Feeling Desperate Because of Doctors' Attitude and Treatment — What Should I Do Next?

[Audiophile_bg]

I've had horrible experience so far with doctors, kind of surprised that they would say the things they said to me.

So I got very intrusive tinnitus because of a drug I was prescribed - Olanzapine (for depression and anxiety).

It's been hell because the doctors won't actually investigate if my hearing is damaged since they think it's not a big deal, or I'm making this up. They basically play "well how do you know it's the olanzapine" when the tinnitus started six days into that drug, and started with sharp pains in my neck and ear/head.

Now having read reports of the drug causing reversible bilateral hearing loss: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4118547/ I think it is in very poor taste to accuse me of making things up about the tinnitus, or that "well it could be caused by anything", or that I'm annoying to them because I keep asking for a relief.

I've been to three doctors and they all say "well you don't know if it's the Zyprexa, but we won't give you an MRI or a scan to see if there is actually any damage to your nerves".

Also they are accusing me of wasting their time?!

I am going to a new doctor tomorrow (otoneurologist), but my GP was not even interested enough to give me a referral, so I'm going on my own. If this next doctor blames me for the tinnitus, I will go out of my mind.

What should I do, should I report this to someone, I doubt organisations/authorities would take this seriously. Keep in mind they can't give me a coherent explanation of why my left ear and neck hurt and why I got the tinnitus, they just make sure to tell me it's not the olanzapine. It's like, "Yeah we MIGHT have descended from aliens from the planet Nibiriu, but it's HIGHLY unlikely"- "yeah the tinnitus could be from anything". Well... yes it could, but there is a probability it's from ototoxicity which you are not investigating.

I'm at a loss as to what to do.

 

[Wolfears]

Sorry to hear about your experience, but most medical "professionals" in general are clueless...there are some exceptions of course, but those are about as rare as a unicorn.

I call them trained pill prescribers, because that is generally what they excel at the best.

Most of them will of course treat the symptom, rather than the cause.

I'm not sure if this is due to the fact that they are either unable or unwilling to use critical thinking, but you see the results first hand.

 

[JohnAdams]

stop arguing with your doctor. he is a high priest in the gnostic world order instituted by our illuminati Niburu overlords.

but seriously they have to know what's up with ototoxic drugs. funny they are so happy to approve ototoxic drugs at the FDA but they figure out how to reverse ototoxic effects with regenerative medicine and they just drag their asses.

 

[john paul]

Its shocking that anything which can cause Tinnitus can be approved in the first place. It goes to show that only you are responsible for you, nobody can be trusted. Trust no one with anything. Coca Cola and Mcdonalds are at the top of the food chain and look what they are peddling, basically acid and plastic burgers. The worst food and drink imaginable. It says it all about this world.

 

[Audiophile_bg]

Thank you everyone who posted.

See, I know tinnitus is unexplored, but its not about them not a magic cure for this, its about their disgusting attitude. Why are they so obnoxious about this? To win an argument with me? All I ask is for normal interaction, not them having the cure.... Oh well...

 

[Audiophile_bg]

Update: i went to the otoneurologist. I have congestion of the Eustachian tube. Finally someone listened to my symptoms.
Thanks for the support.

 

[Jack Straw]

Update: i went to the otoneurologist. I have a congestion of the Eustachian tube. Finnaly someone listened to my symptoms.
Thanks for the support.

Wow, if I was you i would report those other doctors to their boards. That is very unprofessional of them.

I am glad this doctor took you seriously and found the problem.

 

[Contrast]

It doesn't matter what new research and scientific explanations that comes from notable researchers like Professor Shore, Professor Liberman, Mass Eye and Ear ect... has to say about hearing loss, tinnitus, chronic ear pain.

Most ENT's will still not budge their position, there understanding of the inner ear is behind decades and they are obligated to keep up with new research. Tonal audiometric dogma and cognitive therapy for tinnitus prevails, bio-medical research and facts get thrown under the bus. People have muffled hearing/low quality hearing but still have the ability to hear tonal noise and human voice range in total silence and are told no hearing loss.
I honestly think they view our hearing loss as clinically insignificant

it's like a Youtube video in High quality format being reduced to 360p (low quality format)

You can still watch a low quality video/have mediocre hearing and not be disabled but it's obviously going to cause severe depression knowing the natural healthy function of the cochlea is forever destroyed without science intervening.

Hearing aids turning up the volume isn't going to undo muffled hearing, infact music sounds normal on low volumes and merges frequencies more as the volume goes up.The best case scenario is that hearing aids act as equalizers. A healthy functioning cochlear can hear complex background noise + speech

Hearing aids always make a trade off of background noise or speech, they cannot replace the cochlea's natural function. Once again I'm a pathetic loser for acting entitled to a cutting edge bio-medical cure after I retardly damaged a complex sensory organ of hearing and balance. Many people like musicians, veterans, age related hearing loss may have the same problems as me but just don't care.

