Any Ear/Nose/Throat docs on board by chance?

[Simon]

So I've got a thing.....

Back in January I developed a sinus infection (no real history of it) that for some reason filled my eustachian tubes so fully that I've lost about 80% of my hearing for going on 10 months now.

I've tried multiple cycles of a variety of antibiotics, flonase, sinus flushes, etc etc etc. Am currently on clindamycin and levocetirizine with no positive results yet (still with daily flushes and flonase). Had tubes put in and ears drained but it only worked for about 2 days before it filled back up again. The infection comes and goes but even when it's not presenting yellow snot, the drainage never really clears up and my hearing remains severely compromised.

Ever see anything like this or have any suggestions?

 

Edit: The first knucklehead that says vaccine is getting kicked in the jimmy.

[WhoTom]

Just curious - did you have Covid before that?

 

https://www.entmemphis.com/what-are-covid-19s-long-term-effects-on-the-ears-nose-and-throat/

 

https://www.uhhospitals.org/blog/articles/2022/03/can-covid-19-cause-hearing-loss

 

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20211029/New-evidence-that-SARS-CoV-2-virus-can-infect-the-inner-ear.aspx

 

[Simon]

 

5 minutes ago, WhoTom said:

Just curious - did you have Covid before that?

 

https://www.entmemphis.com/what-are-covid-19s-long-term-effects-on-the-ears-nose-and-throat/

 

https://www.uhhospitals.org/blog/articles/2022/03/can-covid-19-cause-hearing-loss

 

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20211029/New-evidence-that-SARS-CoV-2-virus-can-infect-the-inner-ear.aspx

 

 

I've tested negative multiple times, but an asymptomatic infection (well, not really asymptomatic I guess : - ) is certainly not out of the question.

I've been referring to Covid as spooky action at a distance; it's a weird-assed bug.

 

I asked our local ENT about the possibility and he rolled his eyes at me. 

Thanks for the links!

 

 

[thenorthremembers]

Good post.  Had COVID a month ago, turned into an ear infection and haven't regained my hearing yet.

[ExiledInIllinois]

Have you tried limiting dairy in your diet. 

 

Just a thought... Milk and dairy have been known to lead to excess production of mucus and phlegm.  

 

I had Covid-19 in summer of 2022... For a year, all kinds of lung and fatigue issues. I go see a pulmonary specialist, lung test done, etc... They diagnose me with asthma.  I never had asthma in my life.  I am still congested, or feel congested... Always producing some kind of mucus when I get into a coughing jag...

 

...Trying to limit dairy to see if that helps.

 

...It's almost like I have perpetual bronchitis now. I am on a puff of Fluticasone a day... They gave me a rescue inhaler, but never used it... Don't wanna get in habit.  I probably should try a puff of albuterol before any strenuous activity. 

[Poleshifter]

I got otitis (swimmer’s ear) a few years ago, and had a tube put in one ear. 
 

My ENT told me to keep that ear dry. I got earplugs to keep it dry in the shower, etc.

 

Did your ENT never mention keeping your ears dry because of the tubes? Maybe something is different for my case, but you might ask your doctor about it.

 

[Joe Ferguson forever]

I'm not an ENT but it sounds like Eustachian tube dysfunction.  You may need tubes in your eardrums like little kids get.  You may need a sinus lavage which is not fun.  You need to see an ENT.  Try to find a board certified one from a good training program that friends recommend.  Maybe 2 out of 3 of those characteristics...

Edited September 30, 2023 by Joe Ferguson forever

[BUFFALOKIE]

Have you considered amputation?

Edited September 30, 2023 by BUFFALOKIE

[WhoTom]

1 hour ago, BUFFALOKIE said:

Have you considered amputation?

 

The Van Gogh treatment.

 

[ExiledInIllinois]

20 minutes ago, WhoTom said:

 

The Van Gogh treatment.

 

I think he means the Marie Antoinette treatment. 😆 

 

 

 

Edited September 30, 2023 by ExiledInIllinois

[Joe Ferguson forever]

39 minutes ago, WhoTom said:

 

The Van Gogh treatment.

 

I used this as a slide in a Covid lecture:

https://nasalexet.life/product_details/69901524.html

Edited September 30, 2023 by Joe Ferguson forever

[Simon]

5 hours ago, Poleshifter said:

Did your ENT never mention keeping your ears dry because of the tubes?

 

He told me I could still swim but was not supposed to go any deeper than 3' under.

 

 

5 hours ago, BUFFALOKIE said:

Have you considered amputation?

