Whats wrong with me?? I have had this problem for 7 months now and everyday is the same. It sucks. Anyways it started after going scuba diving for the first time, I have had ear infections when I was younger but until a little while I was fine. I kinda knew somthing was going wrong on my last dive when things started to felt kinda boucy when I walked, this feeling had resolved its self after a week but since then has reoccured a couple of times. I then started having these wierd almost like anxiety attacks one day out of the blue during class at school, I didnt know why?? but now the things I used to do like drive a car or anything else for that matter may trigger an attack. Since from the start of this I have also felt like I am in a fog or just my eyes arent focused right and it gives me a feeling of light headedness. Next a month into this I began to notice frequent spasms taking place in my left ear only, not only just randomly but also in reaction to certain noises like talking or the clinging of silverware. Later on my ears started to get this pain inside the ears and when they act up its wierd becuase the pitch of the ring changes I get a little off balance and it feels like my ears contract on the inside like when you get an eyetwitch. It also feels like Ive had this lump in my throat and my nasel area in the back of my throat feels like its swollen but when the docs look they say "all normall". Since then My ears go from the annoying crackling sound it makes to a deep pop sound when I swallow, then it goes away after an hour or so. Three months into it with after getting no where with doctors my ears started to ring really loud, much louder in the left ear though. When this happend I started feeling a little more off balance. Over time it got better. Ive been on Methylprednisolone, meclyzine, allegra D, flonase just to name a few and still no such luck. Right now I am waiting for the results of my latest MRI of the head and AU. But atleast im getting somwhere with this. I failed basic ear test and when the ENT looked into my ears he saw lots of wax which wasnt there before. When he removed it my inner out ear was very very sore and he also desicoved I had fluid behind both of my ear drums when in a peviouse visit they found nothing and I passed the test, so its a start. The ENT says my ears are playing tricks on them. Let me know what you guys think.

it sounds like vertigo......did they say anything about that?

Hi Badears

From the Northwestern Univ web site(sticky--1st post on board):

...."Fistula types and usual causes:
Window fistulae
Oval window type
Stapedectomy surgery (for otosclerosis)
Head trauma or barotrauma (pressure injury)
Acoustic trauma
Round window type (figure 2).
Barotrauma -- SCUBA diving, airplane pressurization......"

Page located at:

http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/disorders/unilat/fistula.html

and their page on:

Tullio's Phenomenon

Located at:

http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/disorders/symptoms/tullio.html

Barotrauma and having a Tullio's Phenonmenon---sort of go hand in hand....

They both happen quite often---in the submarine service---when doing emergency escape(training/actual)---from deep depths---or as the Northwestern Univ web site points out from " SCUBA diving"

The info is extracted from the approved "sticky" Northwestern Univ web site.

Can be followed by ear infections---not unusual..sounds like they maybe closing in on it.

:cool:

it sounds like vertigo......did they say anything about that?

I never had a case of vertigo as a symptom, just a little off balance, like things felt like if you were on a boat only not as intense but enough to notice things didnt appear solid beneath your feet. But that feeling has since come and gone.

Hi Badears

From the Northwestern Univ web site(sticky--1st post on board):

...."Fistula types and usual causes:
Window fistulae
Oval window type
Stapedectomy surgery (for otosclerosis)
Head trauma or barotrauma (pressure injury)
Acoustic trauma
Round window type (figure 2).
Barotrauma -- SCUBA diving, airplane pressurization......"

Page located at:

http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/disorders/unilat/fistula.html

and their page on:

Tullio's Phenomenon

Located at:

http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/disorders/symptoms/tullio.html

Barotrauma and having a Tullio's Phenonmenon---sort of go hand in hand....

They both happen quite often---in the submarine service---when doing emergency escape(training/actual)---from deep depths---or as the Northwestern Univ web site points out from " SCUBA diving"

The info is extracted from the approved "sticky" Northwestern Univ web site.

Can be followed by ear infections---not unusual..sounds like they maybe closing in on it.

:cool:

very interseting, I will have to add this to a list of arguments to bring up at my next visit.

these symptoms are very related to mine, look up middle ear myoclonus, stapedial myoclonus, and tensor tympani syndrome, as well palatal myoclonus.
the fact your having spasms and noise related spasms is a huge clue. as well these conditions can cause that off balance feeling.
feel free to look up my posts...took for ever to get a diagnoses.
where are you located?

I am in Connecticut, how about you? It nice to know somone that can relate to this problem. I just found out my MRI results too. It was negative. lol I wish my ears felt as fine as the results appeared on my MRI. This stinks. I will research this and add it to my argument for my next visit. Thank you

Oh yeah, I left one thing out of my main description. I can do this thing with the flap of the pallet skin that separates your nasal chamber to your throat. Where when I flex it or squeeze the pallet flap of skin against the back of my throat the ringing gets more intense and then gets less intense when I relax this flap of skin. I hope what I said makes sense? Let me know if this is identifiable

Oh yeah, I left one thing out of my main description. I can do this thing with the flap of the pallet skin that separates your nasal chamber to your throat. Where when I flex it or squeeze the pallet flap of skin against the back of my throat the ringing gets more intense and then gets less intense when I relax this flap of skin. I hope what I said makes sense? Let me know if this is identifiable
well i think it helps to prove the muscular theory.
dr poe in boston or dr sismanis in richmond are two fantastic neurotoligist, poe figured me out, and sismanis did as well, i live in virginia, so richmond was much closer for surgery.
i know dr kwalter i believe is how it is spelled in new jersey has identified this prob as well. who are you seeing, go to a neurotoligist or otoligist....ents are not capable of diagnosing this.

lib

Thank You, I will do that :) I am getting tired of this ENT guy getting no where accept for making follow up visits when theres no progress being made?? lol. I will see the otologist in boston. Thank You again