Center for Hearing Loss Help?

[ellzeena]

I got tinnitus years ago after trying various BP medications and just lousy doctors giving far too high doses! I basically ignored it, even though there were times it was annoying. In September I woke up in France with a blocked right ear (scared me to DEATH), result of ear irrigation done by make believer ER (one of these urgent care places). Then upon my return to US, ENT just basically did not adequately treat what was obviously a growing external ear infection so I went up to Albany Medical Center to a subspecialist ENT (miscroscopic otoscope, debriding, etc.) He was incredibly awful (pushed Neomycin drops on me constantly which then caused contact dermititis in both ears, weeping skin), so I found another Dr. there whom I have seen five times and who has basically gotten me to the point where I am on the road to recovery. However: due to debridement of outer ear canal my ear canals are irritated, probably swollen to some degree, no infection, but this has made the T much worse lately. Also, because of stuffiness in ears I began popping my ears (BAD IDEA, never do that) so I think I irritated my eustachian tubes. I am a total and complete nervous wreck now! I am seeing the Dr. again Thursday morning to check both ears but we don't discuss the T at all (this Dr. does give me a lot of attention and treatment but basically is overworked with many patients waiting).

I have been on the Internet all morning and found this Center for Hearing Loss which has worsened my anxiety and made me think there's no drugs you can ever take for anything, paranoia is through the roof. Is that site legitimate or is the guy just selling his overpriced books?

Can anyone give me encouragement here? Please? I will not put any drops or anything else in my ears, I am taking very low level of Xanax (.25 mg) to try to remain calm (because stress and insomnia make T worse). I'm terrified by this otitis externa which is STUPID because it is basically harmless when treated and will go away! I am also severely grieving (this is my sixth Christmas without my daughter) so I need all the encouragement I can get and am SO HAPPY to have found this forum!!!!

 

[glynis]

Welcome to Tinnitus Talk Ellzeena.
You could try steam inhalation and also Sudafed to help clear your tubes.
Your ears need time to heal and any inflamation to settle and antihantihistamines can help if your ears feel itchy inside.
Keep up with medication if have a infection and see your doctor to make sure your ears are ok inside after medication has finished.
Tinnitus can take a little longer to settle after but will do over time
....lots of love glynis


Sorry to hear about the loss of your daughter,
I lost my dad a few months ago xxx

 

[ellzeena]

TY, the infection is long gone. I'm now dealing with allowing ear canals to go back to normal after several debridements (it was fungus/yeast, debridement prevents stenosis and is the mainstay of treatment for fungal outer ear infections). Those treatments are very scary and painful, adding to stress of more than one hour in each direction to hospital clinic! I'm going to ask the Dr. on Thursday morning about not doing any more debridements and how long for ear canals to go back to normal. Tinnitus should go back to what it was after ear canals are no longer inflamed. My sympathies on the loss of your father.