Scott B
05-20-2004, 02:57 PM
I think I am going to go CRAZY before I can find out what is going wrong... I have sporadic hearing loss episodes. All of a sudden, it's as if someone puts there hand over one of my ears and my ear and I lose my ability to hear clearly. Then, hours or days later I will have the opposite happen - suddenly I can hear great. I have been to 2 separate ENT's. One put me on a low sodium diet. Other has tried Allegra-D thinking it was allergy related. It is very frustrating because each ENT (in the same group) keeps asserting that I have ringing and/or dizziness. I have neither. I don't have balance problems and I don't hear a ringing sound, etc. My hearing just comes/goes, and it is driving me CRAZY! It's as if my ears get clogged up with water or something. I am fortunate that I am able to see my family physician quickly and she denotes no ear wax, etc.
Any ideas on what is going on?
Any ideas on what is going on?
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bitwizard
05-21-2004, 11:39 AM
That sounds a lot like what I have. I will wake up in the mornings with my left (sometimes right, and sometimes both) ear clogged up. If I sit in a chair and put my head between my legs it will unclog, but only until I sit straight up and then it's clogsville all over again.
It doesn't happen every morning, though, and I can't find much of a pattern to it, although I think rainy days make it more likely and if I sleep too much (9-10 hours at night) it seems to be more likely then too.
Also, if I do a little exercise and get my heart rate going the ear(s) clogs in the same exact way. 50 jumping jacks is enough to bring on the clogging.
And, like you said, there's no ringing or dizziness. There isn't even any sinus pressure pain. It's just like a bunch of cotton, or water, is stuck between my eardrum and inner ear. Everything I say echos funny and it is hard to understand other people.
If anyone knows what the deal is I would greatly appreciate it. I'm a 24-year-old male and I have noticed this for about a year or two. All-around great health otherwise.
It doesn't happen every morning, though, and I can't find much of a pattern to it, although I think rainy days make it more likely and if I sleep too much (9-10 hours at night) it seems to be more likely then too.
Also, if I do a little exercise and get my heart rate going the ear(s) clogs in the same exact way. 50 jumping jacks is enough to bring on the clogging.
And, like you said, there's no ringing or dizziness. There isn't even any sinus pressure pain. It's just like a bunch of cotton, or water, is stuck between my eardrum and inner ear. Everything I say echos funny and it is hard to understand other people.
If anyone knows what the deal is I would greatly appreciate it. I'm a 24-year-old male and I have noticed this for about a year or two. All-around great health otherwise.
bitwizard
05-21-2004, 12:19 PM
After looking around a bit I found a couple good sites that pretty much describe what I was feeling:
http://www.bcm.tmc.edu/oto/grand/71196.html
(scroll down to the part on PATULOUS EUSTACHIAN TUBE)
http://www.doctorhoffman.com/patul.htm
Hope it helps.
http://www.bcm.tmc.edu/oto/grand/71196.html
(scroll down to the part on PATULOUS EUSTACHIAN TUBE)
http://www.doctorhoffman.com/patul.htm
Hope it helps.
Scott B
05-21-2004, 05:08 PM
Very interesting. Thanks for the response. I went back in today to see yet another ENT. Performed more tests, etc. This ENT disagrees with former ENT who disagreed with his practice partner (another ENT). Now, looks like Meiner's is questionable (my loss is on the high end not low). I am scheduled to go in for an MRI to see more about what is going on and to rule out tumors in the inner ear canal. Of interest is during this visit the ENT actually stated that I was persistent; therefore, something must be happening. Like I would be paying out the $, dieting, taking medicaitions, and spending an inordinate amount of time traveling back/forward to MDs.
It is very strange - I have no ringing, no dizziness, etc. Just minding my own business when all of a sudden I can hear EXTREMELY well, and then later it goes back to clogville. In fact, if it were in reverse - 90% time good hearing, 10% bad, I would be willing to just live with it. However, it is very depressing when you just get used to hearing really bad and then suddenly you are able to hear beyond your wildest dreams. Then 4 hours or 4 days or a week later all of a sudden your hearing just closes up again.
