EMERGENCY Protocol for Possible Barotrauma after HBOT (Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy)?

Hey everyone, I’m new to tinnitus as of a car accident on June 19th of this year. Hyperacusis ensued, July 18th I woke up with an eeeeee distinctly in my left ear. It has now more or less centralized, but after a recent spike from two MRI’s (neck, brain), I sought HBOT for a viable solution to both this and my extensive post concussion symptoms.

As of my fourth visit, I am feeling this fullness in my RIGHT ear and I feel that I can hear the central tone moreso when I isolate my right ear. When I was in the chamber I noted the difficulty in equalizing pressure; she assured me this is relatively normal and that you just want to avoid pain. However, every specialist to this point has let me down and left me devastated.

Is there an emergency protocol for possible barotrauma? Corticosteroids? I just took Sudafed and while the fullness subsides somewhat with the occasional soft pop, I can’t imagine this getting any worse as I already have to take 17.5mg Ambien in split doses to achieve 6 hours of shitty sleep. Will this subside or should I rush myself to an emergency room for ETD intervention?

Edit: She also assured me I could equalize pressure by closing my nose and blowing out, which worked to equalize the pressure in my left, but not my right.

 

Hi, just read your story. So you got hyperacusis after the accident and tinnitus started a month later, is that correct?

Same story here, car accident end of april 2018, hyperacusis started a few days later and tinnitus a month later, first week of june.

 

Yes, that’s correct. Pretty disheartening to know that you’re here after a whole year and a half =( I’m beginning to think I should spring for the stem cells sooner rather than later but obviously my settlement has not yet landed and there are significant question marks in regards to SC efficacy.

 

Also just a quick update, my right ear is fine. Left ear still the same annoying tinnitus. HBOT did not work in my case.

 

I am still here but my tinnitus improved quiet a lot after a few months and is still improving over longer periods.

Now, I can‘t say with certainty that the car accident started my tinnitus but I think it was at least a factor.

I can‘t help you with the stem cell decision unfortunately.

 

@mrbrightside614 how many HBOT sessions did you have? Was the session for multiple people or was it just you in the chamber? What caused your tinnitus? Within what period did you do the HBOT? 1 week? 1 month? What was the pressure that they used? I have had tinnitus for 22 days due to loud noise. Might start HBOT this Monday. I’m nervous about adding possible symptoms.