I've had a clogged left year for two years now, and have not had a single day where it went away (not a minute!). If I do a valsava maneuver (breath out through the nose while you hold it) As you can imagine, I am going crazy! I don't remember what it's like to not have a clogged left ear.
My hearing test was completely normal except for very slight hearing loss in the LOW audio range. It was about 10% conductive loss. My ENG showed a significant decrease in vestibular response in my left ear.
I do not have any dizziness nor vertigo. No tinitis either... just a full left ear. On occasion, the right ear fills a little, but nothing like the left ear.
Pressing on some points right under my left ear makes the "fullness" worse, as well as my neck. There's always a slight pain in my neck.
I went to the House Ear clinic which is supposedly one of the most renowned out there. I saw two doctors there - one said I had menieres amd one said I had a fistula in my left ear. The CT scan did not show one and although it is possible there is one not visible with CT, it is rare - and the doctor suggested I get exploratory surgery! However in both cases, the doctors did not seem interested at all in my ear reaction to pressing on my neck or underneath my ear. I wonder if it might be a nerve pain.
Another ENT suggested it could be Eustachian Tube Dysfunction; COMPLETELY different than the first two!! I wonder if ETD could cause a seemingly permanent stuffed sensation.
So the one thing that really concerns me is that it never, ever goes away.
Does anyone have suggestions? I would appreciate anything!
Oh.... and if you know a good doctor in the LA area, please let me know. Hopefully it won't be one I already saw!!
> I've had a clogged left year for two years now, and have not had a > single day where it went away (not a minute!). If I do a valsava > maneuver (breath out through the nose while you hold it) As you can > imagine, I am going crazy! I don't remember what it's like to not have > a clogged left ear.
> My hearing test was completely normal except for very slight hearing > loss in the LOW audio range. It was about 10% conductive loss. My ENG > showed a significant decrease in vestibular response in my left ear.
> I do not have any dizziness nor vertigo. No tinitis either... just a > full left ear. On occasion, the right ear fills a little, but nothing > like the left ear.
> Pressing on some points right under my left ear makes the "fullness" > worse, as well as my neck. There's always a slight pain in my neck.
> I went to the House Ear clinic which is supposedly one of the most > renowned out there. I saw two doctors there - one said I had menieres > amd one said I had a fistula in my left ear. The CT scan did not show > one and although it is possible there is one not visible with CT, it > is rare - and the doctor suggested I get exploratory surgery! However > in both cases, the doctors did not seem interested at all in my ear > reaction to pressing on my neck or underneath my ear. I wonder if it > might be a nerve pain.
> Another ENT suggested it could be Eustachian Tube Dysfunction; > COMPLETELY different than the first two!! I wonder if ETD could cause > a seemingly permanent stuffed sensation.
Yes, it certainly can. A clogged Eustachian tube will progress till it reaches the inner ear.
Well, this is a sinusitis NG, so I will tell you that an awful lot of inner ear problems turn out to be manifestations of sinus problems--or at least sharing a common cause like allergy or sensitivity to smog.
Have you had a complete CT scan of your sinuses?
-- Steven L. Email: sdlit...@earthlinkNOSPAM.net Remove the NOSPAM before replying to me.
> JayDee wrote: > > Hello. Thanks for reading this.
> > I've had a clogged left year for two years now, and have not had a > > single day where it went away (not a minute!). If I do a valsava > > maneuver (breath out through the nose while you hold it) As you can > > imagine, I am going crazy! I don't remember what it's like to not have > > a clogged left ear.
> > My hearing test was completely normal except for very slight hearing > > loss in the LOW audio range. It was about 10% conductive loss. My ENG > > showed a significant decrease in vestibular response in my left ear.
> > I do not have any dizziness nor vertigo. No tinitis either... just a > > full left ear. On occasion, the right ear fills a little, but nothing > > like the left ear.
> > Pressing on some points right under my left ear makes the "fullness" > > worse, as well as my neck. There's always a slight pain in my neck.
> > I went to the House Ear clinic which is supposedly one of the most > > renowned out there. I saw two doctors there - one said I had menieres > > amd one said I had a fistula in my left ear. The CT scan did not show > > one and although it is possible there is one not visible with CT, it > > is rare - and the doctor suggested I get exploratory surgery! However > > in both cases, the doctors did not seem interested at all in my ear > > reaction to pressing on my neck or underneath my ear. I wonder if it > > might be a nerve pain.
> > Another ENT suggested it could be Eustachian Tube Dysfunction; > > COMPLETELY different than the first two!! I wonder if ETD could cause > > a seemingly permanent stuffed sensation.
> Yes, it certainly can. A clogged Eustachian tube will progress till it > reaches the inner ear.
> Well, this is a sinusitis NG, so I will tell you that an awful lot of > inner ear problems turn out to be manifestations of sinus problems--or > at least sharing a common cause like allergy or sensitivity to smog.
> Have you had a complete CT scan of your sinuses?
