Hi All, are we all bonded in some way? I now have tinnitus (mild) and a blocked ear! Cant hear v well out of it and it feels as if it has fluid inside. Think this is why I am so terribly dizzy at the mo? Ear infection? Will it go? Is there an end to these symptoms?!!!!!!!!! xxx

hi emsybobs
the tinnitus sounds like the blocked ear,
inhale steam 4 mins 4 times a day and see if it helps.
you could try a saline nasal wash
1tsp salt to 2pints boiled water obviously wait till cool.
get ear dropper . and drop into nose . its yuck. but its helped me before.
the proportions are big . you can work it down .

are u still dizzy all the time?

Thank you Brina, much appreciated, think it must be an infection, work with kids, when I swallow I hear it clearing. Will get the steamer out. Dizziness awful, am always dizzy 24/7 but it had been getting a lot better up until the last week - must be the blocked ear. Thanks xxxx

Hi Emsybobs,
Couldn't believe it when I read your message - I think we must all be connected in some weird way as we seem to be sharing similar symptoms at the mo! You say the tinnitus is mild. What does it sound like? Is it high pitched or more of a hissing sound? Mine has improved a bit this last two days, but I'm still desperate for it to go away completely. Put it this way, at least I can watch the tv now without it bothering me so much, so it must be better than it was. Have you got any pressure in your ear?
Working with kids must be pretty tough at the moment - maybe you should wear a mask like people are doing with the SARS virus! I know I got the labyrinthitis at work, as my colleague also got it the same time as me and we both work on different floors of the library - so some nice customer must have carried it into the building and infected us! (I know you can get this virus anywhere, but I consider my job 'high-risk' for viruses!) I try not to think about what people do with library books and where they read them, what their houses are like, etc... believe me, am not being at all snobby, but we get some customers who clearly have no idea about personal hygiene - coupled with the fact that a library harbours a lot of dust (god knows what evil germs live in the dust) we also have a rat problem at the back of the building, so for all I know they could be spreading all kinds of germs. I wish we could hose down everyone who came into the building - it is really quite an unhealthy place to work. I know that working with kids must be much the same - but hopefully being exposed to all this crap now, our immune systems will eventually become hardened to these viruses........ http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif

Ruth
xxx

Thank you Ruth, your emailed cheered me, I must say I am on the edge tonight with this deaf ear! The tinnitus is high pitched, but the deafness is bothering me more. Keep panicking that a nerve ha sbeen damaged in my cochlea too and I will not only be permanently dizzy but also deaf!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aghhh. Must steam and then kip....xxxx

Hi Emsybobs, Ruth,

Wow, we really are doing symptom swap. I have spent most of today feeling like I'm moving when I'm not. ARghhhhhh. Why now?????? Sorry to hear about the blocked ear and the tinnitus - obviously I'm all too familiar with that delight. Hope it clears up soon.

How's it going today, Emsybobs? If you are at all concerned, go to the doc's, just in case there is an infection.
Hbep, hope I can console you about the dizziness - it is probably a side-effect of the medication - and will hopefully wear off. Is it like the dizziness you had in the early stages, or is it different?
I totally agree with what you said in another post about feeling jealous of other people who are well - I feel guilty about it, but it is hardly surprising considering the length of time we've had to endure all this. What really gets me mad is people whingeing about completely unimportant stuff at work. Have not been to work since last Tuesday (really couldn't have coped) but it was clear on Tuesday I was starting to lose it, as I lost my temper with my manager at work, and believe me I've never lost my temper ever. (I know it sounds crazy to have never lost my temper, but I'm not that kind of person - prefer to bottle things up, stay in control, etc...!) My colleague who also has lab had just worked an hour on the front desk and was telling me how pleased she was with herself for managing it - although she felt a lot worse after doing it. My manager was stood there too, and she said that it probably didn't help that a lot of stock had been moved around since we were off sick - she said that after the move around in the building (we had a major revamp) they all 'felt a bit dizzy when they came off the counter' !!!!! Well, that did it - I couldn't keep my mouth shut and let rip! Then I didn't know what I was saying - I said: "to be honest I'm sick and tired of people saying things like - you must be feeling better now it's sunny - I couldn't give a stuff if it rained all day every day, as long as I feel better!!!!" Just lost it completely.

Well, today the ringing in the ear is a bit better than yesterday, so am hoping it keeps improving. Am hoping it really is improving and it's not just the medication I'm taking. But, guess what, am now feeling very tired and yucky and mildly dizzy again. Please God, I will even join a convent if you can make me better.........

Hi Ruth, know exactly what you mean about people mentioning feeling dizzy, I will NEVER EVER underestimate the term dizzy again.

Tinnitus gone, just v v blocked ear(s), can feel water clearing when I swallow. Booked doctors for Friday. Think it is an infection. Tried Sudafed to no avail.

