New to this and having tons of fun

Several months ago, I developed a high pitched tone in my head. I don't know which side it is coming from. I became dizzy (not spinning, just couldn't visually focus and tilted) so I went to my GP. My left ear by then was hurting like mad and I had a lot of fullness, like I had ridden in an unpressurized plane. I could hear but it hurt. Despite my LEFT ear being the most painful, the RIGHT one had a bowing out ear drum. My GP put me on antibiotics.

I've had tinnitus for, like, ever but never like this. And not high pitched. It's usually a roar that I could easily cover with a fan or whatever. Allergy season made it worse but that's to be expected. This high pitched tone is driving me nuts.

The dizziness continued, had actual vertigo, and my GP wanted to send me to an ENT but finding one that had an opening within this calendar year took a while. This doc had me have a hearing test prior to the appt. Hearing was fine but high pitch in left ear was down some, but within norm of someone my age (almost 53). Next we did an MRI and all was fine. Tubes clear, no neuroma, nothing out of place. She says the ear pain is from the TMJ since I am "popping" open my ears so much. Not sure on that one. Now we're doing balance PT and dx tests via vestibular center. Do not have BPPV. Do have some eye issues (convergence?) but not enough to cause dizziness. Some sort of test (wore thing with camera that looked at my eye as she jerked my head while I maintained my eyes on a target) revealed nerve damage to the left ear. I have some exercises to do to re-teach that nerve. She (a dr of pt) does not think it is labrythnitis (sp?) but probably Meneire's. We're going to do more testing this week. Trying to eliminate other stuff related to my eyes.

Last night I had my worse vertigo w/ nausea ever. I actually thought I would vomit, something I don't do very often. I have migraines so I had some phenegran to take and the meclizine. Any movement made it worse. It was frightening. I also noted that just before it started, my left ear was screaming in pain and the tinnitus was very loud, both the tone and the roar.

I do not need yet another diagnosis. I have enough, thankyouverymuch. Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, migraines, hypertension, hypothyroid, diabetes, sleep apnea, asthma, PVCs, and depression for some reason (more sarcasm). I have 16 medications (10 full time, rest are PRN) and yes, my GP and I go through them at least once a year to see if any need removing or adjusting. I use a power wheelchair or forearm crutches for mobulation. Not bragging and really not complaining, just establishing my background. I know my body and I know when something is wrong. My GP has understands this so when I said how bad the dizziness had gotten, she knew I was serious. She's pleased I got an appt (finally!) with an ENT she trusts.

I'm a writer (lesbian fiction) and live with my partner of 28yrs in WNC. We have 3 dogs and 2 cats. Anyway, that's me.

 

Thanks!