Inner Ear Disorders :: Possible Perilymph Fistula?
My story is as follows: about a month ago, I began having ear pain that would alternate between ears. After a few days of this, the pain settled in my right ear, where I developed both pain and fullness that persisted for about two weeks. My ear constantly had the sensation that it needed to "pop," such as what one experiences when on an airplane. I went to my GP after a week of these sensations, who told me that it was likely Eustachian Tube Dysfunction and that it would resolve soon. She prescribed decongestants, antihistamines, and a steroid nasal spray. I took Sudafed and Allegra (but not the spray, as I am scared of steroids) but they did not seem to help.
Well, in the meantime, my blocked ear was annoying the crap out of me, so I decided to go online and look for some home remedies to try. One thing that I found was something called the Valsalva maneuver, in which you close your mouth, pinch your nose and blow out against closed airways to unblock the ear. I tried this several times over the course of a few days in attempts to get my ear to unblock. Most times it was difficult to get the right ear to "pop," and even when it did, it did not alleviate my symptoms.
Shortly after trying this maneuver, however, I read that the Valsalva maneuver can actually DAMAGE your inner ear and cause a perilymph fistula if done too forcefully. (I don't think I did it too forcefully, but I can't be sure.) Learning this sent me into a panic, and ever since, I have been experiencing a vague, constant dizziness that lasts all day. I have had trouble focusing my eyes and it feels, at times, like my brain is being sucked up and out of my skull (sorry). In the meantime, the sensation of fullness and pain in my right ear has improved greatly, but I am still being plagued by this constant dizziness. This dizziness has been present for a full week now. I have no sensitivity to loud noises, no hearing loss, and no episodes of vertigo. I do have a bit of wooziness when I am a passenger in a car, and I have felt extremely, unnaturally ill and fatigued throughout this ordeal. For those of you who have had PLF, does this sound like it could be a possible PLF? Is it even likely that I acquired a PLF after performing the Valsalva Maneuver?
Thank you so much for your help. I am hoping and praying that this dizziness is a fluke and not related to a PLF or inner ear damage, but the possibility scares the ****** out of me, regardless. I have had an extremely stressful year between losing my job, acquiring a crippling hip injury, and dealing with a host of other health issues, and the possibility of chronic dizziness is not something I feel capable of dealing with at this point.
Perilymph Fistula :: Is There Any Surgery?
Anyone out there had this surgery? I'm in week 3 and wondering what to expect going forward.
View 3 RepliesPerilymph Fistula - Surgery Or Not?
To cut a long story short - mid August 2014 I did a sinus rinse for chronically blocked sinuses. It went very wrong and I ended up with water trapped in my left middle ear. It didn't come out by itself and the pain and pressure was getting too much. I saw a GP and we agreed on using a nasal balloon to equalise the ears and try to get the water out. I also tried a few valsalva actions.
One day (first week of September), I was using the balloon when I felt a painful loud click in my right ear. This is where my real problems started.
I now deal with: constant tinnitus in right ear, dizziness, vertigo, some nausea, really bad head pressure, auras, vibrations and buzzy feelings throughout body, deep pain in ear - can almost feel blood or fluid in right ear.
Saw GP and it is a suspected Perilymph Fistula of the round window in the inner ear. I am seeing an ENT privately, hopefully in the next 2 weeks. Thing is, I am in England, UK and I am worried that they don't really deal with PLFs. Then I will be stuffed!
I am currently doing as much bed rest as I can as I read online this is best at this stage. I am however very very worried about what has happened. I am worried about leaking CSF fluid too. I certainly have enough head pressure.
Can this really heal with bed rest or do I need surgery? Also, I am scared about my tinnitus getting worse with surgery. Anyone who has had PLF repair surgery, what was the outcome? Did your tinnitus get worse or better in the end? Did the head pressure go? Has anyone recovered just with bed rest?
ENT :: Perilymph Fistula Or Middle Ear Fluid?
