What Should I Do? Should I Agree to Having Put Tubes In My Ears?

So I went back to the doctor's today, partly because I am flying and I need diazepam for the flight and also because I wanted a new nasal spray. He looked in my ears again and though he said he couldn't see fluid in one (ironically the worst ear) he said he could still see bubbles in the other. Basically he says to see what happens while I am on holiday (I think he means the warmer weather and not the plane journey) but if it isn't any better after that to ring him and arrange an appointment with an ENT - FINALLY.

I like this doctor, I do, and he is really kind. But I would feel better seeing an ENT. That being said, I am not sure what he can do for me... If I have fluid trapped in my ear it means that there is a blockage, so even if they put tubes in my ears, once they fall out and heal I will be back to square one. Basically this doctor says that to solve the problem permanently my ear has to sort itself - which could take God knows how long.

I am also unsure about whether to have tubes put in because I have read that sometimes the tubes don't help and actually make things worse e.g. more painful, louder etc.

I guess I would like people's opinion's about what I should do. I am going to see the ENT for definite, but I am debating about asking him to wait a while before putting the tubes in to see if this goes on its own. I am only four months in with T and am learning to ignore it. The problem is I KNOW something isn't right with my ears: sometimes they are painful, they get pressured when I am driving and still get bits of pain (that being said, two months ago I used to get daily headaches and plenty of pain from my ears, so something is improving).

What do people think I should do?

 

Any thoughts?

 

If I were you, I'd definitely wait until you see the ENT, if for no other reason, then as a second opinion. But the fact is, when it comes to ears, ENTs can do quite a bit more than general physicians can, and he will have a more informed opinion of what the risks of putting tubes in could be.

So I would wait, but I also know that blocked ears are enough to drive me crazy, so I know waiting would be hard. I hadn't realized that you didn't see an ENT already. did your doctor just never want to give you a referal?

 

He was very confident it would go on it's own, and in fairness done symptoms - headaches, ear pain, slight dizziness - have gone. And he says he can't see fluid in the other ear, which I suppose it a good thing.

Like I said before, after hearing about other people's experiences with ENTs I am not confident about seeing one. I might contact the British Tinnitus Association to see if thru know of a specialist

 

Yeah, I definitely understand your apprehension about seeing an ENT. But I am the type who believes in not leaving any stones un-turned if you can. I think if for no other reason, you should see an ENT just to make sure there isn't anything seriously wrong or on the by chance there is something he can fix. Even if you go and find that there is nothing he can do, at least you've explored that option.

 

You are right; even though I am n

 

You are right; even if he can't help, at least I will know. Even after I see him I might look for another opinion

 

Your problem goes beyond sounds, .. fluid, pressure. etc... I'd go to the ENT.

 

I think its ridiculous they haven't let you see an ent yet. Personally I would feel better if a ENT looked at my ear.

 

Two family practitioners goofed around with me for too long. Or, I let them.
They weren't even close to a treatment let alone any kind of cure.
But that's me.

 

Yes, I don't think my T is caused by noise. I was worried whether it was b/c of music, because I had been listening to music through headphones before I noticed the T. But a week BEFORE the at I had a cold with ear pain. Course I didn't think anything of it until I began to hear the T. And then a doctor finally saw the fluid, though by that point I could hear it in my ear so it wasn't much use.

 

He has been really reluctant to send me to one; he said to me that he would rather wait to see if if would go on it's own (he sees a lot of cases, and usually they go by themselves) because he thinks that poking around in them could do some damage and not help. Still, I think I need to see someone to make sure it is fluid

 

Ive read several stories on here already from people who said they think the pressure from flying with ETD and fluid in their ears made their T worse if not permanent.

 

Personally I dont think you should put tube in I wolud not I have notice improvements in theee 4 month and your right it take time I notice that some time when I breath deep my t stop for a few seconds and and that never happen before so I'm taking it as a good sign have you noticed any positive change in your t



I definitely do not recommend you flying don't make it worst

 

I have asked two doctor's opinions, including doctor Nayler and they both said I should be okay. Can you link me the stories?

 

Doctors opinions are almost useless when it comes to T.
I cant remember which thread it was under but its on here. I think it was a woman actually but they complained of pain in their ears during flight and their T became worse. I remember them saying they regretted ever flying with their ears not being cleared up. After reading it i decided Im not flying any time soon.

 

Are there any other stories that you know of? All the stories I have read say that it can make their T spike but it goes down

 

I am going to ring the BTA for advice about flying; if they say I can go I will go. It is a gamble, but I can't live my life like this. I can't sit inside my room until it goes. I WANT this holiday. I WANT to have fun and forget about T. I WANT and NEED a break. I need to live life or what is the point in being alive?

 

We ALL here want to be back to a normal life and have FUN. No matter where you go your T is not going on a holiday. Personally I would not gamble my T levels if I had fluid in my ears. Getting on a plane when youre ears are already struggling with fluid is simply not a good idea. You could fly and be fine but why risk it. If the change of pressure doesnt effect your ears and T at first, you could easily catch a cold on plane. That would extend your condition and then you have to fly home in a worse situation than you started. Have a holiday in your own city, get out and have fun and a normal life bc no one said you could not. Good luck

 

Doesn't sound like something I'd say to somebody with significant middle ear pressure without further explanation. Perhaps you could post my words in their entirety?

Stephen Nagler

 

Here is the post:

Hi doctor,

I just wanted to ask you whether (in your opinion) I would be okay to fly. I went to my doctor (bearing in mind he is a GP and not a specialist) and he said it was okay. However, I am unsure and wanted to ask your opinion. He still has not referred me to a specialist yet as he hopes if will go away. He looked in my ears and said he cannot see any bubbles if fluid in one now and only a few in the other, which is improvement. He checked my sinuses and I don't think he found anything wrong - he didn't say.

My ears react to pressure when I am driving in a car. As far as I am aware my ears are simply congested which has clogged my eustation tubes, and he reassures me that it should go in time. I just wanted to know whether you thought it would be a good idea.

This is your response:

Folks with tinnitus generally should not have any particular difficulty with air travel. If congested before flight, use nasal sprays and decongestants. To help with pressure, perhaps try EarPlanes. Insert them prior to take-off. Remove them at altitude. Re-insert them at initiation if descent. Remove them when cabin door opens at terminal. For noise when EarPlanes are not inserted, consider noise cancellation headphones. All that said, I personally never use any of it - and I fly a lot. Any exacerbation of tinnitus is usually short-lived.

Dr. Stephen Nagler

Please could you tell me if you now think I should NOT fly @Dr. Nagler. I fly in less than a week and I would like your opinion ASAP

 

I think you should do what I suggested, but *OBVIOUSLY* you should run any suggestions you read on the Internet (including mine) by your own doctor, who knows you and who has examined you. I was writing in generalities about congestion and tinnitus.

smn

 

I went to the doctor a few days ago and I asked him if I should fly. He is a GP and not a specialist. He said I should be fine, but advised keeping mouth open, earplanes I decongestion etc. do you think that I will be alright flying after I had him check?

 

@citigirl13, here's what I think ,,,

Any advice you pick up from the Internet about a healthcare concern is worth little more than you pay for it. Honestly, think about it for a minute. How in the world am I supposed to know if your GP is right or wrong without examining you myself? I think I know a fair bit about tinnitus, but I'm not clairvoyant.

I know you have significant concerns, but I can only speak in generalities.

Stephen Nagler