Hi All,

This is a bit of a silly question but wondered if any of you with viral inner ear related problems clean your ears with a Q-tip (or cotton bud) and, if you do, did doing so at any stage of labyrinthitis (or VN) make your symptoms worse? I know some don't go near their ears with anything. What's the saying? Something about don't put anything near your ear smaller than your elbow?? Anyway, 2 months into labs last year, I cleaned out my ears before heading off to see the doctor. It was the first time I had done this since becoming ill. Within seconds of doing it, I got instant symptoms that were very strong and nearly trashed me for the entire day. I nearly fell over with the dizziness and then of course the panic came after. The next time I cleaned them (about 3 months later) I took it really easy (ie. zero pressure) and only had a subtle sensation of being wobbly. Luckily, this no longer happens at all and assume the ear canal is no longer so sensitised. Another sign of this on its way out!

Thanks....Scott

Never had a problem with cleaning out my ears! My right ear regularly gets fluid caught behind the eardrum and I use ear candles to remove it. That sometimes makes me a little spacey for 15-20mins. But nothing huge.

One of my ENT's said that you should never use q-tips to clean out your ears. He said that they should only be used on the outside of the ear. I asked him about ear candles and he said that they were better than q-tips.

Agree with star - since gettings labs I have read cleaning your ears can cause such infections so I dont do it anymore.

Star - do u think you have a slight ET prob too? I do a tad. I have thougth about ear candling - sounds like you recommend it?

CL.

Hi CL

Yes I do have a slight ET problem, only in the right side. It started the same time as all the rest of the dizzy mess. I do like ear candles and use them maybe every couple of months. Mainly when my ear gets all fluidy. They dont fix it but do relieve some of the ET symptoms.

For me, ear candles have been very useful and I have had nothing but positive results using them but I have heard others on here that don't like them. I think it is very individual and dont really want to recommend them just in case!!!!

Hi Scott

Thought I pass this on---know your involved/interested---came across it----in a search of the Univ of Penn---"Grand Round" teaching archives(2003/2004)---could not track it down to the specific study at any of the Govt(U.S.) NIH/CDC..etc sites---you may have better luck through your Univ---it should show up---in a "Neurology" group--I would think

..."Recently, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been found beneficial in an open-label series of patients with chronic dizziness, regardless of whether a co-existing psychiatric diagnosis is present. Patients with complaint of exercise-induced dizziness, often young, athletic individuals, may be particularly helped with this treatment. Use of SSRIs has been shown to be effective in a special group of patients presenting with exertion induced vague complaints of dizziness and symptoms of autonomic dysregulation."......

And it tracks with the previous Univ's(Penn,Northwestern..etc.) I have recently come across----reporting on research conducted during what is called "The Decade of The Brain" which was 1990-2000....as is usual in an undertaking of that magnitude---much of the research---is now surfacing/appearing---at the "Published" Univ level.....Tracks with other reseach...which indicates.....the SSRIs...may not work(physics of them on the brain)---exactly as previously thought---and could be more Neuron generators...more then serotonin generators....or perhaps both---found the statement:

....."often young, athletic individuals, may be particularly helped with this treatment"....

Interesting---aspect!

:cool:

Hi Subs,

Excellent information - thanks for that!

...selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been found beneficial in an open-label series of patients with chronic dizziness, regardless of whether a co-existing psychiatric diagnosis is present...
This is very interesting and something I thought was true all along although I hadn't come across anything to back it up in the science literature - until now! I just did a quick but thorough search in the usual places on the usyd database but couldn't pull the study out. It may be in abstract form only on the "Grand Round" and not available on medline. I'll have more time tomorrow to pull out the big guns and hunt it down. Were you able to find a name for the author by any chance?

Good work!

Scott

ps. too bad I'm not really that young anymore and definitely not athletic! :D

Hi Subs,

Excellent information - thanks for that!


This is very interesting and something I thought was true all along although I hadn't come across anything to back it up in the science literature - until now! I just did a quick but thorough search in the usual places on the usyd database but couldn't pull the study out. It may be in abstract form only on the "Grand Round" and not available on medline. I'll have more time tomorrow to pull out the big guns and hunt it down. Were you able to find a name for the author by any chance?

Good work!

Scott

ps. too bad I'm not really that young anymore and definitely not athletic! :D


....."Were you able to find a name for the author by any chance?".....

Nope---there was not one attached---was a numbered "footnote"---however that tracks back to a "Neurology" magazine---which I do not think we can post here.

..."ps. too bad I'm not really that young anymore and definitely not athletic!"...

Understand----only to well!!

:cool:

I don't go near my ears with q-tips or anything like that, but I've candled them quite a few times and that does seem to relieve the pain in the bad one for a few days (although it makes me evn more spacey for an hour or so afterwards). One tip, though - don't try ear candling with a springer spaniel in the room....!

Ann