Post by cmm on May 11, 2004 17:06:29 GMT -5
Hello all. My name is Craig and I've been experiencing a very strange ear problem for well over a year now. Originally, I was looking at some posts on hyperacusis.net, and was led to this site. I read an earlier post by Cathy ("Hearing ECHOES in my ear when talking and..."), and for the first time ever, I saw someone that had many similar symptoms to my own.
OK, this could get long.. please bear with me.. my problem started over a year ago - out of the blue, I started to notice an "echo" or "pop" noise in my right ear .. this would occur for an instant just after any loud/sharp external noise. Something like a ping pong ball hitting a paddle, or a tool dropping on the floor/etc/etc would cause this effect in my ear - I would hear the noise ok, immediately followed by a short (< 1sec.) "echo"/"pop" or reflex noise in my right ear (left ear is fine)... in response to the loud noise. The louder and sharper the noise - the worse & louder the "pop" response/noise in my ear would be. I was annoyed with it at first, and just tried to tolerate it, hoping it would go away. Months go by, and it starts to get worse.
At some point, even people's voices started to be affect the ear on occasion. Especially louder/low freq. donimated voices (male) ... my right ear would flutter/"flap" in respone to the person's voice as they were talking, even though I could still hear what they were saying. This took the cake. I started to see doctors last May re: this. I've been to over 9 doctors, ENTs & a neurologist for this thing. I've had 2 brain MRIs taken and 1 CT scan of the ear. Nothing was found on those tests. I've had numerous tests.. my hearing tests OK. No other tests I've had have shown anything out of the ordinary.
I live in VT, and have seen a number of local ENTs, and even went to a Dr. @mass. eye & ear who simply diagnosed me as hyperacusic, and suggested I go to a hyperac. & tinnitus clinic (Dr. Jastreboff related..). I went to the one in MD in Jan. 2004 and they ran a bunch of tests. They concluded I did not have "classic" hyperacusis (since I could "tolerate" loud noises across the frequency spectrum). That visit was basically a total waste of my time and $$ ... btw, I saw Susan Gold there(& 1 of their ENTs), and despite the "rave reviews" I saw for her on hyperacusis.net, my experience there (and the treatment I got afterwards) left a LOT to be desired. Like many of the other doctors I have seen, this was the same thing, they don't understand, don't really care, and just want to pass you off. As with the other doctors I saw, lot of "theories" as to what might be wrong, but no solid answers - and no real help for me or my symptoms.
So, here I am now with this problem worse than ever - totally unbearable. Now and for the past few months, every slight noise (ruffle of papers, closing a CD case, dropping a pen on a desk, and people's voices above a whisper) can and usually do cause my right ear to "spaz" as described earlier with that "echo"/"pop" noise, and or fluttering/flap noise in response to a person's voice. I also get the same "pop" noise (or "crackle" type noise) when I swallow, or chew crunchy food, or cough or blow my nose. I even hear that dreaded pop noise if I just grab my earlobe and pull on it. For the past couple months, I've basically been wearing earmuffs all the time around the house to just block it out, and it does help (I wonder if it's worsened things?)
I've tried magnesium, vitamins, gingko biloba - nothing seems to help. The neurologist I saw months ago prescribed trileptal in a low dose, but I never took that because I was afraid of side effects. At this stage, I am willing to try anything, and I have seen posts on here and hyperacusis.net that it has helped some folks, so that gives me some hope for that.
My guess at this point is my problem is a combination of Stapedial Myoclonous and some E-tube issue (??)
I'm thinking of trying acupuncture next. Also, I wanted to ask about the references in other posts here to Manhattan Eye & Ear --> are there (good & caring) ENT specialists there who have dealt successfully w/ problems like Stapedial Myoc. there? If so - who is the best doctor to see there? I will go anywhere and try anything in order to get relief from this problem, which has, for all intents and purposes, destroyed my life as I once knew it. I've become mostly a recluse at this point, sad to say.