> -- > Steven L. > Email: sdlit...@earthlinkNOSPAM.net > Remove the NOSPAM before replying to me.- Hide quoted text -
> - Show quoted text -
I had one done in the doctor's office (so I'm not sure HOW complete that is, but it was a doctor at a very reputable hospital) and the one thing they found was a moderately deviated septum. As a probably result of that, my nose is generally more stuffed on the left side, which is the same side the ear feels full on. As a non-doctor, it seems logical these would be connected - I just have a feeling that the doctors that were quick to diagnose with inner ear problems (despite the total lack of vertigo or dizziness) went totally on the result of the ENG - i just wanted to know that there IS A chance that one can have an abnormal ENG as i described above caused by something much less serious and much easier fixed. So could it really be the deviated septum and ETD?
JayDee wrote: > On Oct 26, 6:49 am, "Steven L." <sdlit...@earthlink.net> wrote: >> JayDee wrote: >>> Hello. Thanks for reading this. >>> I've had a clogged left year for two years now, and have not had a >>> single day where it went away (not a minute!). If I do a valsava >>> maneuver (breath out through the nose while you hold it) As you can >>> imagine, I am going crazy! I don't remember what it's like to not have >>> a clogged left ear. >>> My hearing test was completely normal except for very slight hearing >>> loss in the LOW audio range. It was about 10% conductive loss. My ENG >>> showed a significant decrease in vestibular response in my left ear. >>> I do not have any dizziness nor vertigo. No tinitis either... just a >>> full left ear. On occasion, the right ear fills a little, but nothing >>> like the left ear. >>> Pressing on some points right under my left ear makes the "fullness" >>> worse, as well as my neck. There's always a slight pain in my neck. >>> I went to the House Ear clinic which is supposedly one of the most >>> renowned out there. I saw two doctors there - one said I had menieres >>> amd one said I had a fistula in my left ear. The CT scan did not show >>> one and although it is possible there is one not visible with CT, it >>> is rare - and the doctor suggested I get exploratory surgery! However >>> in both cases, the doctors did not seem interested at all in my ear >>> reaction to pressing on my neck or underneath my ear. I wonder if it >>> might be a nerve pain. >>> Another ENT suggested it could be Eustachian Tube Dysfunction; >>> COMPLETELY different than the first two!! I wonder if ETD could cause >>> a seemingly permanent stuffed sensation. >> Yes, it certainly can. A clogged Eustachian tube will progress till it >> reaches the inner ear.
>> Well, this is a sinusitis NG, so I will tell you that an awful lot of >> inner ear problems turn out to be manifestations of sinus problems--or >> at least sharing a common cause like allergy or sensitivity to smog.
>> Have you had a complete CT scan of your sinuses?
>> -- >> Steven L. >> Email: sdlit...@earthlinkNOSPAM.net >> Remove the NOSPAM before replying to me.- Hide quoted text -
>> - Show quoted text -
> I had one done in the doctor's office (so I'm not sure HOW complete > that is, but it was a doctor at a very reputable hospital) and the one > thing they found was a moderately deviated septum. As a probably > result of that, my nose is generally more stuffed on the left side, > which is the same side the ear feels full on. As a non-doctor, it > seems logical these would be connected - I just have a feeling that > the doctors that were quick to diagnose with inner ear problems > (despite the total lack of vertigo or dizziness) went totally on the > result of the ENG - i just wanted to know that there IS A chance that > one can have an abnormal ENG as i described above caused by something > much less serious and much easier fixed. So could it really be the > deviated septum and ETD?
Yep, could be.
CT scans are known to have about a 5% rate of false negatives--they fail to pick up pockets of infection. That happened to me.
So you might have a pocket of infection somewhere that is feeding infection into the Eustachian Tube.
I assume you've already tried multiple courses of antibiotics???
-- Steven L. Email: sdlit...@earthlinkNOSPAM.net Remove the NOSPAM before replying to me.
From the article I mentioned, Chronic sinusitis: symptoms versus CT scan findings Michael G. Stewart and Romaine F. Johnson:
Conclusion There were few studies in the past year that explicitly addressed symptom severity and CT scan findings in patients with chronic sinusitis. The two studies reporting new data found partially conflicting results, with one study finding no association and another study finding some areas of potential association. The studies used different methodologies, and both evaluated the presence or absence of symptoms rather than symptom severity. However, the article that found some correlation between symptoms and CT scan findings did not use a validated symptom instrument or a validated CT staging system. Other reports on the subject were review articles or were on related subjects, and most concluded that the presence of symptoms and CT scan findings are both important components in the evaluation of sinusitis but that there is little correlation between those findings.
