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Is it Etd? Tinnitus? Acid Reflux? Help.

Posted , 2 users are following.

eyesonfire
eyesonfire

Hi. I am new to this. I live in Canada. June 2014, a year ago, when my ear started popping out of the blue. It was my left ear only. I saw my GP who suggested allergy medication and nasal spray. I tried both and it did not work. I had 2 more nasal sprays and again, did not work. I went back to my GP and referred me to an ENT. I had to wait 5 months ... Month 5, I was still suffering from ear popping and my hearing started to seem muffled and lots of ear pressure and fullness in both ears. I saw an ENT who had nothing to say or helped at all. He said I have ETD and good luck. Only suggested an ear popper device. I bought an ear popper which costed me almost $200. It works ... but only for a few minutes because my ears will feel pressure and full again. It is like I have to use this device 24/7. Month 12, It is now June 2015 .. I am still suffering. I had a hearing test done 4 months ago and found out that I lost 10d in my left ear. I wanted to cry. Why? Because I am already hearing impaired. I wear hearing aids in both ears. I now have anxiety and will probably have a breakdown soon because no one will help me. Two weeks ago, I am hearing humming in my right ear. It is very upsetting and annoying. It won't go away either. The popping in my left ear only happens when I am laying down, sleeping. It goes away when I get up. All day, everyday, I have fullness, pressure in both ears and now I have a humming nose in my right ear. I went back to my GP who referred me to a second ENT. I have no idea how long I will be waiting .... I am only 24 years old, female. I have no idea what to do anymore. I also have acid reflux my whole life. I don't know what is going on

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • moy1234
    moy1234 eyesonfire

    Posted

    I really feel for you. I know it doesn't help to say, 'Don't worry,' or 'You'll get used to it,' but I think it may help you to find something good to focus on as I find it's really good to 'lose' myself in an activity. When the noise in my ear is REALLY loud, I feel like I want to chop my head off, but if I can get absorbed in something, I don't get so uptight and that, in itself, helps the tinnitus to quieten.

    Regarding your reflux, I'm wondering if you should be going back to your doctor. I'm a lot older than you are and I suffered with reflux for years before it became so intolerable that I went to my doctor for help. He gave me medication that calmed everything down and now, years later, I don't have any problems as long as I take my meds at the right time and am sensible about what I eat. I don't eat late, either, and don't drink for an hour or two before going to bed. This gives my stomach chance to empty and that seems to help a lot.

    Keep your chin up and let us all know how you are getting on.

    xx Moy

    • eyesonfire
      eyesonfire moy1234

      Posted

      Well it has been a year now .. I was used to it until the humming noise in my right ear started. Seeing my hearing test gave me more anxiety ever since. I am on prevacid 60mg a day for acid reflux for the last 7 or 8 years now. The ENT that I saw in Nov 2014 did nothing. He only saw me for five mins and said goodbye. good luck. It was very discouraging. I will be seeing another ENT soon ... hopefully. I will mention about this. No one really knows what is wrong with me. It could be from the water … etd … tinnitus … acid reflux … Like I don’t know what to do anymore. I am very upset because I do not want to lose any more hearing. I hope I recover soon and get better soon … Keep me posted! Thank you
  • moy1234
    moy1234 eyesonfire

    Posted

    You are right - it's very distressing, especially when you think ENT should offer some help and the best they can do is wish you good luck. At my last appointment, the guy was more concerned with making the appointment jolly than offering anything significant.

    Well, I guess things will work out in time, but sometimes I get as upset and frustrated as you are feeling at the moment.

    I'm sure there must be better times around the corner for us both.

    Are you working?

    • eyesonfire
      eyesonfire moy1234

      Posted

      Yeah. We don't have any ents in town so I had to drive 2 hours to see one and he's like ok bye? Thanks for wasting my time ... I hope this new ent will listen to my concerns. It's very upsetting and my anxiety is through the roof. Yes I am working. I work at an insurance place for the last two years.
  • moy1234
    moy1234 eyesonfire

    Posted

    Hi!

    I have the advantage of being retired, but I have a good memory for what it was like trying to work with these conditions hanging over you. I sat up many nights with the reflux and that makes you tired. If you work in an office, the background noises can be disturbing as you don't know what's meant for you and what isn't. Sometimes people moaned that I didn't pick up a call that was ringing in another office, but I was having to focus hard on my own phone.

    Don't let it get you down - relax when you can and try not to get too tired.

    I hope things get better for you soon. Good luck with the new ENT.

    xx

    • eyesonfire
      eyesonfire moy1234

      Posted

      Work doesn't bother me. I don't answer the phones anyway (I am hearing impaired). I am in the clerical department. I saw a walk-in doctor yesterday because I am going crazy. He prescribed me budesonide mixed with something nasal spray. I tried 3 last year ... He told me to try again. I hope it works somewhat. I am just waiting for my second ent appointment ..... It is very upsetting. My biggest worry is my hearing. I hope and pray that I will get better soon. Thank you and keep me posted!
  • eyesonfire
    eyesonfire

    Posted

    Update: I have my second referral to a ent and I have to wait 7 weeks. Right now, I am on cotristeriod spray (budesonide mixed with otri) twice a day for two weeks. It seems to help pop my left ear since I never could before .. but all my symptoms are still here. This is my 3rd spray in the last year by the way. I cannot have a bath or shower anymore without wearing plugs. Water seems to get trapped inside. I still have anxiety problems but trying to stay positive. The humming sound in my right ear has never gone away. This started last month. I will have to talk to my doctor about acid reflux and other things but I won't see her until August. I already had acid reflux problems my whole life .. I am taking 60mg of prevacid twice a day. Reminder: I have fullness, pressure in both ears. Popping sound in left ear when I am sleeping and humming sound in right ear non stop. This started last June. Thanks everyone ... Stay positive

    PS: I am wondering if this is TMJ related .. The way I pop my ears is by opening my mouth and making a sound. It pops everytime. I was also told last year that I grind my teeth at night. I know this may mean nothing ... But I hope I recover soon. Trying to find answers ... Thank you again

  • eyesonfire
    eyesonfire

    Posted

    Morning, I did a test today ... When I woke up, I decided not to move or open my mouth or talk. I noticed that I rarely had any ear pressure and didn't feel the need to pop my ears. Does this mean something? I think everyone can relate this .. When you go to sleep, all your problems goes away and you don't feel pain or anything. Well after sleeping for 8 hours and waking up, I don't have much ear pressure until later in the morning and it goes on all day until I go back to sleep. BUT when I am sleeping, my left ear does make a popping sound non stop until I get up from the bed but I learned to ignore that since it has been a year. I'll have to wait and suffer. But hey, I've been waiting and suffering for 13 months now .. NO BIG DEAL. Have a good day ... Keep me updated! Thanks
  • eyesonfire
    eyesonfire

    Posted

    Anyone who is still suffering from ear problems should ask their doctor about superior canal dehiscence (sscd) which can be easily missed on your scans. it is a hole inside your ear bone which can cause all your symptoms. I just watched a show lastnight about a woman who suffered for eight months and saw ents who kept telling her to deal with it until her husband took her to another specialist who looked at her scans and figured out the problem. Had surgery and now she is all better. Might not be your problem but worth a try. Bring this up to your doctors !! Keep me updated and thanks again. I hope I recover soon and we all recover soon.
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