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Went to the doctor today about my hearing....

post #1 of 38
3/29/11 at 9:47am
Thread Starter 
For a while I have been noticing a weird sound in my left ear when there is buildup of pressure or excess vibration. I dont know how to describe what causes it or what the sound is like, but it is almost like a foamy sound. You know the tiny little hair folicles on your ear? well very VERY lightly rub your finger against those. or along that ridge in front of your ear. that rubby foamy sound? imagine that coming from wayyyyyy deep in your ear. thats what i've been experiencing. Another sound is like radio static, and it only happens when I hear noise on top of that rubbing sound.

It used to only happen now and then when I played trumpet and hit some exceptionally high notes, almost felt/sounded like there was foam coming out. Now, when i go to bed at night or when I'm sitting/standing up straight, this foamy noise comes. It doesnt show up often with music, mostly just when i listen to audiobooks (which is all the time). If I lay on my left side it is exaggerated and happens frequently, if I lay on my right side it still happens but not as often. It only happens in the left ear and it has nothing to do with the phones im using. It doesnt even matter if I dont keep the left ear piece in, even if I have only the right ear piece in, the left ear gets this tension feeling and when the guy stops talking, the tension releases and the whooshy rubby sound happens.

The doctor said my ear canal looks a bit red, it is definately swollen a bit, and the ear drum looks darker than usual and isnt shiny like it is supposed to be. My ears are perfectly devoid of wax buildup though. He thinks it might be that the tube that connects the inner ear to the throat may be constricted. He said that normally the inner ear drains into the throat from there, but if you have swollen sinuses the drainage wont happen. He gave me singulair (montelukast sodium, 10mg) and told me to take flonase twice daily. He also gave me an antibiotic for the redness in the ear. 2 weeks and the symptoms should be gone, but if not then he has to refer me to an ear specialist.

i'm kinda scared, does anyone have any comments or such? experiences?
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post #2 of 38
3/29/11 at 10:44am

Hi Pal, I too have a similar problem with the left ear. I do not have the red swollen canal as You do and there is no fluid in the tube and no wax build up. It seem's to have everything to do with the sinuses, I get a clogged, under water feeling in the L. ear and slight pop, hold Your nose and blow lightly it open's for a bit then clog's again. The Doc gave Nasacort nasal spray and DermOtic ear drop's to use for at least a month, if that does'nt work He'll send Me to an allergist. triportsad.gif

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post #3 of 38
3/29/11 at 11:17am
Thread Starter 
Yeah mine said that it might be allergy based. Thats what the singulair was for. When you say theres no fluid in the tube, you mean on the external side of the ear canal right? Because I can try to clean the crap out of my ears but the q tips come up clean every time. There DOES sound like fluid is inside the ear drum, though. Thats what we are attempting to get rid of. He said that if in 2 weeks the sound doesnt go away, he'll send me to an audiologist/ear doctor that has special imaging systems to figure out whats going on in there. A light and a magnifying glass will only get you so far
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post #4 of 38
3/29/11 at 11:34am

No I meant the internal tube I do not remember the name off the top of My head, Sorry about that. You might have a really bad ear infection in the inner ear that maybe why He's trying that 1st. I've gone for the MRI, Audio, in ear scope and the sinus scope which they do in the office (ENT). I puntured mine a few yrs back QTip in ear and My Pup at the time jumped up and hit My arm, My fault none the less and had a really bad infection. It healed over time and have been dealing with it since, now We wait and see! Don't panick to much though it's easier said than done! Worst case would be surgery but as a last resort, just do what the Doc tell's You and Hopefully all work's out well. I've gotta go now I need to get back to work, if You need to talkl some more no problem with that, Okay! 

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post #5 of 38
3/29/11 at 5:35pm

I't's the Eustachian Tube!

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post #6 of 38
4/1/11 at 1:13pm

This was a recurring problem for me when I was playing high notes on the trumpet as well. But it felt like the buzzing/vibrating feeling was coming from my upper jaw bone or around that area.

But I didn't have a sore ear canal or anything. All I did was rest a bit and try to avoid playing high notes/abusing my ear.
 

 

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post #7 of 38
4/1/11 at 6:14pm

So how are thing's going for You, I know it's been only a few day's since We talked and between the pain in My sinuses and ear's I'm hoping that it's starting to work! Has there been any change for You at all? I'm just having a drink myself right now, double shot of gin to try and relax and finally sleep more than 2 hr's per. I hope Your doing fine, if You need to vent, fire away.

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post #8 of 38
4/1/11 at 6:29pm
Thread Starter 
I just turned in my prescription order today. As I said I've Bern on singulair for this weekand after this prescription I'd filled ill have an antibiotic and an ear drop to take too. So far there has been no change. I think they will meed to send me to an audiologist Utopia see inside. I'm gonna be pissed if this problem is permanganate. I really don't want this hobby and passion of mine to be taken away by my own physical imperfections.
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post #9 of 38
4/1/11 at 7:09pm

 I know You think it's worst thing that could happen to You, look up Beethoven an accomplished pianist, writer and He became deaf and still went on to write and if I remember conduct His best work! It only become's a handicap if You let it become one. Look Him up and He is not the only person to have this happen to themand go on to achieve great thing's. Give it a little more time and keep in the positive the best way You can, I know it's frustrating but I know YOU can do it.

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post #10 of 38
4/1/11 at 7:28pm

Give the antibiotics a chance to work. It sounds like a Eustachian tube infection.

 

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post #11 of 38
4/1/11 at 9:03pm
Thread Starter 
Theres this pictures on the wall of my old doctor that shows common ear problems and they showed one where they had to puncture the ear drum and then replace the puncture with this weird washer thing. It definately meant a loss in hearing.

Here is what I think the problem is: 500

Here is what they do (most invasive proceedure to solve the problem): 500

I suppose that if this is the absolute worst case scenario, it isnt that bad because the ear drains, the tube falls out (usually by itself) and the ear drum heals over with scar tissue. I'd think the scar tissue doesnt provide as good audio quality as the original tissue but only initially while it is a different consistency than the surrounding tissue.
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post #12 of 38
4/1/11 at 9:12pm
This is why it is better to play tuba than trumpet. I've never had any issues like this while playing low brass. Look into it.

biggrin.gif

Though I'm not a medical doctor, I certainly hope yours is correct in diagnosing an infection. Take the full course of prescribed antibiotics and follow your doctor's orders. Hopefully, it'll clear up and you'll be fine. smily_headphones1.gif
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post #13 of 38
4/2/11 at 6:21am

Once You see the ENT specialist He should be You a difinitive answer, looking at the picture's might drive You a little crazy, but it least it give's You a better idea of what might be going on.

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post #14 of 38
4/2/11 at 6:51am

 



Quote:
Originally Posted by shrimants View Post


Here is what they do (most invasive proceedure to solve the problem): 500

 


When I was younger, I was close to deaf. I had a build up of fluid in my ears and had to have these grommets surgically implanted twice (other things were done while I was under general). They did fall out after a year or so. I'm still enjoying the music.

 

 

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post #15 of 38
4/2/11 at 2:02pm
Having it surgically done is probably better than what happened to me (I blew a hole in my left eardrum sneezing when I had an ear fungus of all things). Nonetheless after it was cleaned up and given TLC to heal the hearing loss should be minimal, in fact the doctor said with how well it healed he'd be surprised if I would notice a difference in hearing tests (loss is very minimal).

Still, do everything the doctor recommends before it gets to that point. Not having to do it is the best solution.
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