Totally Discouraged! - Inner Ear Disorders Message Board

sboily · 08-13-2003, 07:50 AM

Good morning,

I had an appointment with my ENT yesterday. He did hearing test and they were normal. He told me that I don't have an ear thing. I know I have an inner ear thing, I feel the fluid in my ears 24/7. He told me that was impossible,that everybody has fluid in their inner ears and it's impossible to feel. I asked him if it's not an inner ear thing and it's not a brain tumor, what could it be? He said all he is concerned about is that it's not an inner ear thing. I was so frustrated. He also said that it's not normal that someone my age (26) with labyrinthitis would still be sick after 9 weeks.

So now, I'm back thinking I have something serious. I took comfort in thinking I had an inner ear thing since eventually it's supposed to go away and it will not kill me.

I am so discouraged...

scant5 · 08-13-2003, 08:38 AM

sboily:
Did you read my post yesterday about "a bit of a blow"
Please re-read what the replies were back to me. I re-read them again this morning through clear eyes and saw even more things to make it positive. I'm sure someone will direct you to the best person to see in your area.
I understand how you are feeling...{{{{{hug}}}}}

Kathy

hbep · 08-13-2003, 10:36 AM

Run don't walk away from this doctor. Scant is right, read the advice given under the 'a bit of a blow' thread, find yourself a good neuro otologist, find out what's wrong and set yourself on the road to recovery. To say that vestibular neuritis (or labyrinthitis) shouldn't last beyond a few weeks is, to be frank, nonsense. I have a diagnosis of vestibular neuritis - (lab sort of) from a neuro oto, been ill nine months, I'm in my thirties - Ruth, who was on this board, had it for at least 6 months (can't remember exactly) she's 26. Age is immaterial - bad luck can affect everyone. A friend of hers, similiar age I believe, was sent packing by an ENT after being told she was suffering from anxiety - she pursued it, got the test results and was diagnosed with lab.

Sorry you experienced this but be comforted that you are not alone.

Anastasia · 08-13-2003, 11:18 AM

hey sarah

i know how you feel. i was in your shoes about 3 months ago and it sux. i still don't have a firm diognosis but i'm going to demand a MRI as a final diognostic procedure.

everyone is right, you can't sit back and do nothing. doctors won't do the work their supposed to do so you're going to have to do it ourself. keep pushing them and eventually somehting will come up.
Hang in there

Anastasia

dizzyblonde1 · 08-13-2003, 12:36 PM

Hi sboily, sorry for your horrble experience - your post has actually made me really angry, the ENT you saw sounds totally bl**dy arrogant and uncaring. There is no way on this earth that an inner ear disorder can be totally ruled out from just a hearing test and ear examination. And to dismiss the feelng of fluid in your ears by telling you your inner ear is always full of fluid is nonsense - yes your inner ear is full of fluid but we don't normally feel it, he should have least have tried to find out exactly what you meant - whether your ears feel full, or under pressure for example!!!

Just to repeat what I have said on this board many times, ENT people are not at all experts in this field. I myself was totally misdiagnosed and sent on my way by one after my first referral.

In an earlier post you mentioned having an ENG in September, is this still due to happen? (and if so why did'nt your ENT guy wait for the result before dismissing an inner ear problem?? - sorry, ranting again) Do you know whether you get to see a neuro-otologist at the same time? If not, you need to make sure you get referred to one, they are the specialists in this field and won't send you away telling you they don't care even if the ENG does come back clear!!

Finally, really really really try not to worry about it being something more serious just on basis of what this one (nasty) ent specialist told you. It really does sound like he has jumped to conclusions without the proper evidence to support them, and by telling you he does'nt care he really has just proved his own incompetence!!!.

You need to get your tests and get seen by someone who knows what they're talking about - leave worrying until after that! Good luck Hon xx