I don’t know if this is a long shot or not but it’s worth a thought and I’ll ask for some of your opinions anyways. I’m not going to go into detail about my story *you can see my new here post if your interested in my story* but 2 years ago I got sick with severely blocked sinuses to where I couldnt breath leaving me with mild ringing in both ears and a mild feeling of fullness in my right ear. Since then those symptoms haven’t really gotten any worse that I can tell, just my balance/equilibrium has over time *no vertigo* *no hearing loss* knock on wood. Well up until recently as my balance symptoms have worsened I’ve noticed that I have post nasal drip a lot or the feeling of mucus running down or sitting in the upper part of my throat like hasn’t gotten to my tongue yet, I can’t breath out of my right nostril well at all *which happens to be the ear side that feels full*, I’m having ear pain in both ears randomly, both ears feel kinda like there’s mucus in them when I flex my ear drums, I have cracking in my ears, slight headaches, pressure in the middle of my eyebrow area, my boogers have a weird smell to them and there’s little spots of blood sometimes in my snot after I blow my nose, I also feel like I have bad breath. Then along with the tinnitus, ear pressure, and balance issues are some what indicative of sinusitis from what I’ve been researching. The funny thing about why I’m even bring this up is that on all my imaging scans CT, MRI, and dental X-rays you can see sinus blockage in both my sinus cavity’s especially the right side *the side with fullness*. I had dental X-rays done like a year or more ago I think and the dentist asked me if I had sinus problems and I said I don’t think so why? She replied well you have sinus disease and showed me on the X-rays. Then later that year I had my CT scan and it still showed sinus blockage, then the past month I had my MRI and the neurologist said everything was clear but mentioned my sinuses. I looked at the MRI images myself and saw what the doctor was talking about. Menieres *or Menieres type symptoms * is idiopathic but it’s caused by something or is the result of an underlying issue in the body. I honestly think that my sinuses are the cause. They’re still inflamed and filled with mucus and have been for two years now per proof on my imaging scans. You can look up the sinus/ear connection and see that if you have chronic sinus issues it can cause middle and inner ear disturbances due to the chronic inflammation/blocked or inflamed Eustachian tubes causing abnormalities of ear in regards to pressure/inflammation. People can get vertigo/dizziness from sinusitis due to is causing irregularities in the ears but it’s not common. A light bulb kind of went off for me when I was thinking about everything today because I go to see my ENT on Tuesday. There’s a procedure called a “Balloon Sinuplasty” where they go in the sinuses with a camera and dilate them with a balloon device allowing them to drain properly, reduce inflammation, and help prevent infection. Maybe this is a long shot but I thought I’d post about it and voice myself. Any similar story’s or experiences? If anyone would like to weigh in that would be great. Thanks again.
Hey, Nick...When I was first having MM symptoms about 2 years ago, including one big vertigo episode, the ENT doc I saw at that time sent me for an MRI which showed completely blocked sinus cavities! I always had trouble breathing, but docs always said it was allergies, so I took allergy pills when it got really bad. That doc put me on 20 days of some heavy duty antibiotic. I don't remember which one, but my nose was like a running faucet for at least a week and then I didn't have another vertigo episode until a few months ago! But it never cleared the fullness, sensitivity, and tinnitus, and now I've been having vertigo episodes. The ENT doc I'm currently seeing prescribed Ipratropium Bromide nasal spray when I complained of a constant runny nose. It sounds like your sinus problems are more severe. I wonder why you were never prescribed an antibiotic. Interestingly, the pharmacist who filled my antibiotic Rx told me about a sinus rinse called "NeilMed". I used that often and it seemed to really keep my sinuses clear. Walmart carries it. It is a squeeze bottle with little packets of a powder you put in the bottle with distilled water. Heat it in the microwave for 20 seconds, then squirt it in one nostril and it flows out the other. Sounds gross, but once you practice a few times it is really very comfortable to use. I did this at least once a day, sometimes twice, till I felt better. The pharmacist recommended to use it forever and writing this is reminding me to start using it again. Don't use regular water and don't use it cold! You might want to give that a try. It can't hurt. I started the JOH regimen of supplements several weeks ago and I thought that was really helping all my symptoms and I did not have a vertigo episode for 4-1/2 weeks, until last night, and today the vertigo left me with acute sensitivity to certain sounds and loud tinnitus, and I'm still a bit dizzy. So it goes with this lousy disease. My next plan is to try a chiropractor. I'll be interested to hear what your ENT doc has to say at your upcoming visit. Please give us an update.
My primary doctor recommended that when I had a sinus infection, along with the antibiotic she gave me. It really did help. She said to use it if I even thought I had the beginnings of a sinus infection, that it could possibly save me a doctor visit and taking an antibiotic. It washed some nasty stuff out of my sinuses. I use it if I am having severe nasal allergy symptoms. It helps with that, too, washes the allergens out of my nose. The squeeze bottle is much easier and more pleasant to use than the neti pot. Having used it myself, I highly recommend it.
Nick--rereading your original post it does sound like your sinus issues have at least something to do with what you are experiencing. What you are describing could possibly be the beginnings of Meniere's yet doesn't sound completely consistent with MD. Even if it is Meniere's, many doctors have told me that sinus issues can worsen Meniere's issues. My suggestion is that you look into the sinus aspect of it and see what can be done to clear that up, and then proceeding further from there if need be. Good luck, I hope you get some answers, and soon.