 

Yes, but my insurance considers it a cosmetic elective!

[Fleezoid]

Consider it a gift. Most of what's being said or talked about these days is pure garbage. 

[boyst]

Fwiw ...

 

"Does he have a tumor? Did they culture the infection? Did they CT him? ...

 

That's what id do if he was a kitty."

[Fleezoid]

12 hours ago, boyst said:

Fwiw ...

 

"Does he have a tumor? Did they culture the infection? Did they CT him? ...

 

That's what id do if he was a kitty."

 

[teef]

any steroids yet?  any possibility that it's fungal?

[k2mountain]

Antibiotic resistance in society rears it's ugly head.

 

Hearing loss sucks. Remember the sound of an adult's voice in any Peanuts TV episode (they sounded like a muffled trumpet)? That's what it sounds like. And the really frustrating part is I know I'm missing out on something important.

[dpberr]

I'd be interested in knowing what kind of antibiotics you've used.

 

The only antibiotic that works for me are the quinoline class drugs.  The weak sauce penicillin antibiotics that urgent care and primary care doctors will prescribe usually dent an infection but doesn't completely kill it.  

 

Also make sure you're not Vitamin D deficient.  

[scuba guy]

On 9/30/2023 at 8:16 PM, Simon said:

 

He told me I could still swim but was not supposed to go any deeper than 3' under.

 

 

 

Yes, but my insurance considers it a cosmetic elective!

So 3 items and no joking

 

1) do you have vision impairments with this

2) are you dizzy

3) have you gotten vertigo 

 

As to the other poster

Go 100 percent vegan 

More on the veggies side and fruits and greens 😋.  Yes you will have sticky fats but it will eliminate some of the other items you could be having.

Also if you don't drink that much and or don't drink hoppy or dark beer after a week of during this drink one.  It is a kleanse for your system to get all of the antibiotics out of you.

[GETTOTHE50]

do you have a history of head trauma? 
 

Try to see if there is an osteopathic doctor in your area that specializes in manipulation. They have some cranial techniques that can increase lymphatic drainage and decrease sympathetic outflow to the areas your having symptoms. it may take a couple appointments to get results, but sometimes it can take just one. 

[cle23]

I had the same issue years ago.  Ended up having to have a tube put in my left ear because no amount of decongestants or antibiotics worked.  They actually tried to do the tube in the office, but they couldn't get through my eardrum, so I did have to do outpatient surgery.  It's like a 15 minute surgery.  Well worth it as fluid in your ear that long can cause major damage.

 

As a side note, I have had several major ear surgery previously for separate issues, but the cause of all the issues was an eustachian tube that would close from time to time, causing various infections and such.  

[djp14150]

On 9/30/2023 at 9:49 AM, Simon said:

So I've got a thing.....

Back in January I developed a sinus infection (no real history of it) that for some reason filled my eustachian tubes so fully that I've lost about 80% of my hearing for going on 10 months now.

I've tried multiple cycles of a variety of antibiotics, flonase, sinus flushes, etc etc etc. Am currently on clindamycin and levocetirizine with no positive results yet (still with daily flushes and flonase). Had tubes put in and ears drained but it only worked for about 2 days before it filled back up again. The infection comes and goes but even when it's not presenting yellow snot, the drainage never really clears up and my hearing remains severely compromised.

Ever see anything like this or have any suggestions?

 

Edit: The first knucklehead that says vaccine is getting kicked in the jimmy.

Have you seen an ENT/ sinus doctor?

 

have you dcumented things you did or ate when it seemed to get better and when it got worse?

 

the Levocetirizine pills  is generic of xyzal 

 

before this did you have allergies? Other med conditions?

 

 

 

 

 

On 9/30/2023 at 9:49 AM, Simon said:

So I've got a thing.....

Back in January I developed a sinus infection (no real history of it) that for some reason filled my eustachian tubes so fully that I've lost about 80% of my hearing for going on 10 months now.

I've tried multiple cycles of a variety of antibiotics, flonase, sinus flushes, etc etc etc. Am currently on clindamycin and levocetirizine with no positive results yet (still with daily flushes and flonase). Had tubes put in and ears drained but it only worked for about 2 days before it filled back up again. The infection comes and goes but even when it's not presenting yellow snot, the drainage never really clears up and my hearing remains severely compromised.

Ever see anything like this or have any suggestions?

 

Edit: The first knucklehead that says vaccine is getting kicked in the jimmy.

Have you seen an ENT/ sinus doctor?

