Upsetting ENT Visit

[cheyennes]

Hi!

I developed tinmitus a month and a half ago in conjunction witb a feeling of pressure/pain in my ears that varies in intensity. The ringing is often mild but can get louder at times. Ssme days are better than others. My allergies/sinuses are exacerbating the issue.

So, after six weeks of waiting, I went to an ENT today. An audiologist tested my hearing first and found that my left ear (which has worse pressure/tinnitus) is normal and my right has mild hearing loss that I wouldn't be able to notice. The ENT visit was beyond disappointing. He diagnosed me with eustachian tube dysfunction and chronic sinusitus and insisted that the tinnitus "couldn't possibly" be related to ETD.

This contradicts every bit of research I've done, and many posts on this forum of people who have experienced the same issues I'm having. He thinks it's from the hearing loss, but then why would it be in both ears and correspond to the intensity of my ear pressure? They even started at the same time.

He told me he can't do anything and to just continue to take Flonase, which I have been for more than a month. I'm just feeling really frustrated and could use some insight/support.

 

[JohnAdams]

I think my tinnitus is from hearing loss. My theory about your fluctuations is that the absence of sensory input from your cochleas is confusing your hippocampus and causing other things to control the noise. Like me, within the first couple of days of getting shitnitus I noticed that the movement of objects of computer screens made my tinnitus change.

 

[RoeTaKa]

I think a fair amount of people here have been frustrated by their visit to an ENT and some will say that a majority of ENT doctors do not know enough about tinnitus and should be learning more about it. I'm surprised you haven't been recommended for an MRI because of the uncertainty, usually it's good to rule out something more serious.

Like a lot of people here you'll just have to try to understand your tinnitus and symptoms so you can make the smartest choices possible to make life easier for you - or even reduce and cure your tinnitus. It's possible you might need a stronger nasal spray but I do not know enough about ETD to make recommendations. There's also other methods to clear the sinuses more effectively, I remember a thread here where a guy clear his sinuses with salt water, also simple things like the steam of boiling water.

It's possible that if you're experiencing a lot of anxiety it could also be a cause for pressure. You could also consider Tonic Tensor Tympani Syndrome, might be worth looking into that since some symptoms match what you've been dealing with. It's also possible this could just resolve itself within the next few months too.

 

[JohnAdams]

or even reduce and cure your tinnitus.

this.

 

[Michael B]

@cheyenne I have tinnitus on my left & right sides. My hearing is better on my left side than on my right, yet the intensity of my tinnitus is way worse on my left side. It doesn't always add up.

 

[coffee_girl]

I hope you feel better soon, best of luck to ya

 

[JasonP]

Hi!

I developed tinmitus a month and a half ago in conjunction witb a feeling of pressure/pain in my ears that varies in intensity. The ringing is often mild but can get louder at times. Ssme days are better than others. My allergies/sinuses are exacerbating the issue.

So, after six weeks of waiting, I went to an ENT today. An audiologist tested my hearing first and found that my left ear (which has worse pressure/tinnitus) is normal and my right has mild hearing loss that I wouldn't be able to notice. The ENT visit was beyond disappointing. He diagnosed me with eustachian tube dysfunction and chronic sinusitus and insisted that the tinnitus "couldn't possibly" be related to ETD.

This contradicts every bit of research I've done, and many posts on this forum of people who have experienced the same issues I'm having. He thinks it's from the hearing loss, but then why would it be in both ears and correspond to the intensity of my ear pressure? They even started at the same time.

He told me he can't do anything and to just continue to take Flonase, which I have been for more than a month. I'm just feeling really frustrated and could use some insight/support.

I have heard of ETD causing tinnitus. I am not extremely familiar with it though. Is it possible that the Eustachi device would help? Maybe you could ask a doctor and/or pharmacist. Please don't use it if you think it would hurt you. Here is the device I am talking about:

https://www.amazon.com/Eustachi-Eustachian-Tube-Exerciser/dp/B00XQBR6GQ/

 

[cheyennes]

I think a fair amount of people here have been frustrated by their visit to an ENT and some will say that a majority of ENT doctors do not know enough about tinnitus and should be learning more about it. I'm surprised you haven't been recommended for an MRI because of the uncertainty, usually it's good to rule out something more serious.

Like a lot of people here you'll just have to try to understand your tinnitus and symptoms so you can make the smartest choices possible to make life easier for you - or even reduce and cure your tinnitus. It's possible you might need a stronger nasal spray but I do not know enough about ETD to make recommendations. There's also other methods to clear the sinuses more effectively, I remember a thread here where a guy clear his sinuses with salt water, also simple things like the steam of boiling water.

It's possible that if you're experiencing a lot of anxiety it could also be a cause for pressure. You could also consider Tonic Tensor Tympani Syndrome, might be worth looking into that since some symptoms match what you've been dealing with. It's also possible this could just resolve itself within the next few months too.

I've read about those sinus-clearing methods, too, breatbing in steam is helpful and soothing, at least temporarily! Health anxiety is a big problem for me. I've been having a hard time relaxing/not feeling panicky since this began, which is also causing me to clench and grind my teeth as well. I'll look into TTTS, thanks for the idea!

 

[Karl28]

How does he know you have ETD?
Did he do that camera down the nose thing to actually look at your E tubes to confirm it?

 

[cheyennes]

How does he know you have ETD?
Did he do that camera down the nose thing to actually look at your E tubes to confirm it?

He looked into my ears and up my nose with a small scope, but he didn't use a camera to see my tubes, so he must have diagnosed it based on my symptoms. He said one of my ear drums is retracted, which I assume is from the pressure issues. I know doctors can't tell me if/when this will improve, but he didn't explain anything to me. If I hadn't looked up ETD before my appointment, I wouldn't have known what it is.

 

[glynis]

@cheyennes ,
Look into a better antihistamine like Fexofenadine 120-180mg as could help if you gave sinus and allergy problems spiking tinnitus .
love glynis