ETD and Tinnitus

coryb

Hi everybody, I am going to start work on Monday and am very worried. Don't know if you all remember me. I had alabyrinthectamy and nerve section more than 3 years ago since my dizziness was bad and my hearing in the ear was basically gone, but I continued to have BAD dizziness problems. And I am no closer to finding a cause since the last time I posted. I am planning on going to see another neurotologist in Houston since I have seen both groups here in San Antonio. But in the meantime, I have to go to work because I am out of money (for insurance). I don't know how I will ever make it like this.

Anyways, I have a couple of questions. First of all, my main neurotoligist said that I had the endolymphatic (sp?) hydrops in my good ear, as did the others that work in his group. However, another independent neurot said I did not have the hydrops becase I don't show low frequency hearing loss (I *do* show a lot of high frequency loss however), my hearing has stabalized (they always tell me it is about the same), and I guess my balance tests and ENG don't show anything in my good ear (I've had quite a few of these in the last year). I also do not have any major spinning vertigo and it is not for only a few hours. I have varying types of dizziness/vertigo that can sometimes last for days. However, one thing that both doctors have now said is that it looks like I do have some sort of eustachian problem. Years ago when I was out of town, I had some problems that when I would swallow, my ear would often plug up and I had to swallow many more times before it would go away. I believe that is when my main neurot put ETD in the medical notes (which I now have). Now a few weeks ago, I got a cold or flu and started having the same problem. Also since several days BEFORE the cold symptoms, I have also had problems with normal sounds, such as normal voices, getting distorted and causing discomfort. I have also had clicking, popping, and discomfort when I swallow for the last several years. So while both of the doctors now have said I have ETD, neither has paid much attention to it as a possible cause of my ongoing balance problem. I even asked my current neurot, but he didn't seem to be concerned about it. I also don't see much information about it around on the net, but I do recall seeing a lot of discussion about it on this board. I have also had tinnitus in this good ear as well. Sometimes I will notice some discomfort in the ear, not really a plugged up thing but more like just sensitivity or something, and then at some point it just starts ringing for about 15-90 seconds. It would also sometimes rings for about a second when I would move my head. So my first question is, how likely is it that ETD could be causing my ongoing vertigo/balance problems and should I continue to pursue this?

My second question is also about tinnitus. After I had my labyrinthectamy/nerve section, I came home and I noticed some really bad tinnitus in that ear they performed surgery on. It was really opressive, and I was having trouble even hearing in my other ear. I had my dad call the doc to find out if he knew what was going on. I don't remember exactly what he said, but I think he said something like something was still plugged up from the surgery. Then I noticed that the tinnitus went away as soon as I turned off my fan or plugged up my good ear. It was as if sound in my good ear created bad tinnitus in my bad ear. This was the first I had ever experienced this, but since I have had this reoccur from time to time. So I am wondering if this is a normal thing for people that have had the surgery I have had and if this is significant in any way.

Thanks,
Cory