Stomach Issues and Tinnitus

[MacZilla]

I've had Sinus, Ringing, and Dizzy issues for a long time, and it is getting worse as the doctors have told that it would. There are other things that are going on internally and I'm wondering they related in way to Tinnitus.

It seems I sleep a lot deeper than I have ever done so in my life, I was thinking that once I am asleep my ears kind of shut down due to all the noise. Is that at all possible?

The other is I am told I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome, I have never had anything like this yet I am not getting better with the IBS. Is there any cause and effect from the two or is there more than meets the eye?

I have looked around a bit yet there doesn't seem to be a definitive answer out there.

Thanks for hearing me out (No Pun Intended) (I wonder how many others have said that)

 

[Royal&Bourbon]

MacZilla,

Hey I can't sleep tonight (huge exam tomorrow!), so I figured I'd try to answer your questions to the best of my ability.

I have read a fair amount about tinnitus, and I have not, to my recollection, ever come across a connection between IBS and tinnitus.

Dizziness, however, along with vertigo, nausea, certain types of tinnitus, and hearing loss is associated with Meniere's disease. (Dizziness alone can have many causes, so this by itself would not necessarily indicate Meniere's). That said, have any of the doctors you've seen ever discussed Meniere's with you? As for IBS being related somehow to Meniere's...I'm not sure about this, but a quick search revealed individuals on various sites speculating whether there is a connection between the two, but no established medical sites turned up on the first or second page of my search that mentioned any link.

I am curious that your doctors at some point told you that your tinnitus would get worse, because to my knowledge, this is not something ENTs generally tell patients with complaints of tinnitus. Yes, in some cases, as hearing worsens over time, as it is naturally bound to do, some individuals will experience an increase. However, a majority of the time individuals are able to re-habituate when this happens. Better still, many individuals go years with no change in their tinnitus aside from the occasional spike most of us experience from time to time, so it is not really a given as far as I know that individuals with tinnitus will necessarily get worse, as your doctor(s) appeared to have indicated to you. As to why they stated your dizziness and sinuses would get worse, too...well, that is a bit baffling to me!

If you are experiencing nausea as well as dizziness, your ears sometimes feel stuffy or full, and you believe your hearing has gotten worse, I would definitely make an appointment with an ENT. There is not a single test for Meniere's, but a diagnosis can be made based on your specific symptoms. To be on the safe side, eve one symptom such as hearing loss -- especially hearing loss, in fact -- (which I realize you did not indicate as a current concern) or dizziness (which you did) is grounds for making an appt. to see your ENT in my opinion. Better safe than sorry.

As to the IBS, I would make an appt. with my general practitioner, who can treat you or refer you to a GI specialist if he or she feels it is warranted. I believe it would be very beneficial to you and your general health to get your IBS under control because a well-functioning digestive tract is critical to proper nutrient absorption.

Hope this helps and best of luck!

 

[stantheman]

MacZilla - I do not know how common IBS is with the onset of tinnitus. In the early months of onset one of the things I contended with was, I thought, IBS. I self diagnosed by googling the symptoms. And yes, I thought it was the result of tinnitus because I had never had a problem with IBS before. I attribute the IBS primarily to the anxiety I had at the time. Now the anxiety has diminished and so has the IBS. I try to have a BM everyday. After dinner in the evening I eat several prunes which helps a lot. After awhile they don't taste too bad. So the IBS, if that is what it was is no longer an issue, for now. Hope this helps.

 

[MacZilla]

Good responses and replies I'll at my doctor to check on Meniere's disease.

I did see an ENT over ten years ago and the same at UIC five years ago, a really good one at UIC in Chicago, they did say I was going deaf reasons where due to my job which was construction and I worked on jets years earlier. They also said it would get worse over time. They did lots of tests even behind my nose area a CT and they mention Sinusitis I don't know if that has anything to do with it. Also I was given conflicting points of views as to having TMJD, a dentist referral had me sent to a guy who said I had it and I had this plastic thing between my teeth. Years later from a new HMO I am going through I am told by another dentist referral from a really good dental facility that I didn't have TMJD.

Ask me about construction especially electrical or video editing and I will be able to help you out. I do trust what they told me yet I am beginning to ask more questions now.

 

[Royal&Bourbon]

MacZilla,

Okay, It sounds like your hearing loss is industrial related. I hope you are taking the necessary steps to protect your ears in loud environments to minimize future hearing loss.

I am actually familiar with the ENT chief doctor at UIC, Dr. Miriam Redleaf, because I saw her when she was at U. of Chicago Hospital. She left several years ago to take the reins at UIC. Her main area of expertise within ENT is the ears. If you have a chance, I would consider going back to UIC and specifically making an appt. with her if possible. From my experience, she is very open to talking with patients about their concerns and does not rush patients.

I know she moved to UIC to take the chief job there because she sent out a letter to all of her patients at UCH informing us of this move. Fortunately, I have not had any need to see her since she left UCH because my ears have been behaving, and I have another ENT I see for my sinus issues.

As I stated above, dizziness over a prolonged period of time, in and of itself according to WebMD and other online medical reference sites, is grounds for a trip to the doctor, mostly to rule more serious conditions out. As it sounds like you are having this symptom, I would consider at appt. for this as well as your sinuses and to have your ears tested again (good idea to have your hearing periodically monitored for changes), and it sounds as though you are open to this idea.

As for the sinusitis, are you on Flonase or other medication to control this? There are treatment options for chronic sinusitis. Mine is under control -- I had nasal polyp surgery about 5 years ago, use Flonase nasal spray daily, and also use a saline salt solution rinse every day to wash out my sinuses. I have been virtually symptom free of any sinus issues since my surgery, save for an occasional cold that will temporarily flare them up. You mentioned you had a CT scan. I presume this was to check your sinuses for problems such as polyps and inflamed tissue. Were you given any kind of steroidal medicine to take at that time, such as Prednisone? This would help reduce inflammation.

 

[MacZilla]

Thank you for the info on the doctor, and yes on the Flonase, and yes on the CT. No on any steroidal they did give me something for it yet I do not recall. My present doctor is a good doctor yet I have tried his patience as well as the ER at Swedish Covenant way to many ER visits from all the panic attacks I have had going on. I am kind of 'Flagged' as a hypochondriac. Because of this it makes it hard to ask for things, as they will be consider it that I am panicking again. It has been suggested I transfer my HMO to another hospital, here's where it makes my head spin as there was an issue that gave me the attacks. In the long run I might just end up going the VA hospital (as I do have that choice) in Great Lakes and start off new.

Again Thank You as to the Dr. Miriam Redleaf name at UIC, I am told that I am always welcomed there.