Will also join a convent just to get rid of this! I am at my wits end! xxx

Hi Ruth,

I'm an atheist, so I don't think they'd have me in a convent - anyway, I'd make a terrible nun, lol, but yes, if I thought it would get rid of this I'd certainly fill out an application form and try and blag my way in.

The dizziness is different - I'm getting that moving when still sensation many of you have talked about. YUCK. Soooo horrible+ scarey. I stopped taking the try cyclic last night, but suddenly realised it could be the occasional valium that's doing it. Think I may start the try cyclic again tonight and stop the valium (if the ear noise doesn't get too desperate in the mean time) sort of a controlled experiment. I tell you what really makes me angry - the consultant at the dental hospital still hasn't rung - I have now rung 3 times since last Thursday and talked to the secretary. She SAID to ring about side effects then doesn't call back, and in the meant time I'm suffering and panicking. All I need is a 5 minute convo to ask what to do - stay on drug? Get off drug, try another drug? Instead I'm left trying to figure it out for myself. Arghhhhhhhh.

Know what you mean about losing it - people are really moronic sometimes when it comes to illness. I think this is particularly prevalent in England - a stiff upper lip culture - if people don't look ill they must be malingering, or at least playing it up. I tend to be quite assertive about it - if someone's tactless I politely put them straight about it (although of course there is the odd occasion I lose it - lol - and by the way I don't blame you for losing it and don't worry about it -sometimes people need to be told) if their attitude really sucks, I avoid them. Illness is brilliant for separating the sheep from the goats.

Agree with your last statement Hbep wholehearedly. You realise who your fair-weather friends are. I had the same problem with my ENT as you have with your Dental person - he wrote on his letter to me after the consultation "Do not hesitate to contact me if you have any concerns or questions" - so that's why I rang the secretart 5 times and left a message once to ask a question and never heard a dicky bird. xxx

Hi Emsybobs, All,

So fed up and angry. Have just spent the last hour looking up side effects for the drugs I'm taking on the net. I mean when it comes to the NHS you just end up with do it yourself medicine. What makes me SO ANGRY is that we are led to believe in England that you get free healthcare - no you don't. Not unless you want to sit and suffer for months and months waiting for the next appointment booked for a hundred years time. It's despicable. Ok, the American system is no party - no free healthcare at all really, but at least over there they are up front about it. At least I would have known I needed private medical insurance so I could get my questions answered when I needed them answered. Had I known how bad things have got I'd never ever have left my health unprotected by insurance like this. Now there is NO WAY I will get it for a condition I already have.

How am I supposed to know if this new type of motion dizziness is caused by my inner ear, or whether it's the drugs (which I am terrified to come off completely incase the terrible vibration in my ears symptom comes back ) - I'll tell you how, if the rubbish ENT department had actually bothered to run an ENG/caloric test for me. Then I would KNOW if I had an inner ear problem and could be absolutely sure that the tmjd was at the root of all this. Of course they didn't bother because WHY WOULD THEY - it's me not them who has to get through life - trying to do a job, pay a mortgage, but so sick and dizzy I can barely work. Or alternatively if the dental specialist would actually just call me up.

I am so tired of this, I actually ended up having a long conversation with a close friend about which drugs I should stop, whether I should stay on one, not the other - I mean she works in television, lol, what the hell does she know, what do I know? Yes, my gp said I could try coming off it see what happens, but it's me not her who has something that sounds like small airplanes vibrating in my ears when the symptoms get bad.

Sorry, so upset tonight, just want a doctor that is actually caring for me, has time to listen. I just need answers and I feel if someone was really treating me properly I could be so much better by now.

[This message has been edited by hbep (edited 05-20-2003).]

[This message has been edited by hbep (edited 05-20-2003).]

Also so tired of this...today has been possibly the worse dizzy day I have ever had, thrown up, fallen over and I have still been at work! Tinnitus and hearing not too good, going to Docs tomorrow, will report back then. Feel as if I have had about 40 vodkas - plus am on the most rough ferry crossing you can ever imagine! Hope you are all OK.

Hi there Emsybobs, All,

Sorry to hear you had a bad day Emsybobs, good that your at the docs tommorow, hopefully he'll be able to give you something to help ease things up.

Apologies for my frantic post yesterday - very bad dizzies combined with very bad PMT. I think the latter makes the former worse. A much better day today all in all, and felt a bit bad for cursing the NHS today as the specialist rang and was really nice. She's clearly been talking to some people on my behalf, has arranged some physio for me as posture is all linked in with tmjd. Still have to wait a while for the mouth guard. I asked her if the drug could cause the dizziness, she said it was very probable - I don't think they can ever say for sure, but have been feeling a lot better and actually a lot less like I'm on a cruise ship since talking to her. I'm going to stay on it till Friday when she'll phone me again with a different drug to take.

Emsybobs, I know you worry about your diagnosis - I'm sure you're right and it's lab, but it occured to me that if you're seeing your gp, you can always stress that you are feeling really bad and the gp could get you back in to the ENT, you could demand that after all this time they run ENG and caloric tests, put your mind at rest. They could maybe even help you out with some vestibular rehab. It's horrible to feel like you aren't being looked after, I think when these things first start, because some people get rid of it really fast, they don't do much. I think they will probably pay a bit more attention if you're still feeling bad after some months.

