LarLarz
10-16-2003, 01:23 PM
Hi all. Well, after months and months of being on the inner ear boards...here I am. I went to the ENT today and paid $60.00 for him to feel around my jaw, look into my ears and in 5 minutes tell me that my ears are perfectly fine. He told me that I have TMJ Disorder. I have had a ton of fullness in my right ear with some pain. Tighness on that side of my head too. The other day I had swollen glands behind my ear going down my neck. It seemed that got that way after blowing my nose a few times. He did not seem to care about that. TMJ does make sense...I mean, that side of my face (and ear)was bothering more when I left his office from all his prodding...and it always bothers me after I eat...even if it has been ok all day. I don't get it though. My ear definetly feels like it has air pressure in it. I can pop it all day. And right before they pop I can hear the air blowing through them. Some days I have really bad headaches as well. The kind you would get from standing in the cold all day. And sometimes just in the back or top of my head. I don't know..I thought maybe it was sinuses or allergies..and that this was a result of Eustachian Tube Dysfunction but the meds make no difference. Just make me tired and sometimes make the headaches worse. Also...I tried to explain to the docs that I never had ANY ear problems until my family doc irrigated my ears with water to flush out ear wax. ENT says there is no water, fluid or excessive wax buildup in my ears. No hearing loss either. It has gotten alittle better since I wuit smoking. At least the dizziness has gone away. Could TMJ Disorder really cause all of this??
Sponsor
Ouch-ear-pain
10-16-2003, 03:51 PM
Hi Larz,
It all depends. TMJ can cause a number of things. Those of which matched your symptom list. It seems to me that you have alot of ear problems. Did you get second opinions from different ENT's? That might be helpful! You could very well have TMJ as well so don't doubt the ENT you saw. I would get a second opinion though.
Ear
It all depends. TMJ can cause a number of things. Those of which matched your symptom list. It seems to me that you have alot of ear problems. Did you get second opinions from different ENT's? That might be helpful! You could very well have TMJ as well so don't doubt the ENT you saw. I would get a second opinion though.
Ear
LarLarz
10-16-2003, 05:27 PM
Well, actually, I can't afford to get a second opinion. The only reason I went to this one is because I had been to him in the past. Since I don't have ins. right now, it only cost me 60.00 instead of 125.00. If I had gone to one that I had not previously seen...it would definetly cost more. Oh well. Guess I am just gonna have to get used to it for awhile. Until I get a job. Funny that quitting smoking has made it alittle better. The bottom line is that 95% of all doctors are jack asses. I'm sick of them.
Laura
Laura
Ouch-ear-pain
10-16-2003, 09:39 PM
Hi Larz,
Well then I don't know what to say. You might just have to live with it until you get a job. That is what I would think would happen. Good luck to you!
Ear http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/t_up.gif
Well then I don't know what to say. You might just have to live with it until you get a job. That is what I would think would happen. Good luck to you!
Ear http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/t_up.gif
LarLarz
10-17-2003, 02:03 AM
I had an interview on wed with alot of potential!! I should find out on Friday! Medical Ben. in 90 days!
CherylLynn24
10-17-2003, 03:07 AM
Laura,
I completely agree with your 95% statement. :D
Cheryl
I completely agree with your 95% statement. :D
Cheryl
Isobelj
10-17-2003, 04:00 AM
Laura, hi, I read your message to me below, I'm sorry you've had problems for so long. I do think that all your symptoms as you describe them could very well be due to tmj, though I know it seems incredible, however there are such a huge range of symptoms coming under the general umbrella term of 'tmj caused' ... . I don't understand why you should have developed the ear issues only after the ear irrigation, perhaps this was just the thing that pushed an already present but not felt ear sensibility caused by joint disorder over the edge. I'm talking so generally, but I don't know enough to say more. But the fullness, tightness, feelingof having swollen glands, headaches, popping sounds etc. are all tmj symptoms. Smoking is bad for tmj and tinnitus I understand because it constricts blood vessels and spasms are already very much doing that, plus you are pursing the lips which is a strain on already very tired muscles. Caffiene is bad too, I'm trying to totally give it up, I don't drink straight coffee but I do love cold cappuchino, and chocolate, so that's hard! Good luck with the job interview!
Isobel
ps. I did read a positive statistic on one website which cheered me up, it said that a high percentage (I think even 80%) of those who have tinnitus due to tmj are cured of the tinnitus when their tmj problems are resolved whereas if tinnitus is due to some other cause then it is far harder to get rid of it.
[This message has been edited by Isobelj (edited 10-17-2003).]
Isobel
ps. I did read a positive statistic on one website which cheered me up, it said that a high percentage (I think even 80%) of those who have tinnitus due to tmj are cured of the tinnitus when their tmj problems are resolved whereas if tinnitus is due to some other cause then it is far harder to get rid of it.
[This message has been edited by Isobelj (edited 10-17-2003).]