Allergies?? Ears/panic.... all related?

[peaches31]

I'm new to this thread and have some questions... for years I have had problems with my ears, usually one at a time. They feel clogged and when I swallow it makes a crunching sound, I am continually stuffed up on one side or the other in my nose ..... sometimes my nost gets so itchy and I sneeze only sometimes, I also wake up every morning with s sore throat and feel like I have to get stuff out of it before it will feel better. I have had 'episodes' where I feel very dizzy and have to lay down for awhile after these episodes my ears are really rocking. They got so bad that I went to the doctor and he said that he did see some fluid in them and prescribed antibiotics. They are feeling somewhat better but they still drive me crazy!! I have in the past years ago seen an ear specialist who could see nothing wrong..... Could these symptoms by allergies? I have not been tested for allergies the doctor said that there is no need to that he is convinced that I have them and there is no point.....

Another question... I have panic disorder and have noticed that when my ears act up that's when I see to really have a problem with panic... could they be related? I know that when I feel off balance which happens often that is one trigger for my panic....... it would be nice to put the correlation together... has anyone else had similiar experiences?? I have a hard time taking decogestants as they make my anxiety worse and I have tried an allergy med but only took a couple.... I guess I am looking for anyones input or ideas........

Thanks.....

[snowmelts]

I would follow the Dr.'s advice certainly. But if you loose balance and feel a bit of panic and dizzy then perhaps your inner ears are also swelling. This can be caused by allergy. But it can also be caused by other things. You may have multiple problems. Your Dr's would certainly be able to see swollen inner ears but perhaps they were not swollen when you saw the Dr.

I am not a Dr but I do get swollen inner ears from environmental allergies (like fumes from paint, gas, prefumes and anything scented) so I can tell you that to calm that down..get rid of the off balance dizzy's and some panic that this causes (yes the swollen inner ears makes me feel panic first, as though I must hurry ect ect then the dizzy starts and I'm in big trouble cuz the entire room will spin) ..you can take over-the-counter Dramamine for motion sickness which works because it shrinks swollen inner ears.. It works GOOD. It is what a hospital ER DR told me to take while my allergy Dr was figureing out what I was allergic too. This was years ago but I still have the allergy and I still keep Dramamine very handy. I take it at the first sign of my problem and it stops it.

Thats just a suggestion to try and I hope your Dr can help you.

[peaches31]

any other suggestions??? please....

[chigs489]

are you taking any medications for the panic disorder? Meds like Effexor and Buspar cause dizziness in lots of people.

You're not alone. I've had problems with my ears and dizziness/lighteheadedness as well. I would recommend going to an ENT, have a CT scan of your sinuses done (I just back from mine), to make sure strucutral problems of the nose and sinuses are not causing an issue. I've heard that fluid and bacteria can enter the Eustachian tubes of your ears through impacted or malfunctioning sinuses.

Also see an allergist. I have a serious dust mite allergy, and I had to go out and get special covers for my matress and pillows. I'm looking into immunotherapy.

Keep in mind, however, that doctors are quick with the "it's just allergies" diagnosis. When over-the-counter meds for allergies don't work, you need to start exploring other options.

[Chrislynn]

Yes, I agree docs are quick to to diagnose by saying "it's just allergies" I have heard that numerous times and I am sick if it. Yes I realize I have allergies. I have had them for many years. But now my problem has worsened and I now suffer from chronic post nasal drainage which has caused severe pressure in my right ear along with pain. Possibly eustachian tube dysfunction....

I see an ENT next week and I am going to lay it all on him so he checks me thoroughly and I do not just leave his office with nasal spray and allergy meds because they DO NOT work.

I also recently started having anxiety attacks where I get very dizzy and nauseated and I feel like I cannot breathe well. It freaks me out and I have wondered if it could be related to my ear problems. I know the dizziness has to do with the middle ear and my equilibrium. I occasionally have to take nausea/diziness pills prescribed to my by the ER doc.

I understand what you are going through as I live it every day and am on a mission for some relief!