Hope you're feeling a bit better.

Thank you so much for caring HBep. Just got back from Doctors, she says I have a middle ear infection and ear filled with fluid hence the deafness, tinnitus, ear ache. She said my ears were weak cos of L'itis, prone to stuff, this has obviously set my bad balance off etc. Have been given Penicillin. Not going to work tomorrow, with any luck the antibiotics will work.

Because of my health, after finishing my course in June, I think I am either returning home to work or not working at all for a while so am changing areas (going back home) then. Therefore Hbep, your comment is a valid one about the ENG so I am going to go to my home Doctor and demand I get referred on the NHS. The ENT I saw privately said if after 9 mths it hadnt gone, come back, well it's been nearly 8. Hopefully my home doctors will pay more notice.

Thanks for caring everyone, going to bed now! xxx

Hi guys
I am so so sorry to hear how badly things are going for the three of you. I feel terribly guilty that I'm improving and you're not and I am sending you many healthy vibes from the bottom end of the world.
Jen

Hi everyone,
Apologies for not being around this last couple of days - as you know this has been a rough couple of weeks for many of us.
Jen- glad you had a good holiday - DO NOT FEEL GUILTY, PLEASE!!! - anybody out there who is getting better gives us all hope, so if you're having more good days, please let us know - it helps keep me positive.
Emsybobs - sorry you are also having a rough time. Get lots of rest and hopefully those antibiotics will kick in soon.
Hbep- are the dizzies any better? It is such a horrible feeling. I now have the motion back and am feeling very crappy today - am looking rough too. The tinnitus has improved by about 80% this last 2 days, so it is much more bearable - still want it to go away completely though. Hard to believe that 2 weeks ago today I felt really good........

My dad said to me: "it's just another pimple on the bum of life" which did get a smile out of me, despite the fact I've been very depressed. In that case, I think we have all had more of a giant boil than a pimple!

Feeling very tired and yuck - am off to have a bath and early to bed.
Goodnight.
xxx

Your dad's quote made me laugh. Still deaf, feel so low today. My Mum thinks I may need gromets and that may improve things. I will wait to see if the fluid disappears. Whatever happens, I am having some time off in Sept, need it for my physical and mental health. Bloody ear problems...

Nite nite xxx

Hi all,

Yup Ruth, still dizzy, sailing around on my own personal inner ear cruise. Wow, it's disgusting - although am getting more used to it, in a miserable, resigned kind of way. Glad to hear the tinnitus has quietened down - let's hope it goes completely.

Finally stopped taking the stupid drug last night - the specialist is sending me a different one to try. Got to admit - am feeling very pessimistic and no longer believe the drug has done this and it will go. I mean let's face it, good luck isn't my second name at the moment. I am so very, very, very tired of obsessing about this, and struggling for answers. Now I have this new type of dizziness I am so fed up that I was never given an ENG/caloric test. I know I have TMJD - but I want to KNOW it's what is causing all this. An ENG/caloric, if it ruled out inner ear damage, would certainly help me be closer to believing that was true. If this continues - which in my current state of pessimism, I believe it will, I am going to pay for the tests. I just can't stand the uncertainty any more.

I guess I'm obsessed with atypical menieres - the possiblity of new symptoms indicating that as a possible diagnosis sits constantly in the back of my thoughts. To think a few months ago I didn't even know such a thing existed and now I think about it every day.

On a brighter note, my head has been clearer - less fog for a while - comes and goes. Still feel spacey but not as bad. And for the moment the vibration in ear stuff is behaving itself - no major attacks - maybe the drug has helped.

Just want to be normal again - I look at people in the street thinking I used to feel like you, ok, just going about my business, not having to think about my health every second of every day. Wow, guess I'm more despondent than I realised.

Hope you're feeling a bit better, Emsybobs, and really glad you are feeling better, Jen. By the way, Jen, I've never heard of anyone being very set back by the ENG tests, I don't think you need to worry.

Off to lie around in front of the television.

Also cant help but feel jealous of well people. Hbep, have also been panicking this wk about Menieres. I am also going to get the ENG done, for state of mind really.

Ear awful, am so deaf!

Also going to lie around watching TV! xxx

Hi emsybobs, ruth and Hbep

sorry i haven't replied to any of this i seemed to have not been able to get on line for a while.

I'm so sorry that emsybobs and hbep have been going through a living hell. i wish someone would sort it out for you and you felt like you were being looked after properly. hbep you mention not knowing if there is an inner ear problem or not. I thought you were sure that it was tmjd? emsybobs have you tried the odd valium to help? i'm sure its not meniers, meniers is very episodic (think i just made that word up) and you seem to be so constantly sick!!!

anyway i know nothing about any of this so i'm just offering you my best wishes.

kippers