I was hoping for some advice on a problem that I've had for 3 years. My main problem has been on and off vertigo and imbalance, however I don't think I have rotational vertigo because most of the time I just feel like inside my head is spinning? It also feels as if the ground is sinking beneath me.
Dizziness started 3 years ago, about 2 months after a serious bout of the flu which took months to recover from. At the time my ears were extremely blocked and I would do the Valsalva maneuver to help unclog my ears. It wasn't until now that I discovered you aren't supposed to do that? Anyway my dizziness was consistent 24/7 for nearly 1 year, at which time my symptoms seemed to disappear. As of April this year my symptoms returned.
Over the years I have been to numerous GP's, ENT's, neurologist, and all of which were unsure of what was going on. Most of them have said they don't believe it's Meniere's disease. My main GP said I DIDN'T have fluid in my middle ears, however since then 2 GP's have both confirmed that I DO.
Current symptoms:
Brain fog
Dizziness/vertigo
My ears feel wet in the morning. Not enough to wet pillow
Tinnitus in both ears, slightly more prominent on the left side
Fatigue
Difficulty concentrating/problems with memory
Tingling/electric shock feeling on left side of scalp behind left ear
Anxiety
GERD and gastritis
A couple of things seem to exacerbate these symptoms, such as anxiety, hot and humid weather, having a hot shower (I now have to have cold showers, before I would have to sit down), menstrual cycle.
So I am pretty convinced that I either have a perilymph fistula or middle ear fluid. I have been using Nasonex for a couple of months which seemed to improve symptoms but now I am starting to feel worse again. My now current GP has suggested Ventilation tubes/grommets, however if I actually have a perilymph fistula will this improve symptoms or not have any benefit at all? I also have been prescribed SERC but I do not think it will help, as 2 years ago I took it and it made my symptoms WORSE.
I am wondering if I may have damaged my ears years ago when I had the flu by constantly trying to pop my ears. I have been allergy tested for Molds, grass, pet dander and dust mites, all negative. I have also been tested for MS which was negative, and all the routine blood tests etc. MRI showed I have a mid-septal deviation (my nose isn't straight) and previously enlarged adenoids, but apparently was of no clinical significance.
Perilymph Fistula Recurrence 24 Years Later
In the spring of 1990 after a chronic right middle ear infection, I began having bad vertigo, nausea, and disequilibrium problems. I saw the ENT recommended by my PCP and after testing that came back normal was scheduled for exploratory surgery. A perilymph fistula was visualized and patched. Recovery was normal with some slight dizziness continuing for a few months and then resolving. Postoperative testing revealed no loss of hearing from the surgery and I was released from care to resume normal life.
Fast forward to March 2014, severe disequilibrium, tinnitus, and noticeable hearing loss brought me back to the same ENT (A relief, as he remembers me as being his only visually confirmed PLF) Testing showed hearing in the right ear normal but not as good as the unaffected left ear, other testing showed a possible recurrence of a PLF in the the same ear (right). I am scheduled for surgery on April 30, 2014.
There was nothing during this time that would account for the fistula to recur, no heavy lifting, head trauma, air travel, upper respiratory illness, etc. He feels that I may have a predisposition to increased pressure in my inner ear that causes the fistula to recur. Has anyone heard of this? And, if so, why would it take 24 years to happen again?
Perilymph Fistula - Progressive Hearing Loss
Though I am actually considering that I have something called basilar migraines, which in many ways can mimic fistulas, I want to make sure that there is no chance of small bilateral fistulas in my ears.
Essentially, I have had progressive hearing loss for 11 months now, along with a number of other symptoms that began to flare up in August. I have a history of 3 separate acoustic traumas that occurred earlier last year, and I have heard that under extraordinary circumstances acoustic traumas can cause fistulas at the oval window.
My triggers have included loudish noise above 80 decibels, middle ear pressure changes from flying on an airplane or wearing earplugs, strenuous exercise, lifting heavy objects, and clenching my teeth too hard at one point (I was angry).