BTW - 3 other potential items that are next to follow up on are food-specific allergic reactions, TMJ (not sure how this is related to my condition but MD mentioned it), and MS (I have issues with low blood sugar and apparently this and hearing may be some minor indicators but the MRI should point this out along with any tumor-related issues).
Again, if anyone has any ideas at all, I am apprecaite to hear them.
It is very strange - I have no ringing, no dizziness, etc. Just minding my own business when all of a sudden I can hear EXTREMELY well, and then later it goes back to clogville. In fact, if it were in reverse - 90% time good hearing, 10% bad, I would be willing to just live with it. However, it is very depressing when you just get used to hearing really bad and then suddenly you are able to hear beyond your wildest dreams. Then 4 hours or 4 days or a week later all of a sudden your hearing just closes up again.
BTW - 3 other potential items that are next to follow up on are food-specific allergic reactions, TMJ (not sure how this is related to my condition but MD mentioned it), and MS (I have issues with low blood sugar and apparently this and hearing may be some minor indicators but the MRI should point this out along with any tumor-related issues).
Again, if anyone has any ideas at all, I am apprecaite to hear them.
AngelaA
05-23-2004, 03:36 PM
Hey I have had the sudden hearing loss for anywhere from 5 minutes to 24 hrs since I was a teenager. (35 now) My dad lost his hearing for 3 days and found out he had a virus that was in his ear. He was put on strong steriods and antibiotics and his hearing returned after a week. The downside is antibiotics are ototoxic and can cause hearing loss. I have had frequent earaches for years and no doctor ever found anything wrong. Last week I went on my own referral to an audiologist because I noticed I can't distinguish words in noisy settings like at parties or in stores. I told her about the sudden hearing loss which she had no explanation for. However she says I have lost some of my high frequency hearing and is recommending hearing aids!
sheryl555
05-23-2004, 09:56 PM
Hello,
Oh boy does this ever sound familar. A few years back my hearing was tested as part of a routine checkup by an ear, nose throat doctor. He told me my hearing was very fine tuned and I was lucky to have such perfect hearing. About a year and 1/2 later, I noticed I was having trouble hearing certain pitches, especially it seemed some men's voices. I then started having problems hearing our clock radio in the morning it I was sleeping on my "good" ear. I went to the doctor and was told I had some hearing loss and was told I would go through a test I didn't care to. I went to another doctor who kept doing hearing tests on me every month or so. My hearing was going and he said that he sees people in his office at least once a month for a virus. I was devastated, perfect hearing and now this.
It just so happened my daugher was watching The View on television one day and on it they had a doctor performing an ear coning. She told me the stuff that came out of this women's ear was incrediable. I told her it sounded like hocus pocus to me. Well I went online and researched it and decided to give it a shot, what did I have to lose? My husband did it for me and I was very apprehensive. Nothing the first or second day but on the third day I awoke in the morning I said to my husband, guess what? He said what's that? I said, I can hear the clock radio. I have been hearing fine since and about every six months he does an ear coning for me. I know it sounds odd and I'm sure it is not for everyone, but for me it worked. In fact after the first ear coning, I had already had an appointment at the Leahy Clinic outside of Boston, Mass. and decided to keep the apointment. They tested me and she asked, did someone remove the wax from your ears, I said yes have you ever heard of ear coning and she said yes, I told her my husband did it for me. They gave me a hearing test and she said I had excellent hearing. I said could I show you all the test results of all the other hearing tests I keep having, she said of course. She said that she could not believe they were the same ears. In my area, CT. we actually have a person that performs them in a clinic setting. I'm just letting you know because your problem sounds so much like mine did. If I had listened to the doctor I probably would have had a hearing aid by now. It just so happens I must manufacture a lot of wax in that one ear.
