Saw My ENT Again Yesterday

[Ed209]

About 2 weeks before my tinnitus ramped up I was already under an ENT consultant for congestion problems in my nose and the back of my throat. Long story but I was put on steroid nasal drops and spray for severe allergies.

I saw another ENT about my tinnitus, privately, a few days after it got bad but without doing anything but an audiogram, he ruled that it's most probably noise damage. Just to add I didn't have any hearing loss on the standard test.

Because it was affecting me I went back to my GP who basically said because I was already under an ENT on the NHS (UK) I should mention it to her when I next see her. Well the waiting times are pretty long and that day finally came yesterday. So I go into her office and she asks me how the steroids were. I told her that they didn't really control my allergy symptoms, they worked on a mild sort of level.

At the same time I took the opportunity to mention my T. I really don't know why I bothered, because I got the blankest of looks I've ever seen, only to receive the answer 'but that's your ears, this has nothing to do with that'.

There's just really no point it seems, my GP couldn't care less and I've had absolutely no tests to rule out anything physical. They must be more skilled over here as apparently just looking into your eyes is all they need to diagnose you. If T is a symptom then why are the ENTs at least not trying to see if there is a cause. It's probably a very high chance that it's noise induced, but that is by no means conclusive. Especially since my allergies are severe and as far as my own reading and research goes; it can absolutely be a factor when it comes to T. I asked her this and she outright said 'no your allergies are nothing to do with it', yet she is saying this without doing a single diagnostic check on me.

It's probably not my allergies but their flippancy is beyond belief. I know T can be directly related to blocked or congested Eustachian tubes, it's surely worth looking at? I mean I haven't had an MRI or EEG either, or any other attempt to diagnose me whatsoever. I could have a vascular problem for all I know, tapping on my auditory nerve or something. There are many causes, not just noise related damage. I feel a little effort from the medical community wouldn't go amiss.

My T didn't become intrusive until 2/3 days after a concert. There's a very high probability that that was the cause, but it's not concrete by any means.

So to sum up my rant, I've seen 3 Drs and haven't had a single check or test done other than an audiogram, which I had to pay for privately, otherwise I wouldn't have received anything.

 

[Atlantis]

So to sum up my rant, I've seen 3 Drs and haven't had a single check or test done other than an audiogram, which I had to pay for privately, otherwise I wouldn't have received anything.

@Danny Boy always praises the NHS, but this seems very bad!

Useless ENTs.

 

[Ed209]

It's so bad in my particular case that it has made me contemplate retraining to become an audiologist or a neuro scientist. I've always been interested in the medical side of things and the complete void of help or interest in T from my own experience has really annoyed me.

There is either no training on the subject or they just do not care whatsoever. It's really made me want to take a hands on approach by getting directly involved.

 

[glynis]

Hi @Ed209,
I Carnt believe you haven't even been offered a MRI that is lack of care from the NHS.

Do you suffer from asthma with your allergies ?
The extra mucous in our airways and ears can cause tinnitus and some people feel their ears itch inside and back of their throat as a allergy reaction...lots of love glynis

 

[Ed209]

Hi @glynis, I've got asthma and my ears are always itching. I get frequent ear infections as well, and generally just have problems with my ears, I always have. I seem to create a lot of wax as well although thats not the cause of my T as I paid to have them micro suctioned.

The NHS and private sector have been extremely poor in my case. I haven't had a single test done yet to rule anything out. Yet I read online that tests will be done to rule out anything treatable, well not in my case.

The worst part is they talk to you like you're a 5 year with no clue about anatomy or what T is. I probably know more about the condition then they do.

 

[Ed209]

I originally went to the ENT because I'm so bunged up that I have to keep clearing my throat. They gave me steroid drops and a steroid spray but it didn't help all that much. The nurse who did my allergy test said I was one of the worst she had seen, so much so that she was concerned I might go into anaphylactic shock and advised me to go straight to A & E if it got any worse as I'd need an Epi pen (epinephrine shot).

They have now put me on Dymista which is a relatively new prescription drug (2013), but it's strong and the side effects seem worse than the condition to me.

I'll list them here:

• Sleepiness or drowsiness
• Nasal Problems. Symptoms of nasal problems may include: crusting in the nose, nosebleeds, runny nose, hole in the cartilage between your nose (nasal septal perforation). A whistling sound when you breathe may be a symptom of nasal septal perforation.
• Slow wound healing. You should not use Dymista Nasal Spray until your nose has healed if you have a sore in your nose, if you have had surgery on your nose, or if your nose has been injured.
• Thrush (Candida), a fungal infection in your nose and throat. Tell your doctor if you have any redness or white colored patches in your nose or mouth.
• Eye problems, such as glaucoma or cataracts. Some people may have eye problems, including glaucoma and cataracts. You should have regular eye exams when using Dymista Nasal Spray.
• Immune system problems that may increase your risk of infections. Dymista Nasal Spray may cause problems with the way your immune system protects your body against infection and increase your risk of infection. Avoid contact with people who have contagious diseases such as chickenpox or measles while you use Dymista Nasal Spray. Symptoms of infection may include: fever, aches or pains, chills, feeling tired.
• Adrenal Insufficiency. Adrenal insufficiency is a condition in which the adrenal glands do not make enough steroid hormones. Symptoms of adrenal insufficiency may include: tiredness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure.
• Slowed or delayed growth in children. A child's growth should be checked regularly while using Dymista Nasal Spray.

Call your healthcare provider or get medical help right away if you have symptoms of any of the serious side effects listed above.

• The most common side effects with Dymista are changes in taste, nosebleeds, and headache.

 

[glynis]

Wow thats a lot of side efects.
Im a severe asthmatic under the hospital severe asthma unit and have a lovely consultant and respirtry physiotherapist and on lots of meds .

On meds for chest and ear infection at the moment....lots of love glynis

 

[Nucleo]

My T didn't become intrusive until 2/3 days after a concert. There's a very high probability that that was the cause, but it's not concrete by any means.

If you told that to the doctors I can see why they wouldn't investigate more. It's very likely to be the cause.

 

[Ed209]

If you told that to the doctors I can see why they wouldn't investigate more. It's very likely to be the cause.

To me that is the most likely cause but having tests to rule out other pathologies should be the way to go. Especially since I have severe allergy problems as well.

The fact that it took a few days to become intrusive and not immediately following the concert also adds that small percentage of doubt. They should really operate more of a better safe than sorry policy than one based on assumption, cos as the saying goes, assumption is the mother of all f@@k ups.

The most irrating thing of all though is how it gets brushed aside completely like its a common cold or something. The look on her face when I told her about my T was like someone in the room had just farted. Just a blank stare that lasted a few seconds only to be told condescendingly 'but that's your ears'. That's the thing that really annoys me, just a complete lack of professionalism, not once was I asked how I was coping with it or how badly it was affecting me.

 

[Nucleo]

The fact that it took a few days to become intrusive and not immediately following the concert also adds that small percentage of doubt. They should really operate more of a better safe than sorry policy than one based on assumption, cos as the saying goes, assumption is the mother of all f@@k ups.

This is actually normal. Many people report tinnitus spikes days or even weeks after the sound exposure event. This is now better understood and getting more research interest. Basically, there is nerve degeneration occuring for some time after the sound exposure even if your hearing thresholds recover.

http://www.jneurosci.org/content/29/45/14077.abstract

 

[Ed209]

This is the feedback my Dr received from the private consultation I had with one of the best ENTs in the country.

Some of what he wrote doesn't quite match up with current modern thinking, which makes me believe that ENTs don't generally keep up to date with T research and new thinking.