 

have you dcumented things you did or ate when it seemed to get better and when it got worse?

 

the Levocetirizine pills  is generic of xyzal 

 

before this did you have allergies? Other med conditions?

 

 

 

 

 

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

On 9/30/2023 at 9:49 AM, Simon said:

So I've got a thing.....

Back in January I developed a sinus infection (no real history of it) that for some reason filled my eustachian tubes so fully that I've lost about 80% of my hearing for going on 10 months now.

I've tried multiple cycles of a variety of antibiotics, flonase, sinus flushes, etc etc etc. Am currently on clindamycin and levocetirizine with no positive results yet (still with daily flushes and flonase). Had tubes put in and ears drained but it only worked for about 2 days before it filled back up again. The infection comes and goes but even when it's not presenting yellow snot, the drainage never really clears up and my hearing remains severely compromised.

Ever see anything like this or have any suggestions?

 

Edit: The first knucklehead that says vaccine is getting kicked in the jimmy.

Had an ear infection for weeks now, causing me vertigo. Hearing is ok but I fell in the shower thanks to it

[zow2]

On 9/30/2023 at 9:49 AM, Simon said:

So I've got a thing.....

Back in January I developed a sinus infection (no real history of it) that for some reason filled my eustachian tubes so fully that I've lost about 80% of my hearing for going on 10 months now.

I've tried multiple cycles of a variety of antibiotics, flonase, sinus flushes, etc etc etc. Am currently on clindamycin and levocetirizine with no positive results yet (still with daily flushes and flonase). Had tubes put in and ears drained but it only worked for about 2 days before it filled back up again. The infection comes and goes but even when it's not presenting yellow snot, the drainage never really clears up and my hearing remains severely compromised.

Ever see anything like this or have any suggestions?

 

Edit: The first knucklehead that says vaccine is getting kicked in the jimmy.

 

My wife has terrible inner ear problems.  She had tubes as a kid. We flew to Florida back in April 2022 and the pain from the flight was unbearable.  That ear has bothered her since, painful and barely can hear out of it.  The ENT put in another tube and then an performed an outpatient surgery using a small balloon to open things up. Unfortunately it didn't work as planned.  Wish i could report a better outcome.

[Beast]

I see my Simon voodoo doll really works!

[Simon]

For those of you who asked for updates and that weren't just being polite:

 

Finally found a good ENT and had some CT scans done.

Turns out my sinus' are so full of large polyps that they're blocking drainage and every single one of my cavities is 100% full and as a result my Eustachians have filled up as well.

Prednisone was 0% effective (for which I'm glad; I hate that stuff) so they want me to try shooting myself up with something called Dupixent. Looks like a very good medicine that blocks interleukins, but I'm always open to alternative viewpoints if anybody has any.

 

[Augie]

19 minutes ago, Simon said:

For those of you who asked for updates and that weren't just being polite:

 

Finally found a good ENT and had some CT scans done.

Turns out my sinus' are so full of large polyps that they're blocking drainage and every single one of my cavities is 100% full and as a result my Eustachians have filled up as well.

Prednisone was 0% effective (for which I'm glad; I hate that stuff) so they want me to try shooting myself up with something called Dupixent. Looks like a very good medicine that blocks interleukins, but I'm always open to alternative viewpoints if anybody has any.

 

 

Well, at least you know what you are dealing with now. Armed with that knowledge I hope it’s fairly simple to find a path that will clear things up for you. 

 

We went thru something similar with my wife and unexplained abdominal pain. She even had an emergency appendectomy to remove a perfectly healthy appendix and they told her to see an oncologist for something abnormal about her pancreas. Scary stuff, and they couldn’t see her for 3 months! We instead got in to see a GREAT doctor by chance and it was all so simple to him, and he explained it to us.  One more surgery and it changed our lives. Big difference between seeing a doctor and seeing the doctor. This guy is such a rock star my SIL, also an OB/GYN, wanted to come from SC just to meet him on the day of surgery. 

 

I’m glad you got the right doctor and hope you get this cleared up quickly and simply. 

 

P.S. - He asked how long since they noticed the curious pancreas. She told him and he said “that’s not it, you’d be dead by now.” Yeah, but they couldn’t see her for 3 months. Thanks a lot! 

[PromoTheRobot]

On 9/30/2023 at 9:49 AM, Simon said:

So I've got a thing.....

Back in January I developed a sinus infection (no real history of it) that for some reason filled my eustachian tubes so fully that I've lost about 80% of my hearing for going on 10 months now.

