Trying to Be Positive

Hi all,

I've been reading a lot of posts on this forum over the last 3-4 weeks since I first got my tinnitus.

I've had quite a lot of symptoms with my condition but doctors seem to dismiss all of them.

I've been taking codeine for about 3 years and Ibuprofen on and off for headaches for as long as I can remember.

One night in bed my right ear started to ring intermittently. The following day, nothing. Started again the following night and I woke up with constant T in my right ear. I also had the feeling it was blocked.

I went to the doctors the following day, the nurse practitioner looked in my left ear first and said it was full of wax. Then looked in my right to which she said it looked red and tender. She said it was an ear infection so gave me 5 days of amoxicillin.

Over the 5 days my T disappeared twice, approx 5-6 hours each time but slowly made its way back. By this time it was in both ears. Some times it would be in just one first thing in the morning.

After the 5 days nothing changed so I went back to the doctors and saw a doctor this time. He looked in both ears and said they look fine and that I have ETD. He said give it two months to clear and if not go back

After a couple of days I thought sod this im going back. My ears were started to feel very blocked and hearing was muffled in one ear more than the other. Another doctor said both my ears look wet and red. She gave me otomize ear spray. I was hesitant but thought I'd give it a try.

To my surprise it did seem to work. After a spray my tinnitus would go down to barely noticeable after 10 minutes, and would last 6 hours before returning.
After 4 days this effect started to wear off and my ears were starting to get sore . It also felt that the spray wasnt going in deep enough as they felt very blocked still.

During the week I also noticed that I was smelling strange things. All food smelt burnt, even a glass of water smelled the same way. Still the same today, just not as bad.

I've also been sneezing loads with nothing triggering them.
I went back to doctors yesterday and saw another different doctor, and told her everything. She looked in my ears and said they look infected and also thinks I have ETD. She also sent me for a blood test as she said I look pale I said I always look like this.

She dismissed all the other symptoms and said its all connected and gave me another ear drop. This one is called Gentamicin. It doesn't seem to help at all at the moment, but it has only been my second day today.

Sorry its been a long post but no-one else understands what its like when I tell them.

What do you guys think it could be? Medication caused T or ETD or maybe something else.

 

Welcome to the forum. Since I am not a doctor, I can't give medical opinion on your specific case. Perhaps you contact the doctors at the Doctor's Corner on TT to see if they have any opinion. If not, since two of your doctors said it was related to ETD, then perhaps they know something and if they say if would take months to heal, you may have to wait for it or you can see another doctor for 2nd opinion. ETD is only one of many causes of T. There are many causes which can trigger or aggravate tinnitus including but not limited to drug reaction or side-effects from ototoxic drugs, ear wax build-up, ear or Eustachian tube infection or ETD, ear drum injury, fluid build-up in ears feeling pressured or fullness, sinus infection & congestion especially with a bad cold, TMJ, TTTS, high blood pressure or blood circulation problem, loud noise exposure or acoustic trauma/shock, head trauma & injury, neck injury or muscle problems, hearing loss, Meniere's Decease, barotrauma from sudden change of air pressure such as during landing & taking off on flights especially with blocked nose causing failure to balance the pressure changes, slapping of the ears, deep grief for the loss of loved ones, untreated sleep apnea, extreme, extended stress, anxiety & panic disorder, etc., etc. See if you have any issue with above causes. Good luck God bless.

 

I would stay away from Gentamicin. It's one of the most ototoxic meds out there. More info here.

 

It's late here so I may have missed it, but have you seen an ENT or only general doctors?

At this point, I would skip the general doctors and go to a specialist if I was in your shoes.

 

Here's us another link warning of gentamicin use on patients with perforated eardrums.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC116645/

 

Thanks all. I thought ototoxic ear drops are only dangerous if I had a perforated ear drum, which I do not have.

Im going to go back in a few days if nothing improves and say I want to be referred to ENT. Can they rufuse if they think its a waste of time?

 

I think that depends on your insurance and/or the health care system where you live. I do not need a referral to see specialists, but sometimes I like to ask my general doctor for recommendations.

 

Im in the uk so need to be refered by the GP before seeing a specialist.