philwalsall

Hi guys, here's my story, I'm getting pretty fed up with the NHS here in the UK, so I thought I'd give this board a go.

Im 27, and last December one night I yawned or sneezed (cant remember which) one night whilst in bed, and suddenly I had tinnitus and my left ear felt blocked.

The blocked feeling subsided after a week or so, but the tinnitus has not.

I only get the tinnitus in my left ear, and mostly during the day it doesn't bother me as ambient noise drowns out the tinnitus.

The Tinnitus is a high pitched ringing and constant (ie not pulsating).

I didnt do anything about it during Jan, Feb, March and April, thinking it would eventually go away on its on. My hearing didn't seem to be affected much, if at all, so I could live with it.

Occasionally I'll suddenly get a mild sore throat for a day, along with the sensation of something dripping down the back of my neck.

On top of this, when I clenched my teeth, my left ear would pop and crackle.

However, during this time, I would frequently get a period of 5-10 days where I would have a headache, mild dizziness, and a feeling of pressure in the head, especially across the forehead and behind the eyes - not severe by any means, but noticeable. It didnt stop me going to work or going about my usual life, but it would bother me. After this 5-10 day period, I'd be back to normal for a little while (say 2-3 weeks), my tinnitus

At the end of April, I'd had enough. I thought I had something like Eustachian Tube dysfunction (hence the popping). I booked an appointment with my GP, who immediately referred me to an ENT specialist (not because he was worried, simply because he didnt know what the problem was and I asked to be referred).

So I went to the ENT on May 21st, waiting for an hour, had hearing tests which turned out fine, and spent a very rushed 10mins with a very very busy ENT consultant who didnt really listen to me or try and take on board my particular symptoms. He very briefly looked at my sinuses and said they were fine (however, this was during one of my 2-3 of no headaches/dizziness). He then referred me to have an MRI scan, which I did. The results have now come through (thanks to me chasing for them) and they say everything is normal.

All these symptoms I have described above, I didnt get a chance to explain to anyone - my GP referred me to the ENT, and the ENT didnt want to listen (partly because he was over worked and trying to see 4 patients at once).

So 3 months after going to my GP, I have now been dismissed by the ENT, yet my symptoms are currently worse than ever. I've had mild headaches and mild dizziness now for 10 days, and my tinnitus is more noticeable than it has been in the past. I also have very mild blurriness in the eyes, like my eyes are tired, you know? I have a general sense of fatigue also.

I have been reading about TMJ Disorder, and I match those symptoms - I get aches behind the ears, I have a very hot forehead and face (like Im feverish), my headaches are in the temples and behind the eyes, and my jaw pops (only on the left side) when I open my mouth wide, I get some very mild blurred vision, and my neck feels achy and stiff.

So what do I do?

It's driving me mad at the moment, making me quite depressed (especially the tinnitus) and the NHS dont seem to offer any kind of help at all - if I go back to my GP, he'll shrug his shoulders, the ENT have dismissed me - I'm practically begging them to see me again, but if the consultant is as dismissive as he was at my original appointment, we wont get anywhere.

Does anyone have any advice or thoughts on my symptoms? Or how to approach the NHS?

If you have any questions, please ask, I'm happy to answer...