Good luck to you
Oh boy does this ever sound familar. A few years back my hearing was tested as part of a routine checkup by an ear, nose throat doctor. He told me my hearing was very fine tuned and I was lucky to have such perfect hearing. About a year and 1/2 later, I noticed I was having trouble hearing certain pitches, especially it seemed some men's voices. I then started having problems hearing our clock radio in the morning it I was sleeping on my "good" ear. I went to the doctor and was told I had some hearing loss and was told I would go through a test I didn't care to. I went to another doctor who kept doing hearing tests on me every month or so. My hearing was going and he said that he sees people in his office at least once a month for a virus. I was devastated, perfect hearing and now this.
It just so happened my daugher was watching The View on television one day and on it they had a doctor performing an ear coning. She told me the stuff that came out of this women's ear was incrediable. I told her it sounded like hocus pocus to me. Well I went online and researched it and decided to give it a shot, what did I have to lose? My husband did it for me and I was very apprehensive. Nothing the first or second day but on the third day I awoke in the morning I said to my husband, guess what? He said what's that? I said, I can hear the clock radio. I have been hearing fine since and about every six months he does an ear coning for me. I know it sounds odd and I'm sure it is not for everyone, but for me it worked. In fact after the first ear coning, I had already had an appointment at the Leahy Clinic outside of Boston, Mass. and decided to keep the apointment. They tested me and she asked, did someone remove the wax from your ears, I said yes have you ever heard of ear coning and she said yes, I told her my husband did it for me. They gave me a hearing test and she said I had excellent hearing. I said could I show you all the test results of all the other hearing tests I keep having, she said of course. She said that she could not believe they were the same ears. In my area, CT. we actually have a person that performs them in a clinic setting. I'm just letting you know because your problem sounds so much like mine did. If I had listened to the doctor I probably would have had a hearing aid by now. It just so happens I must manufacture a lot of wax in that one ear.
Good luck to you
sheryl555
05-23-2004, 10:15 PM
Hello,
Oh boy does this ever sound familar. A few years back my hearing was tested as part of a routine checkup by an ear, nose throat doctor. He told me my hearing was very fine tuned and I was lucky to have such perfect hearing. About a year and 1/2 later, I noticed I was having trouble hearing certain pitches, especially it seemed some men's voices. I then started having problems hearing our clock radio in the morning it I was sleeping on my "good" ear. I went to the doctor and was told I had some hearing loss and was told I would go through a test I didn't care to. I went to another doctor who kept doing hearing tests on me every month or so. My hearing was going and he said that he sees people in his office at least once a month for a virus. I was devastated, perfect hearing and now this.
It just so happened my daugher was watching The View on television one day and on it they had a doctor performing an ear coning. She told me the stuff that came out of this women's ear was incrediable. I told her it sounded like hocus pocus to me. Well I went online and researched it and decided to give it a shot, what did I have to lose? My husband did it for me and I was very apprehensive. Nothing the first or second day but on the third day I awoke in the morning I said to my husband, guess what? He said what's that? I said, I can hear the clock radio. I have been hearing fine since and about every six months he does an ear coning for me. I know it sounds odd and I'm sure it is not for everyone, but for me it worked. In fact after the first ear coning, I had already had an appointment at the Leahy Clinic outside of Boston, Mass. and decided to keep the apointment. They tested me and she asked, did someone remove the wax from your ears, I said yes have you ever heard of ear coning and she said yes, I told her my husband did it for me. They gave me a hearing test and she said I had excellent hearing. I said could I show you all the test results of all the other hearing tests I keep having, she said of course. She said that she could not believe they were the same ears. In my area, CT. we actually have a person that performs them in a clinic setting. I'm just letting you know because your problem sounds so much like mine did. If I had listened to the doctor I probably would have had a hearing aid by now. It just so happens I must manufacture a lot of wax in that one ear.