References and recommended reading Papers of particular interest, published within the annual period of review, have been highlighted as: • Of special interest •• Of outstanding interest 1 Lanza DC, Kennedy DW: Adult rhinosinusitis defined. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1997, 117:S1–S7. •• 2 Hwang PH, Irwin SB, Griest SE, et al.: Radiologic correlates of symptombased diagnostic criteria for chronic rhinosinusitis. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2003, 128:489–496. This prospective study uses the Task Force definition of chronic rhinosinusitis and compares that with CT scan findings. The CT scan is a poor predictor of the presence of chronic sinusitis, if symptom criteria are used for the diagnosis. •• 3 Pruna X: Morpho-functional evaluation of osteomeatal complex in chronic sinusitis by coronal CT. Eur Radiol 2003, 13:1461–1468. This prospective study compares CT findings with the presence of symptoms and finds few associations between anatomic abnormalities and sinusitis but does find that patients with more symptoms have increased mucosal thickening, among other findings. 4 Bachert C, Hormann K, Mosges R: An update on the diagnosis and treatment of sinusitis and nasal polyposis. Allergy 2003, 58:176–191. 5 Okuyemi KS, Tsue TT: Radiologic imaging in the management of sinusitis. Am Fam Physician 2002, 66:1882–1886. 6 Dhiwakar M, Thakar A, Bahadur S, et al.: Preoperative diagnosis of allergic fungal sinusitis. Laryngoscope 2003, 113:688–694. 7 Skoulas IG, Helidonis E, Kountakis SE: Evaluation of sinusitis in the intensive
> From the article I mentioned, Chronic sinusitis: symptoms versus CT > scan findings > Michael G. Stewart and Romaine F. Johnson:
> Conclusion > There were few studies in the past year that explicitly > addressed symptom severity and CT scan findings in > patients with chronic sinusitis. The two studies reporting > new data found partially conflicting results, with one > study finding no association and another study finding > some areas of potential association. The studies used > different methodologies, and both evaluated the presence > or absence of symptoms rather than symptom severity. > However, the article that found some correlation > between symptoms and CT scan findings did not use a > validated symptom instrument or a validated CT staging > system. Other reports on the subject were review articles > or were on related subjects, and most concluded that the > presence of symptoms and CT scan findings are both > important components in the evaluation of sinusitis but > that there is little correlation between those findings.
> References and recommended reading > Papers of particular interest, published within the annual period of review, > have been highlighted as: > • Of special interest > •• Of outstanding interest > 1 Lanza DC, Kennedy DW: Adult rhinosinusitis defined. Otolaryngol Head > Neck Surg 1997, 117:S1–S7. > •• > 2 Hwang PH, Irwin SB, Griest SE, et al.: Radiologic correlates of > symptombased > diagnostic criteria for chronic rhinosinusitis. Otolaryngol Head Neck > Surg 2003, 128:489–496. > This prospective study uses the Task Force definition of chronic > rhinosinusitis and > compares that with CT scan findings. The CT scan is a poor predictor of > the presence > of chronic sinusitis, if symptom criteria are used for the diagnosis. > •• > 3 Pruna X: Morpho-functional evaluation of osteomeatal complex in > chronic sinusitis > by coronal CT. Eur Radiol 2003, 13:1461–1468. > This prospective study compares CT findings with the presence of > symptoms and > finds few associations between anatomic abnormalities and sinusitis but > does find > that patients with more symptoms have increased mucosal thickening, among > other findings. > 4 Bachert C, Hormann K, Mosges R: An update on the diagnosis and treatment > of sinusitis and nasal polyposis. Allergy 2003, 58:176–191. > 5 Okuyemi KS, Tsue TT: Radiologic imaging in the management of sinusitis. Am > Fam Physician 2002, 66:1882–1886. > 6 Dhiwakar M, Thakar A, Bahadur S, et al.: Preoperative diagnosis of > allergic > fungal sinusitis. Laryngoscope 2003, 113:688–694. > 7 Skoulas IG, Helidonis E, Kountakis SE: Evaluation of sinusitis in the > intensive
i appreciate all your replies, but they are not to my question. i did not ask about a CT scan. i said that the doctors were diagnosing me with inner ear problems due to the results of an ENG indicating a reduced vestibular problem in the left ear, despite i do not have any dizziness or vertigo or any other symptoms of inner ear problems. Please check out what I wrote above for more details about what I'm experiencing - I was wondering if the positive ENG (NOT ct) could be caused by something less serious other than an inner ear problem
> JayDee wrote: > > i appreciate all your replies, but they are not to my question. i did > > not ask about a CT scan.
> No, you didn't. But another poster responded with information about C-T > that I thought was worth setting straight. Sorry if you didn't find it > useful.
> i said that the doctors were diagnosing me
> > with inner ear problems due to the results of an ENG indicating a > > reduced vestibular problem in the left ear, despite i do not have any > > dizziness or vertigo or any other symptoms of inner ear problems. > > Please check out what I wrote above for more details about what I'm > > experiencing - I was wondering if the positive ENG (NOT ct) could be > > caused by something less serious other than an inner ear problem
> Jason, I don't know how to answer that. Again, sorry you didn't find > the answer here that you were hoping for.
> Susan
I do appreciate your reply Susan... sorry if it didn't appear that way. It's just such a frustrating thing i've been dealing with as you can imagine. I feel as though doctors have been diagnosing me with inner ear problems solely based on the result of that test and not really paying attention to my symptoms.
To make things even stranger, it seems that when i have a massage therapist work on muscles in my neck, I can actually feel changes inside my ear! she seems to think it might be related to muscles compressing nerves which is starting to make sense considering there is a definite response in my ear when she works over there. i would feel so much better knowing anything (even something like that) could cause a false positive on the eng.
thank you so much for taking the time to read my posts
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