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Ear problems...

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jen51498
jen51498

Hi everyone, I just wanted to share my experience in hope that it might give someone else ease in worrying about their problems. For the past 4 years I have suffered with chronic ear/sinus problems. Ears - ringing in the left side,  whooshing (especially at night) rumbling, slight pain shooting pains, certain sounds such as dishes clattering making it rumble, dizziness. Sinus problems - constant stuffiness/ bleeding, pressure behind my nose, head, headaches. The whole experience has been extremely stressful and worrying, finally I was referred to a private hospital (through the NHS) as it was the quickest they could get me in, I had a CT scan of my sinuses, found I had a prominent deviation on one side which was causing the majority of the sinus problems - simple mechanical fix with an op I’m awaiting on, but still, I unsure about the ear. Still feeling worried about the ear problems and now my mind was constantly focused on this, they were much worse. Constant symptoms in my left ear that just did not feel normal! I was referred back to the same specialist who said he wanted to do an MRI scan of my ear / brain and was looking to rule out a non malignant tumour called a glumose tumour - a swelling behind the inner ear which CAN cause similar symptoms to the above mentioned. I was absolutely convinced I had this before the specialist mentioned it to me, so when he told me that was what they were looking for, it confirmed my own diagnosis. Now to move on, I have suffered with chronic health anxiety for the last 10 years, I’m a 27 year old female otherwise fit and healthy, I drive my self crazy constantly over thinking my health and always worrying there’s something wrong, small symptoms I overthink and dwell on I constantly search the Internet looking for reassurance and I am well aware that a lot of the problems I have are all in my head. Still, is doesn’t stop the real physical symptoms which I experience. The viscious circle of feeling an unusual symptom and then how it can become completely exaggerated by your own mind has been a long long battle in itself and it’s something I’ve researched a lot, psychosomatic symptoms have a lot to answer for! Today I had this scan in tears and worry for absolutely nothing and it was ALL CLEAR, i am over the moon but still a little in shock as  it doesn’t mean my symptoms have disappeared at all, it just means I’m extremely stressed, anxious and that is normal for my body. It doesn’t mean the ear problems aren’t really there, it means it’s normal for me but my body and mind exaggerate the issues, and also the constant over worrying can create further problems as things start not working as the should do within ones body.  Anyone suffering anxiety similar to my experiences please have hope in the fact that your symptoms could all be related to this. Anyone who doesn’t,

Please Stay open minded as it took me a very long time to be open to the fact that I could feel physical horrible symptoms from anxiety, but it’s so true, the road is long and the battle is a long one which I’m still working through myself. Stay strong and live for the moment and enjoy it, else you end up spending so so much time and negative energy on it all.  You’re still here now 😃 - much love guys x 

P.s - the above experience I’ve shared is intended only to help others, I’ve not at any point intended to offend or patronise so sincere apologies if it’s come across that way. I understand a lot of people have problems which are non anxiety related, but I thought If I can help anyone along the way then great - 

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2 Replies

  • heather73477
    heather73477 jen51498

    Posted

    I have gone through everything you have said symptom wise Jen. I also found out that anxiety can cause a lot of crazy stuff to happen to your body from my doctor. I have started taking anxiety meds and have seen such a difference. I was against them before and tried doing it on my own without but learned that like you it is very hard to do. I had a dizzy spell when I was driving and had to be rushed to the hospital, so you can imagine how long it took to feel right driving a car after that. Took me quite a few months to get back to driving normally. My anxiety caused me to clench my jaw which in turn I developed TMJ from. TMJ can also cause dizziness, nausea, full ear feeling and headaches, something I learned from my EMT doctor. Makes a whole lot of sense now that I look back at it. Its a long road of having to figure out what works best for me to help the swelling stay down and not flare up to make the symptoms come back, its been rough. I am happy to see someone else see the light at the end of the tunnel finally too. smile
    • jen51498
      jen51498 heather73477

      Posted

      Thanks for your reply Heather, 

      Yes sounds awful, i can’t imagine how difficult it must have been for you to conquer driving again but well done as sounds like you’ve finally smashed it!

      I also developed TMJ and had the symptoms you’ve mentioned and I’ve heard can contribute to these tinnitus/ ear issues too - I used to clench quite a lot in my sleep. 

      I’ve learned to try and talk myself out of panic and dizziness a lot but still, it naturally displays its unwanted self at inconvenient times, I find that If I feel I’m in a situation I can’t easily escape, it triggers instant panic as well, but I find re assurance in talking myself out of it and telling myself, nothing ever happened from the last time I panicked and I was fine. I don’t know if you’ve heard of it or not but there’s an amazing programme I bought from amazon which I know is still available to buy called ‘the linden method’ I found this over anything I’ve tried prior to this to be the best, I’ve tried CBT various councillors which have eased anxiety but nothing has ever made it go away. I tried the linden method when I was 18 which was a self help way to re programme your mind into thinking differently, and I remember for the next five years of my life I was completely anxiety free, I set up my own company which took off bigger than we expected as we’re now multi national and suddenly before I knew it I was back to square one and fallen into the anxiety hell hole once more. Certain triggers for different people and stresses are always the problem aren’t they?! Unfortunately I lost the books and dvds and haven’t yet had the time to buy them again but I’d really recommend the programme as although my anxiety is still present - it changed my life for the better when I sat down and worked through it properly. I’ve never tried these forums before It’s comforting to hear that others experience the same issues as what I do/did and also experience the same symptoms - there’s a strong link in the two sometimes. It’s also comforting that the guy who created the linden method suffered for so long and now he’s completely not anxiety free, he shares his whole story. I still think not enough is done for mental health and one day would like to write my own book in trying to I help others 😃 - so far I’ve tried to steer clear from any type of meds for myself but I also agree they work wonders for some people. I’ve gone this long without so I’m gonna try stick it through. All the best in your journey and would be interested to see how you’re doing with it all at a later time smile 

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