it or putting a finger in it it gets worse after a few hours, and the effect stay for a few days. The worst effect I have noticed is from chlorinated water. Bathing in chlorinated water really makes my left ear swell/gives me tinnitus/and reduces my hearing for a few days. My sick ear itches and produces more wax than normal. My problems started shortly after I was diagnosed, and given antibiotics for, an otitis externa (infected ear canal). At the time I noticed that the antibiotic didn't seem to have much effect on the infection. A doctor have suggested that I have menieres disease, but should I believe that? I have no attacks. I have never felt any dizziness. Does my poking my ear->swell->tinnitus&hearing loss syndrome match menieres? Any comments are very appreciated. Have you felt anything similar? Any ideas what it could be/not be? PS. Menieres sometimes seem to just be a catch all diagnosis for all unknown variable dysfunctions of the inner ear. Is menieres a reasonable diagnosis for me? > I have had a hearing disorder/tinnitus problem over the last 5 years, > only with my left ear. Slowly getting worse. Seen several doctors. > They don't know what it is. > These three things get better and worse together: > tinnitus-hearing-swell Allergy? - have you tried "nose opening" drops or spray - yees, it is only about the symptom, but the symptom "blocked eustachic tube" may cause middle ear ailments. > The only way I notice the swell is that I can't blow air up my left > ear when it is swollen. > When I irritate my ear by touching it or putting a finger in it it > gets worse after a few hours, and the effect stay for a few days. Don't. > The worst effect I have noticed is from chlorinated water. Avoid it then. > My problems started shortly after I was diagnosed, and given > antibiotics for, an otitis externa (infected ear canal). > At the time I noticed that the antibiotic didn't seem to have > much effect on the infection. What was the cause of the irritation/infection? > A doctor have suggested that I have menieres disease, I'm not a doctor of any kind and not qualified to comment. However you claim of tinnitus raises the question: how is the audiogram (hearing threshold chart) and how does it correlate with "expected for age group"? > Menieres sometimes seem to just be a catch all > diagnosis for all unknown variable dysfunctions > of the inner ear. There is "outer ear" .. the stuff that sticks out and the ear canal. There is middle ear - the area between eardrum and the inner ear. The middle ear relies on being properly ventilated through the eustachic tube for its function. The inner ear is filled with a fluid and contains the actual sensory apparatus. What you describe is outer and middle ear symptoms, you specifically rule dizzyness, an inner ear symptom out, and you do not say anything about the hearing threshold measurement, that too is about properties of the inner ear. You come across as mixing the inner ear and the middle ear up, and you do not come across as having grave inner ear symptoms by a laymans unskilled estimate. > Is menieres a > reasonable diagnosis for me? No. Allergy as a cause of congestion and eustachic tube blockage might be IF there is a correlation with chemical or biological substances. Note the might and note that this is an unskilled viewpoint, ask your physician and observe whether other correlations than clorinated water exist, perfumes, non-iron clothes (formaldehyde) and various feathered or furry pets all are probable suspects, but eliminating non-iron clothes from your actually used wardrobe, bed linen included, for a week may be a good start in searching for a simple mechanism. The non-iron treatment can be removed by a couple of washes at 95 degrees centigrade .... cotton can usually withstand that, but may loose color and may shrink, results with clothes made of mixed fabrics can be unpredictable at best. Which is to say that you are on your own if you willfully disregard a washing advice label. Could it be that you irritate the ear canal by unwise cleaning attempts? Your mileage may vary greatly, use on your own best judgement, no guarantee. Kind regards Peter Larsen  Signature******************************************* * My site is at: http://www.muyiovatki.dk * ******************************************* Thank you very much for your answer! > What was the cause of the primary irritation/infection? Unknown. But I usued to poke my ear with stuff like pens and clips. I would never dream of doing that again. > You come across as mixing the inner ear and the middle ear up, and you > do not come across as having grave inner ear symptoms by a laymans > unskilled estimate. No I am not. That is what my doctors have no answers to. Just as you say, my symptoms are outer/middle-ear. Measurements, however, clearly show that my hearing loss happens in my inner ear. (I can get practically deaf on that ear.) Still, the hearing loss is correlated to irritations of the outer ear. I know this is unusual. If I irritate my outer ear I get worse hearing in my inner ear a few hours later, and tinnitus and swelling. (Unusual, yes, but at the same time we are talking about distances of around 10 mm.) A common source of itchiness in ears of guys is..........hair! Yup. In the ear canal, just beyond the first bend. You can see it if you pull the ear canal open and shine a bright light in there. There are actually little trimmers for this area and it would be good to check into them..........also if there is a lot of hair in there, it can trap the drops that are supposed to go in further. Ask your audiologist to check it out. I have a video otoscope that lets people look into their own ears and my patients, although sometimes grossed out, love it. MJ Doctors will call it Meniere's when they can't think of anything else. See if anything on this site is any help to you. http://eebee.net/TinnitusIsaPainintheNeck.shtml Tinnitus is a pain in the neck Elly's Tinnitus Resources http://eebee.net/ For email: elly at eebee.cjb.net >I have had a hearing disorder/tinnitus problem over the last 5 years, >only with my left ear. Slowly getting worse. Seen several doctors. [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] >unknown variable dysfunctions of the inner ear. Is menieres a >reasonable diagnosis for me? |
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