The more people that know how to manage/tolerarte hearing damage, distortion, tinnitus and chronic ear pain, visual snow the less interest and funding bio-medical research gets. Literally whining and feeling sorry for yourself does more for science and research then being a mature adult and moving on.

Science is showing very compelling research in the clinic now that it is possible to regenerate cochlear hair cells, use brain stimulation devices to manipulate the volume of tinnitus.

via University of Michigan signal timing device and Frequency Therapeutics cochlear hair cell regeneration.

Decibel Therapeutics and Otonomy are working on ways to repair cochlear synaptic ribbons however I fret it may only work on acute (short window of time) hearing loss. Decibel Therapeutics

All these scientific advancements that never took place during the "Good ol days" when manly tough guys didn't give a damn about muffled hearing, screeching head noises and chronic ear pain are something to be excited about.

The reason I don't kill myself is because of these advancements being possible, but it's going to be literally hilarious when insurance doesn't cover shit and most people with hearing loss won't care. All this bio-medical research will only help the rich boys club.

It'd be really fun if I never damaged my hearing and was back in college taking classes, making friends and having a meaningful career. I really "sarcasm" enjoyed throwing my life away about hearing loss that "sarcasm" doesn't exist.

I suffered with mental health issues all my life, I get things semi straightened out in classes with some hope of a good future for the first time in 4 years, and then my life gets thrown down the drain and now therapist fill me up with mental toughness dogma which won't help. I only work hard and use effort if I know it will pay off. cochlear synapse damage + face ear pain is enough to make me permanently give up. Tinnitus is the least of my concerns other then it's reactive properties.

I'm literally a cancer on this forum and most likely my shitposting will do nothing but damage tinnitus talk's reputation with researchers and it's only a matter of time before the Sparkhealth tonaki tinnitus scammers I doaxed will end up taking legal pursuit against me.

 

[Audiophile_bg]

I just wanted to say im taking the nasal spray i've been prescribed and I dont focus on the Tinnitus so much, since they explained what caused it. I feel a bit better. The vibration feeling is also negelctable.
Thanks everyone for the support.

 

[JohnAdams]

Its shocking that anything which can cause Tinnitus can be approved in the first place. It goes to show that only you are responsible for you, nobody can be trusted. Trust no one with anything. Coca Cola and Mcdonalds are at the top of the food chain and look what they are peddling, basically acid and plastic burgers. The worst food and drink imaginable. It says it all about this world.

And the FDA wont rush the release of the one drug, fx322, that may fix the problems that THEY CAUSED IN THE FIRST PLACE.

 

[Audiophile_bg]

Okay, this is urgent!
When i turn my head left to right, or move it in an upside down motion, my ears click A LOT, i mean like its not just a sound, i can feel something move in there. That is common with ETD right?
Thanks.

 

[Bill Bauer]

Okay, this is urgent!
When i turn my head left to right, or move it in an upside down motion, my ears click A LOT, i mean like its not just a sound, i can feel something move in there. That is common with ETD right?
Thanks.

Sounds like TTTS (tonic tensor tympani syndrome). I don't think it is common with ETD...

 

[Audiophile_bg]

@Bill Bauer, Hi. But the doctor didn't say anything Tensor tympani? And there is no clicking like normally.

 

[Bill Bauer]

On second thought, this more closely resembles people's ears cracking when they swallow (which has to do with eustachian tubes).

It is probably nothing, but just because your symptom is so intense, you might consider running this by a doctor.

 

[Audiophile_bg]

Yes, it is the same feeling as when i swallow. I told the doctor about this and she said that i describe ETD. And to me it makes sense, considering what was going on with my nose and respiratory tract prior to the tinnitus and cracking.

 

[Audiophile_bg]

So I got tinnitus (and pain/fullness) while I was taking anti-psychotics and I went to a couple of doctors because no one cared to help me in the beginning. The psychiatrist that prescribed the Olanzapine to me kept saying that it couldn't have caused the tinnitus (even though it appeared while I was on it, and got better when I went off it, but didn't disappear altogether).

After the second doctor that didn't help me, I went to an Otoneurologist. I was diagnosed with ETD. When I called my psychiatrist and explained that to her, she suggested I am obnoxious for seeking medical help for my ear pain and tinnitus, and that I am basically making this up for attention. What am I supposed to do if I have (quite severe at times) ear pain and very intrusive low pitched tinnitus, just pretend like it's not there? Sorry not sorry, but this kind of attitude is PURE CANCER and I will no stand for it. I just needed to share that with you.
Thank you.

P.S. the connection between the olanzapine and tinnitus is: while I was on the drug, I couldn't breathe since my nose was completely blocked, and the side effects DO list "upper respiratory tract infections", so the congestion caused my eustachian tubes to become inflamed. That explanation didn't jive with my psychiatrist tho.