Good luck to you
Oh boy does this ever sound familar. A few years back my hearing was tested as part of a routine checkup by an ear, nose throat doctor. He told me my hearing was very fine tuned and I was lucky to have such perfect hearing. About a year and 1/2 later, I noticed I was having trouble hearing certain pitches, especially it seemed some men's voices. I then started having problems hearing our clock radio in the morning it I was sleeping on my "good" ear. I went to the doctor and was told I had some hearing loss and was told I would go through a test I didn't care to. I went to another doctor who kept doing hearing tests on me every month or so. My hearing was going and he said that he sees people in his office at least once a month for a virus. I was devastated, perfect hearing and now this.
It just so happened my daugher was watching The View on television one day and on it they had a doctor performing an ear coning. She told me the stuff that came out of this women's ear was incrediable. I told her it sounded like hocus pocus to me. Well I went online and researched it and decided to give it a shot, what did I have to lose? My husband did it for me and I was very apprehensive. Nothing the first or second day but on the third day I awoke in the morning I said to my husband, guess what? He said what's that? I said, I can hear the clock radio. I have been hearing fine since and about every six months he does an ear coning for me. I know it sounds odd and I'm sure it is not for everyone, but for me it worked. In fact after the first ear coning, I had already had an appointment at the Leahy Clinic outside of Boston, Mass. and decided to keep the apointment. They tested me and she asked, did someone remove the wax from your ears, I said yes have you ever heard of ear coning and she said yes, I told her my husband did it for me. They gave me a hearing test and she said I had excellent hearing. I said could I show you all the test results of all the other hearing tests I keep having, she said of course. She said that she could not believe they were the same ears. In my area, CT. we actually have a person that performs them in a clinic setting. I'm just letting you know because your problem sounds so much like mine did. If I had listened to the doctor I probably would have had a hearing aid by now. It just so happens I must manufacture a lot of wax in that one ear.
Good luck to you
AngelaA
05-24-2004, 01:54 AM
Sheryl,
I have heard of ear coning and in fact have been told by friends that it eased their earaches. One thing doesn't make sense to me about your experience. If you had so much stuff come out after a coning why on Earth didn't one of your doctors tell you that you had an accumulation of wax? I mean it seems like they should be able to see it right? What kind of doctor didn't tell you what seems like the most basic thing to look for with ear ailments. The audiologist I went to put a tiny camera down both ears. It was really cool; I got to see the inside of my ears on a tv screen. She said my ears were free of wax. They looked clean as a whistle to me. Wax is visible via the earcamera right? I want to know before I spend $3000 on hearing aids.
I have heard of ear coning and in fact have been told by friends that it eased their earaches. One thing doesn't make sense to me about your experience. If you had so much stuff come out after a coning why on Earth didn't one of your doctors tell you that you had an accumulation of wax? I mean it seems like they should be able to see it right? What kind of doctor didn't tell you what seems like the most basic thing to look for with ear ailments. The audiologist I went to put a tiny camera down both ears. It was really cool; I got to see the inside of my ears on a tv screen. She said my ears were free of wax. They looked clean as a whistle to me. Wax is visible via the earcamera right? I want to know before I spend $3000 on hearing aids.
Scott B
05-24-2004, 10:04 AM
I don't have ear wax built up in either ear; however, after getting the MRI back I may try it as well.
My problems don't fit into any nice clinical category - high range hearing loss, no vertigo, no buzzing/ringing, and good/bad hearing that comes and goes (mostly bad hearing).
Hopefully I will know more before the week is out.
My problems don't fit into any nice clinical category - high range hearing loss, no vertigo, no buzzing/ringing, and good/bad hearing that comes and goes (mostly bad hearing).
Hopefully I will know more before the week is out.
sheryl555
05-24-2004, 09:44 PM
AngelaA
Didn't know that they had cameras to look into the ears. No doctor ever did that for me, wish they had. Makes you wonder doesn't it? He sure knew how to keep giving me hearing tests to the tune of $75.00 a test. Needless to say I don't see that doctor anymore.
Didn't know that they had cameras to look into the ears. No doctor ever did that for me, wish they had. Makes you wonder doesn't it? He sure knew how to keep giving me hearing tests to the tune of $75.00 a test. Needless to say I don't see that doctor anymore.