Finding the Right Dr

[Jeanette]

Dear dr . Nagler,

I need your help to find the righ medical support for my mother. She started suffering from tinnitus after a 45 mins flight to a vacation spot in my home country. After that she went to the dr and he recommended some Maxone vitamins. She said it helped but after a month it's back again and it's loud and its wearing her out emotionally.

She has breakdowns episodes wher she is really desperate. A week ago she started some therapy with a earring device call wides 440. It is recommended to her to start using it gradually, 30 mins in the morning and 30 mins in the afternoon and not to sleep with it. Now this week it's 1 hour in the morning and 1 in the afternoon. She mentioned that it gives her headaches when she has it but the screeching sound it's gone when when she wears it.

I feel a bit helpless beacuse I feel she doesn't have an integral approach. I am looking to take her to see a good specialist on Tinnitus and I thought you can recommend me one. I understand you are retired but also see patients in Atlanta. My mother lives in Venezuela We don't have health insurance but if it's ok fo her to take a plane I will flight her to your practice and we will cover the necessary expenses.

I know that it's very hard to identify the source but I wonder if it is due to medication she I taking today.

Maybe we can send some tests in advance . Maybe we can start consultation via Skype. Please help. We are devastated to see her like that and she is really desperate.

Thanks in advance,
Jeanette Tenoiro

 

[Dr. Nagler]

Hi @Jeanette -

There are two tinnitus clinicians in Latin America whose work I respect greatly. One is Dr. Tanit Sanchez, an ENT physician in São Paulo. The other is Dr. Marcela Escobar, an Au.D. audiologist with offices in Bogotá and Medellin.

Perhaps your mother's interests would be better served with one of them, especially Dr. Escobar in view of the commonality of mother tongue and the much shorter distance involved. I know Dr. Escobar very well and hold her in high regard. Indeed, I feel comfortable in recommending her unconditionally.

Should you still wish to discuss making an appointment with me - or with any other clinician who posts on the Doctors' Corner - it would be best to contact us off the board.

Hope this helps.

Dr. Stephen Nagler