Hello everyone! I am newby and I am in severe need of any advice that you are able to provide. My story begins a little over a month ago. On a Sunday afternoon my husband and I had dinner after church and we returned home to relax. Out of the blue, I got a SEVERE shooting pain in my left ear. The pain was so intense that I jumped and scremed. I was in tears for almost an hour before it subsided. That evening we went to church and we had to leave because I began having the severe pain once again. I was in severe pain. I ended up in the ER with a blood pressure of 160/110. I was told that I had a severe middle ear infection and I was given Ciprodex. 2 days later there was still no change in the shoting pain and I cld my ENT that I had been seeing at that time and he told me that I would need a Oral antibiotic. He told me that he would need to see me. I tried t get into his office and he was off that day so his nurse cld in an antibiotic that they no longer make. I ended up seeing a fill in doc that was seeing pts while my PC was out. I was told at this point that I had a double inner ear infection and I was given AVELOX. I took the antibiotics along with a numbing medication for the ear. After 3 days on the meds I began having severe ringing. I went back to the doc and this time I was told that there was no infection and that the problem was TMJ. No testing to prove this fact just a touching diagnosis. Since that time the ringing has consumed my life along with dizziness and vertigo. I have seen my doc 4 times and I was told that there wasn't really anything they could do. I had two hearing tests done that showed moderate hearing loss after all of this occured. Could someone please shed some light on this for me. I am still in severe misery with no answers and no testing to see what is going on. PLEASE HELP!
I'm not a doctor, but ringing and vertigo can be symptoms of an inner ear problem known as labyrinthitis, which can develop after an inner ear infection. See this:
If there is a large hospital in your area, maybe you can make an appointment with a specialist. Look for a specialized ENT known as a neurotologist. Good luck.
Sounds like an exasperating story, but my advice would be to source out an ENT with a speciality relating to the inner ear.
As Fantine has indicated, Dizziness and vertigo are associated with the inner ear, and therefore its worth making all effort to see the right physician as they may be able to help.
From my experience (unfortunately I experienced asevere middle ear infection - only 6 weeks after Stapedectomy that required emergency myringotomy), the middle ear infection is associated with very sharp pain, but not usually with extreme dizziness and vertigo. If you are experiencing dizziness and vertigo in the time post a middle ear infection it is becuase that infection has made it's way into the inner ear - Labrinthytis as Fantine has suggested.
The reason I suggest to search for a good doctor is that I am rather dismayed that have presecibed with ciprodex fir a middle ear infection. Normally in the case of a middle ear infection a doctor with any knowledge would prescribe an oral medication such as Augmentim Duo Forte (Amoxicilin) or a cephlexion (sp). Prescribing a drop will only treat an external infection in the canal.
As for the ringing, this can be caused by antibiotics, but is more likely an indication that there has been some infection of the inner ear, although I may also be wrong. The whole hearing system responds to infection and trauma very differently in everyone, and ringing can be a result of many medications or conditions (high cholesterol / Blood Pressure).
Please shop around for a good ENT and GP. It makes all the difference. I had a severe middle ear infection only weeks after a stapedectomy, required a myringotomy (whole punched in my ear drum to drain the fluid), and my hearing in that ear is close to normal. All this is thanks to an ENT that made the right decisions quickly.
In the meantime, I do suggest taking 1000UI of Natural Vitamin E everyday, and perhaps a high, but safe level of Beta Carotene. These are vitamins that have been clinically proven to protect the inner ear trauma.
Hearing loss isnt that bad... I was born deaf with a severe to profound hearing loss... I wear a hearing aid in my right ear my left ear is compleatly dead... but it helps you to look out in life realizing that It could have been worse... you could be left with no hearing at all... Have faith it will get better either if you have to wear a hearing aid some day or just learn to accept it? it will get better with time... A moderate loss is very lucky... I've heard of people having an inner ear infection and becomming compleatly deaf... so consider it a blessing that you still have your hearing =] hope I could be of some help
