- Nov 8, 2015
- 687
- Tinnitus Since
- 4.11.2015
- Cause of Tinnitus
- Still unknown... possibly noise exposure?
@brownbear I tagged you because this may be of interest to you.
So, after having recently experienced another spike and having gone to my family doctor here in Switzerland for some kind of wise words (I dunno why...), she referred me to an ENT here in Landquart, Switzerland.
First impressions of the doctor: know it all, seen it all, bought the T-shirt, I'll dismiss your knowledge.
That said, the whole visit/procedure of diagnosis went quite a bit differently then it did in Canada, where I was in and out within 15 minutes tops, and all I got was a MRI this, X-ray this, and learn to live with it.
He did an examination of the TMJ, ears, nose, throat. He took blood to be analyzed for magnesium and vitamin D levels. He also did an audiogram up to 16'000 Hz as well as a noise sensitivity test, and an ear pressure/reflex test; all in house. See attached audiogram. The bottom lines show the sensitivity test, clearly showing that I'm not a fan of noise. Normal range, from what I remember him saying, is between 120 and 100. Low frequency sensitivity being at 70 dB confirms, to me, my suspicions that it is indeed the low frequencies that are most bothersome to me, which also seem to aggravate my tinnitus the most.
Then I filled out a bunch of questionnaires; the pretty standard forms checking whether you are depressed, and how tinnitus is affecting your life.
We chatted briefly about drugs; I mentioned whether he would be willing to Rx me Klonopin for those times when my tinnitus is unbearable, but he says that since there is no depression, and unless I want to become dependent, that he would not.
We've had a quick chat about Lidocaine IV, however, according to him, they've tried this 20some years ago, and the results were that it did not improve peoples tinnitus symptoms, and any improvements were surely placebo effect. This is contradictory to the reports that I've read to date.
He did offer me a lidocaine nerve treatment, however, which I agreed to and he administered. Basically, there are 4 points around the ear that are injected with lidocaine, in the hopes of freezing nerves, and seeing whether tinnitus improves. Apparently one would know right away. There didn't seem to be a large noticeable difference for me.
I explained to him how since the middle ear infection with otitis media that the tinnitus in my left ear is now louder and has developed a new tone; it is also now more sensitive to noise exposure. His response was that, from what he sees, that the tinnitus didn't get louder, but only my perception of it. I cringed at that answer. I know it's bullshit. I'm sure @brownbear can attest to this, now being an ENT with first hand experience of this shit fuck bullshit tinnitus.
Moving on; he asked about Ginkgo Biloba, as my family doctor wrote in the referral that she suggested me taking it. I have been taking the supplement now for a month, and just like last time (2 years ago) when I tried it, it didn't show any beneficial effect. Maybe a bit better with the ol balance? I don't know. ENT suggests to discontinue with Ginkgo, as it didn't show any benefit.
He did, however, give me this other supplement to try. It's called relaxane, and is used for nervousness and anxiety. Supposed to calm you down, or something. I'll give it a shot, what could be the worst that will happen..
Lastly, he said, that since the audiogram indicated a sensitivity to noise without any substantial hearing loss that this is usually indicative of a psychological problem, and that I would be the expert in this, and will have to ask myself what it is that is bothering me, and that this would be an area of treatment to be explored (yea i tell you what's bothering me internally... TINNITUS...). He suggests that things like this are usually expressed in dreams, and that I keep a pen and paper handy on my bedside, and if I wake up at night and remember a dream to write it down. I am to bring it with me for my next appointment in 1 weeks time, and he'd go through it with me, and also discuss the lidocaine nerve treatment to see if there were any positive results.
So, this is where I am at now. Certainly, there was more time taken during the visit to this ENT (probably 1 to 1.5 hrs) VS the 15 minutes with the ENT in Canada.
I am, however, disappointed with lack of... I don't know.. empathy (?) by him. As well as the repetitious "Ohh your tinnitus isn't louder, just the way you perceive it".