 

[butterfly75]

You have a right to be upset. Both that psychiatrist and the doctor were so lacking in understanding. I'm so sorry you got tinnitus from the medication. Tinnitus can be really hard to cope with when you first develop it and being told you're exaggerating or being obnoxious must feel so horrible. Please go to a different doctor! The tinnitus can get a lot easier to deal with, don't lose hope. This bad experience would've ruined my day and week, please don't let it ruin yours. Just because someone doesn't understand doesn't mean your pain right now isn't real. Surround yourself with supportive family members. It's hard to do this alone.

 

[Audiophile_bg]

Thank you @butterfly75 . The tinnitus has since subsided a lot, but the ear pain and clicking when i move suddenly have not disappeared completely. Before i was given nasal spray , i had really bad ear pain ( felt like skewers stabbing my eardrum) but STILL i'm told that i'm making this up..... Why would you say something like that?

 

[robHing]

Hi... Welcome...
I am very sorry to know your situation.
Most anti-depression medicines are ototoxic (no good to ears).
But, some people took it OK.
If it causes you tinnitus (ear fullness and pain)
then you should work with doctor to stage down and off the drug.
This is just my personal opinion. It should be decided by your doctor.

REF:
"The atypical antipsychotic drug olanzapine has been employed as an augmentation treatment in depressed patients unresponsive to treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). "

 

[Striveon]

Doctors are so careless, they think it's a simple ring we experience and since they hear that habituation is the only way to acceptance, it is very easy to deal with. Plus it's not them who are dealing with this debilitating symptom!! They're so useless when it comes to tinnitus, so annoying!

 

[butterfly75]

Thank you @butterfly75 . The tinnitus has since subsided a lot, but the ear pain and clicking when i move suddenly have not disappeared completely. Before i was given nasal spray , i had really bad ear pain ( felt like skewers stabbing my eardrum) but STILL i'm told that i'm making this up..... Why would you say something like that?

I know that you're not making it up. We all do. Some people just don't understand unless it's happening to them, I'm sorry. But most people do understand, keep seeking support. I'm really glad the tinnitus has gone down since! That's a very goon sign.

 

[robHing]

My apology. You have already off this drug.

 

[Audiophile_bg]

Hi... Welcome...
I am very sorry to know your situation.
Most anti-depression medicines are ototoxic (no good to ears).
But, some people took it OK.
If it causes you tinnitus (ear fullness and pain)
then you should work with doctor to stage down and off the drug.
This is just my personal opinion. It should be decided by your doctor.

REF:
"The atypical antipsychotic drug olanzapine has been employed as an augmentation treatment in depressed patients unresponsive to treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). "

Im already off the drug, there was no way i could take it, since i had ..pretty severe ear pain, actually after the onsent of the pain and tinnitus, i took the drug for another week, and during this overlap period the ear pain was just intolerable. There was no way physically i could have continued to take it. The ear problems didn'stop when i went off it tho.

Edit: No need to apologise, thank you for replying.

 

[robHing]

Please give some time to restore your normal ears.
Also, please try to habituate it (keep busy... pay less attention to your ears).

I had anti-depression medicine only 2 days and my tinnitus (already exists)
is getting louder. So, I stop immediately. It is lowered down now.
I fully understand your frustration and anger.
Please hang in there.

God bless !

 

[derpytia]

What a rude and uncaring doctor!

These are the kinds of doctors I wish would lose their license. I mean they won't bc being rude is not grounds for a doctor to lose a license (only pure malpractice is).

 

[Audiophile_bg]

Please give some time to restore your normal ears.
Also, please try to habituate it (keep busy... pay less attention to your ears).

I had anti-depression medicine only 2 days and my tinnitus (already exists)
is getting louder. So, I stop immediately. It is lowered down now.
I fully understand your frustration and anger.
Please hang in there.

God bless !

Very kind post from you. Thank you.

 

[Audiophile_bg]

I know that you're not making it up. We all do. Some people just don't understand unless it's happening to them, I'm sorry. But most people do understand, keep seeking support. I'm really glad the tinnitus has gone down since! That's a very goon sign.

I get that some people don't understand, but doctors? I'm having a hard time, because its one thing to not have a cure for it. I get that, but claiming that im making this up for shits and giggles, is a completely different thing, and its disgusting.

 

[JohnAdams]

yeah fuck your doctor. move on.

 

[Red]

What terrible bedside manner! How can they expect to have patients still? Share your story and leave a review online. I always check reviews for doctors if I need a specialist or different insurance. I only have time and money for doctors who want to help me and are empathetic to my health issues.

 

[butterfly75]

I get that some people don't understand, but doctors? I'm having a hard time, because its one thing to not have a cure for it. I get that, but claiming that im making this up for shits and giggles, is a completely different thing, and its disgusting.

Exactly. You went there expecting support and medical help. I'd be so upset and angry.