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Extreme pain in right ear, tinnitus and severe balance problems for 11 years straight. Help please!

Posted , 3 users are following.

will70925
will70925

I've been trying to get to the bottom of this and I've asked on other forums but got no replies. I am hoping to get some replies here.

I am 25. For 11 years straight, I have had problems with my right ear since I got an ear infection after a bout of flu. In recent years however my symptoms have worsened exponentially and it is getting me very concerned.

The ringing in my right (bad) ear is constant. I get episodes of ear pain which rivals that of wisdom tooth pain - enough to make me physically cringe. Something I feel like is a big clue to all this is my symptoms reduce to around 10% after I have slept - as in, lied down on my left side (the side I normally sleep on) motionless for 8 hours. I will go into a quiet room and the tinnitus is barely even there, but shortly after, it will come back again, and so will the balance problems, pain, and the inability (or extreme difficulty) to pop my right ear.

My hearing is normal and an MRI revealed no lesions. I have been seeing doctors about my ear since 2017 now, and pretty much every time they look into my right ear, there is something abnormal about it. It is either ''retracted'', ''very dull'', or there's loads of fluid behind my eardrum.

My balance problems and tinnitus are worst at night, or whenever I have been up for a long time. I cannot balance on one leg at all now, or I fall over. I've tried. When I was younger I could balance on one leg with no problems at all. Nasal sprays don't seem to do anything.

One doctor mentioned grommets, but nothing was done. I've been referred to one of the top ENT's in the country but I've been left in the dark about that and I have no idea when I will see him. My doctor recently prescribed me sedatives for my ear a week ago, but they do not help much with the ringing. She said if they aren't working, then I should call the clinic to talk to her over the phone.

Another thing that is concerning me are personality changes and feeling unwell all the time. I always feel lethargic, and my white blood cell count was low last time I had a neutrophil blood test. I also find myself feeling very restless and irritable so I'm wondering if this could be related to my ear.

I would very much appreciate answers as this has caused me so much depression and misery throughout my teenage years and now my adult years. I cannot get a job or work because I cannot sleep.

0 likes, 2 replies

2 Replies

  • judi44826
    judi44826 will70925

    Posted

    so sorry for you, i would recommensd seeing a neurologistthey may have more answers . good luck to you.

  • shez02356
    shez02356 will70925

    Posted

    Hi,

    I had very similar symptoms to you; brain fog, dizziness, feeling off balanced, ear pain, fullness in ear, tinnitus, hearing feeling muffled and popping, crackling and clicking. It started in my right ear. I went to the doctors at least 4 times where they gave me different nasal sprays and antihistamines, the symptoms carried on. After 8 months, it started in my left ear. I then got a referral to an ENT specialist who did an MRI scan which was normal. They diagnosed me with ETD Eustachian Tube Dysfunction. They said the only thing that would have a slight chance was if I had the grommet operation. I had this operation in both ears. My hearing no longer felt muffled and there was no fullness in my ears which took away the pressure. 2 weeks after, the pain came back. I had the op February this year and I had a follow up beginning of July and a specialist said it cant be ETD! I went back to my GP and after about 3 visits they are finally getting me a 2nd opinion. I dreaded going to the hospital before my op, they were so cold and unsympathetic. I had the first specialist tell me the operation was my only option and the second one told me not to have it and to just take painkillers!

    Even the surgeon before the operation said 'you do know this wont work do you'!!!!

    Be persistent with the doctors don't let them fob you off you know your body better than anyone!

    I'm sorry its gone on for so long and your no further forward. I'm coming up to 2 years of this now. I really do feel your pain. Stay strong and don't let it drag you down.

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