I do appreciate him taking his time though, and, although I'm not a big believer in the whole psychological cause of tinnitus, I am willing to explore that route, and to dig through my psyche to release the gremlins.
So, after having recently experienced another spike and having gone to my family doctor here in Switzerland for some kind of wise words (I dunno why...), she referred me to an ENT here in Landquart, Switzerland.
First impressions of the doctor: know it all, seen it all, bought the T-shirt, I'll dismiss your knowledge.
That said, the whole visit/procedure of diagnosis went quite a bit differently then it did in Canada, where I was in and out within 15 minutes tops, and all I got was a MRI this, X-ray this, and learn to live with it.
He did an examination of the TMJ, ears, nose, throat. He took blood to be analyzed for magnesium and vitamin D levels. He also did an audiogram up to 16'000 Hz as well as a noise sensitivity test, and an ear pressure/reflex test; all in house. See attached audiogram. The bottom lines show the sensitivity test, clearly showing that I'm not a fan of noise. Normal range, from what I remember him saying, is between 120 and 100. Low frequency sensitivity being at 70 dB confirms, to me, my suspicions that it is indeed the low frequencies that are most bothersome to me, which also seem to aggravate my tinnitus the most.
Then I filled out a bunch of questionnaires; the pretty standard forms checking whether you are depressed, and how tinnitus is affecting your life.
We chatted briefly about drugs; I mentioned whether he would be willing to Rx me Klonopin for those times when my tinnitus is unbearable, but he says that since there is no depression, and unless I want to become dependent, that he would not.
We've had a quick chat about Lidocaine IV, however, according to him, they've tried this 20some years ago, and the results were that it did not improve peoples tinnitus symptoms, and any improvements were surely placebo effect. This is contradictory to the reports that I've read to date.
He did offer me a lidocaine nerve treatment, however, which I agreed to and he administered. Basically, there are 4 points around the ear that are injected with lidocaine, in the hopes of freezing nerves, and seeing whether tinnitus improves. Apparently one would know right away. There didn't seem to be a large noticeable difference for me.
I explained to him how since the middle ear infection with otitis media that the tinnitus in my left ear is now louder and has developed a new tone; it is also now more sensitive to noise exposure. His response was that, from what he sees, that the tinnitus didn't get louder, but only my perception of it. I cringed at that answer. I know it's bullshit. I'm sure @brownbear can attest to this, now being an ENT with first hand experience of this shit fuck bullshit tinnitus.
Moving on; he asked about Ginkgo Biloba, as my family doctor wrote in the referral that she suggested me taking it. I have been taking the supplement now for a month, and just like last time (2 years ago) when I tried it, it didn't show any beneficial effect. Maybe a bit better with the ol balance? I don't know. ENT suggests to discontinue with Ginkgo, as it didn't show any benefit.
He did, however, give me this other supplement to try. It's called relaxane, and is used for nervousness and anxiety. Supposed to calm you down, or something. I'll give it a shot, what could be the worst that will happen..
Lastly, he said, that since the audiogram indicated a sensitivity to noise without any substantial hearing loss that this is usually indicative of a psychological problem, and that I would be the expert in this, and will have to ask myself what it is that is bothering me, and that this would be an area of treatment to be explored (yea i tell you what's bothering me internally... TINNITUS...). He suggests that things like this are usually expressed in dreams, and that I keep a pen and paper handy on my bedside, and if I wake up at night and remember a dream to write it down. I am to bring it with me for my next appointment in 1 weeks time, and he'd go through it with me, and also discuss the lidocaine nerve treatment to see if there were any positive results.
So, this is where I am at now. Certainly, there was more time taken during the visit to this ENT (probably 1 to 1.5 hrs) VS the 15 minutes with the ENT in Canada.
I am, however, disappointed with lack of... I don't know.. empathy (?) by him. As well as the repetitious "Ohh your tinnitus isn't louder, just the way you perceive it".
I do appreciate him taking his time though, and, although I'm not a big believer in the whole psychological cause of tinnitus, I am willing to explore that route, and to dig through my psyche to release the gremlins.
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