Thanks all for the help & advice in advance ... it's much appreciated. God willing, I hope everyone finds the relief they need from these ear problems. Best wishes to all.
OK, this could get long.. please bear with me.. my problem started over a year ago - out of the blue, I started to notice an "echo" or "pop" noise in my right ear .. this would occur for an instant just after any loud/sharp external noise. Something like a ping pong ball hitting a paddle, or a tool dropping on the floor/etc/etc would cause this effect in my ear - I would hear the noise ok, immediately followed by a short (< 1sec.) "echo"/"pop" or reflex noise in my right ear (left ear is fine)... in response to the loud noise. The louder and sharper the noise - the worse & louder the "pop" response/noise in my ear would be. I was annoyed with it at first, and just tried to tolerate it, hoping it would go away. Months go by, and it starts to get worse.
At some point, even people's voices started to be affect the ear on occasion. Especially louder/low freq. donimated voices (male) ... my right ear would flutter/"flap" in respone to the person's voice as they were talking, even though I could still hear what they were saying. This took the cake. I started to see doctors last May re: this. I've been to over 9 doctors, ENTs & a neurologist for this thing. I've had 2 brain MRIs taken and 1 CT scan of the ear. Nothing was found on those tests. I've had numerous tests.. my hearing tests OK. No other tests I've had have shown anything out of the ordinary.
I live in VT, and have seen a number of local ENTs, and even went to a Dr. @mass. eye & ear who simply diagnosed me as hyperacusic, and suggested I go to a hyperac. & tinnitus clinic (Dr. Jastreboff related..). I went to the one in MD in Jan. 2004 and they ran a bunch of tests. They concluded I did not have "classic" hyperacusis (since I could "tolerate" loud noises across the frequency spectrum). That visit was basically a total waste of my time and $$ ... btw, I saw Susan Gold there(& 1 of their ENTs), and despite the "rave reviews" I saw for her on hyperacusis.net, my experience there (and the treatment I got afterwards) left a LOT to be desired. Like many of the other doctors I have seen, this was the same thing, they don't understand, don't really care, and just want to pass you off. As with the other doctors I saw, lot of "theories" as to what might be wrong, but no solid answers - and no real help for me or my symptoms.
So, here I am now with this problem worse than ever - totally unbearable. Now and for the past few months, every slight noise (ruffle of papers, closing a CD case, dropping a pen on a desk, and people's voices above a whisper) can and usually do cause my right ear to "spaz" as described earlier with that "echo"/"pop" noise, and or fluttering/flap noise in response to a person's voice. I also get the same "pop" noise (or "crackle" type noise) when I swallow, or chew crunchy food, or cough or blow my nose. I even hear that dreaded pop noise if I just grab my earlobe and pull on it. For the past couple months, I've basically been wearing earmuffs all the time around the house to just block it out, and it does help (I wonder if it's worsened things?)
I've tried magnesium, vitamins, gingko biloba - nothing seems to help. The neurologist I saw months ago prescribed trileptal in a low dose, but I never took that because I was afraid of side effects. At this stage, I am willing to try anything, and I have seen posts on here and hyperacusis.net that it has helped some folks, so that gives me some hope for that.
My guess at this point is my problem is a combination of Stapedial Myoclonous and some E-tube issue (??)
I'm thinking of trying acupuncture next. Also, I wanted to ask about the references in other posts here to Manhattan Eye & Ear --> are there (good & caring) ENT specialists there who have dealt successfully w/ problems like Stapedial Myoc. there? If so - who is the best doctor to see there? I will go anywhere and try anything in order to get relief from this problem, which has, for all intents and purposes, destroyed my life as I once knew it. I've become mostly a recluse at this point, sad to say.
Thanks all for the help & advice in advance ... it's much appreciated. God willing, I hope everyone finds the relief they need from these ear problems. Best wishes to all.