I've tried multiple cycles of a variety of antibiotics, flonase, sinus flushes, etc etc etc. Am currently on clindamycin and levocetirizine with no positive results yet (still with daily flushes and flonase). Had tubes put in and ears drained but it only worked for about 2 days before it filled back up again. The infection comes and goes but even when it's not presenting yellow snot, the drainage never really clears up and my hearing remains severely compromised.

Ever see anything like this or have any suggestions?

 

Edit: The first knucklehead that says vaccine is getting kicked in the jimmy.

 

I didn't have the symptoms you had but be aware of something called a cholesteatoma. It's a benign tumor inside your ear that gets its start from negative pressure on your eardrum, caused by drainage/eustachian tube issues. 

 

I kept complaining about feeling like something was behind my eardrum for years. Went to three different ENTs. One even put a tube in. None noticed it. Finally ENT #3 said I should go to a specialist. That doctor took one look and booked surgery for me.

 

By the time of the operation that thing was wrapped around my Stapes (Your middle ear bones. pr: STAY-pees) And was about to break into my brain chamber! So it is benign but left untreated long enough it can mess you up.

 

So they couldn't unwrap my Stapes so I lost them. I now have a titanium pin to conduct sound, which is grossly inferior. And being a tumor of course it came back and I had to get a second surgery. (They literally cut your ear almost off and peel it back to get to your middle ear. You end up looking like King Charles for months from the swelling and have to sleep on a donut pad on that side. Fun times.)

 

So I'm not trying to scare you, but most ENTs aren't trained to spot them starting. And if you have drainage/blocking issues you are prone to getting one of these. Bring cholesteatoma up with your doctor. 

 

 

Edited December 21, 2023 by PromoTheRobot

[BillsFan4]

4 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

 

I didn't have the symptoms you had but be aware of something called a cholesteatoma. It's a benign tumor inside your ear that gets its start from negative pressure on your eardrum, caused by drainage/eustachian tube issues. 

 

I kept complaining about feeling like something was behind my eardrum for years. Went to three different ENTs. One even put a tube in. None noticed it. Finally ENT #3 said I should go to a specialist. That doctor took one look and booked surgery for me.

 

By the time of the operation that thing was wrapped around my Stapes (Your middle ear bones. pr: STAY-pees) And was about to break into my brain chamber! So it is benign but left untreated long enough it can mess you up.

 

So they couldn't unwrap my Stapes so I lost them. I now have a titanium pin to conduct sound, which is grossly inferior. And being a tumor of course it came back and I had to get a second surgery. (They literally cut your ear almost off and peel it back to get to your middle ear. You end up looking like King Charles for months from the swelling and have to sleep on a donut pad on that side. Fun times.)

 

So I'm not trying to scare you, but most ENTs aren't trained to spot them starting. And if you have drainage/blocking issues you are prone to getting one of these. Bring cholesteatoma up with you doctor. 

 

 

I actually just had one removed from my left ear!

 

thankfully mine was outside the eardrum and was able to be done right in office. Apparently it had been there for many years. I started noticing some pain in my left ear this summer when I laid on my left side, which eventually developed into constant pain. So I tried wax ear drops + flushing with water and that made it worse. Then I went to my primary Dr., who thought it was an infection and gave me 10 days of a high dose of antibiotic. Didn’t help at all. So they referred me to an ENT, but they couldn’t get me in for almost a month (even though I was in constant daily pain). I barely made it to that appointment. I almost went to the ER because the constant sharp pain was just wearing on me. It was like that “bad ear infection” pain.

 

It took 2+ more weeks and 3 ENT appointments to finally get it handled. I was seeing an assistant the first 2 appointments. She originally thought it was an infection trapped behind wax, so she was trying to slowly remove what she thought was wax. She could only do a bit at a time because my ear kept bleeding.

 

So I come back on the 3rd appointment, thinking I’m still seeing the assistant, and the ENT doctor comes walking in with a team of interns and I find out I have some type of growth in my ear. Of course, your first thought is “cancer?”, right?

 

it ended up being a cholesteatoma in the outer ear, which I guess is quite rare.

He was able to remove it right in office. He thought he was going to have to schedule surgery but I was able to manage the pain and he was able to remove it.

It felt so amazing once it was out of my ear. Suddenly I could hear again and all that pressure + pain was gone. 

[Simon]

On 12/21/2023 at 8:25 AM, PromoTheRobot said:

I didn't have the symptoms you had but be aware of something called a cholesteatoma.

 

Thanks Promo,

I'd never heard of that but will definitely bring it up the next time I see him.