I'm glad I found this forum. For Four months I tried different things, figuring my symptoms (outer ear tingling was the start of shingles, or ear fullness, nausea etc were related to my migraines or allergies) or the ringing in my ears were related to too much Motrin for 15 years. It's not until then I sought out help from my PCP. Then to the ENT. I was having only left ear issues, with a hearing test showing loss in both ears at the higher frequencies. Just had the ECOG done last week which said my right ear was my worse ear. I thought they misread my results! I just got the news two days ago, the doctor told me it was caught early and to take out salt (usually do anyways), avoid caffeine and take Dyazide. I'm to see him again in a month. I thought he'd refer me back to my PCP to make sure of B12 or other causes, he only did a MRI. I feel overwhelmed. I try to keep busy, so the tinnitus isn't as loud. This is the first major medical disease I've ever been diagnosed with. I've been trying to do research to learn more about its progression. If I lose my hearing, I can't work anymore. Thanks for letting me vent!!!!
Hi Maryland , This really is a great place to vent so many People to help you out. I am newly diagnosed As well and it's a scary and lonely disease. It's funny you mentioned Motrin the past year I have been on Motrin constantly for A herniated disc and for a tooth implant. My pediatrician told me years ago to give Motrin to my kids only for very High fevers that studies showed Motrin Can cause blindness . I'm now wondering If it causes hearing problems as well. Got me Thinking . But anyway have you had vertigo? My problem Is mainly left ear hearing flucuating and fullness as well, Dizziness and some vertigo in the beginning . I would suggest doing blood work checking For diabetes and thyroid problems b12 Too. The same time my mm was diagnosed I have been over treated with synthroid for my thyroid. I found an infectious disease doctor helped Answer more questions for me then the ear specialist. I'm sure you will get plenty of help from Others on this forum , a lot of people here Have years of experience with this disease and Are very knowledgeable. Hang in there
Thanks, Lisa! I am checking back with my PCP for other causes. I have a little bit of dizziness, but what bothers me the most is the ringing in the ears and especially when everything's quiet, it sounds like I can hear my heartbeat in my ear.
I know tinitus is the worst I can deal with the ringing Even when it's loud for some reason But the buzzing drives Me crazy. Someone just posted something About magnetic pulses that showed a lot of Success for tinitus. Couldn't copy it but its pretty recent Something good to know .
Hi Mary, If you are diagnosed with Meniere's (you did not say what you were diagnosed with) I suggest you try and get a doctor to prescribe an antiviral, many of us including myself have gotten symptom relief from them I have been vertigo and symptom free for over 2.5 years. You should read the articles in the forums database and read about MAV since you have migraines but headaches are not required to have MAV, at times Meniere's is diagnosed when it really is MAV and some times we have both MM and MAV, I have both. There is a wealth of information on these forums and treatments you will not hear about from doctors. But they work. But one treatment does not work for everyone, but with patience and trial and error you will find what works for you. This is the study by Dr Gacek who is a firm supporter of a viral cause for MM, his protocol for antivirals is on page 104 http://www.mm3admin.co.za/documents/docmanager/6e64f7e1-715e-4fd6-8315-424683839664/00056616.pdf this is a thread about MAV Migraine associated vertigo (headache NOT required) http://menieres.org/talk/index.php?topic=32.0 This is a thread for people new to the disease: http://menieres.org/talk/index.php?topic=264.0 All of these links are in the forums database. But I suggest you try to get an antiviral and follow Dr Gacek's protocol and read up on MAV and take it from there.
Thanks to the responses and treatments used by others in the hyperlinks. I was told it was caught very early on.. Not sure what that means,mince I complained about my left, but the ECOG said it was the right that was worse. I have very little vertigo (sorry for those who do), but this ear ringing and what I think sounds like my heartbeat next to my ear are driving me crazy! Someone else on another thread asked about a helicopter sound. Wonder if we are experiencing the same sound. My ENT told me it was unrelated to my condition. I'll ask about the anti-vitals when I goback in a month. In the meantime, I am asking my PCP for the full work up for lab work to make sure the ENT made the correct diagnosis. I haven't had a Vit D, thyroid test in six months. And they could have changed, since thyroid issues can also be started by a virus.
I have the heartbeat sound too. It was very loud a year ago, but it's becoming quieter now. Honestly, as the pulsing sound gets quieter, my vertigo episodes have increased. At first, my OTO said the sound was normal. I told him about it again at my last visit and he said he would order an MRA next time I saw him. If your inner ear is swollen, it could be pushing against a vein or something.
Pulsatile tinnitus http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/disorders/hearing/tinnitus/pulsatile.html In pulsatile tinnitus, people hear something resembling their heartbeat in their ear. •Pulsatile tinnitus is usually due to a small blood vessel that is coupled by fluid to your ear drum. It is usually nothing serious and also untreatable. •Rarely pulsatile tinnitus can be caused by more serious problems -- aneurysms, increased pressure in the head (hydrocephalus), and hardening of the arteries. A vascular tumor such as a "glomus" may fill the middle ear, or a vein similar to a varicose vein may make enough noise to be heard. •Inner ear disorders that increase hearing sensitivity (such as SCD) can cause pulsatile tinnitus. As this condition can be corrected surgically, it is one of the few "fixable" causses of pulsatile tinnitus. •There are some very large blood vessels -- the carotid artery and the jugular vein -- that are very close to the inner ear (see diagram above). Noise in those blood vessels can be conducted into the inner ear. Accordingly, other possibilities for vascular tinnitus include dehiscence (missing bone) of the jugular bulb -- an area in the skull which contains the jugular vein, and an aberrantly located carotid artery. An enlarged jugular bulb on the involved side is common in persons with venous type pulsatile tinnitus. •Anything that increases blood flow or turbulence such as hyperthyroidism, low blood viscosity (e.g. anemia), or tortuous blood vessels may cause pulsatile tinnitus.
Thanks for the link Vicki, on pulsatile tinnitus and for all the reading you do and finding things! you are very organized! I have always wanted to be organized! And am glad for people who are!
hehe you're welcome Linda, I am not really an organized person, but I do like to research and learn about things
Hello I did start working with an acupuncturist and she has helped with the tinnitus It has not completely gone away but is quieter. I mostly have the bubbling and beeping sounds at times it sounds like the beeping on a larger vehicle when it is backing up. Some days I just get crazy noises. On my last visit to the ENT he said it will get quieter over time as your brain does eventually figure out that your ear is dead and cannot function anymore.