Most times when I have an extended exposure to any of these factors, I am usually left with a small degree of permanent bilateral hearing loss. I am also often left with dizziness/imbalance symptoms, rocking boat vertigo, roaring or very high pitched tinnitus, parathesia in my hands and feet, pressure headaches that start at the temples and migrate to the sinuses, pressure behind my eyes and occasional aura, hyperacusis, middle ear myoclonus (muscle fluttering), feelings of cold liquid deep in my ears, and on a few occasions, a fuzzy lightheaded feeling that makes me feel I am going to pass out.
Many of these symptoms resolve, but some, like the vertigo and ear fullness, often stay around long term and present in daily episodes.
Do these sound like familiar symptoms to anyone who has (or has had) a PLF? Please do let me know of any similar experiences! Am on the verge of needing hearing aids, so I am trying to get to the root of the problem as soon as possible.
Vertigo / Dizziness :: Head Concussion Possible Perilymph Fistula?
Around ten years ago I was the victim of a violent crime in which the back of my head hit the cement hard enough to crack the base of my skull in which the doctors said I had brain fluid leaking and caused black eyes, and cause me to lose consciousness. At the time blood was leaking out of my left year. For months after the injury I was very dizzy, ears feel full,had terrible tinnitus and have lost hearing in my left ear only. Eventually the dizziness went away but not the hearing loss or tinnitus. Since the injury I will have times when I "trigger" these same symptoms I had directly after my head injury. If I for example run, jog, look up or down for long periods of times, cough hard, sneeze hard, or basically jar by body in any way. I've been to many doctors who have prescribed many medications mostly to treat migraines and have also been told that they believe it is migraines. Nothing has ever worked. Bed rest and keeping still seems to be the only thing that helps but can take anywhere from a day, to a month to be able to function without symptoms again. This is ruining my life and my career is suffering. I seem to forget things easy and have trouble focusing which was never a problem before my injury. I am ready to be over this and have my life back. Please, anyone with any suggestions or have had these symptoms please help me. Oh and I've also had a few MRIs over these 10 years to rule out brain injuries and Acoustic Neuroma which all came back negative. There are more symptoms not as consistent but these are the usual when I have an "episode.
View 1 RepliesInner Ear Disorders :: Perilymph Fistula - Similar Symptoms To Meniere's
I am diagnosed Meniere's but suspecting that I may have Perilymph Fistula....very similar symptoms to Meniere's but cause by trauma-induced leakage of the inner ear.
View 2 RepliesALIF Surgery :: Share Your Experience
I am finally on my way to getting a long awaited L4-L5 Fusion. My doc decided on ALIF due to my previous L4/L5 Laminectomy (2003) creating a lot of scar tissue. That surgery was done posterior and it would not be a good thing to reopen the same L/4 area. I am relieved that this fusion is finally being done. My disc is about 98% gone and I deal with bone on bone pain daily in addition to bone spurs and osteoarthritis. However, I tolerate it pretty well. In addition to the L4/L5 issue, I also have 2 herniations in my neck and another few in my mid back. But these are secondary to my initial problem and need to take care of this fusion first and foremost. I read a lot of negatives about fusions on this board, but I try my best to think positively. Everyone is different and not every situation is similar. My plan is to help anyone I can with my experience and give support. I will try to post my progress after surgery. If anyone had recently (2013) had a ALIF fusion on L4/L5, I would like to hear about your experience. This will be a journey that I will not forget and I am planning on making it the best I can given the circumstances.
View 13 RepliesPregnancy :: Being Induced - Anyone To Share Experience?
Any stories anyone would like to share about this topic? A little nervous but excited I'll be having him Oct 1st!!
View 6 RepliesCervical Spondylosis Explored - Share Your Experience
I wanted to open a new discussion, to allow some space for those with Cervical Spondylosis (C/S) to simply express their opinions (including my own obviously) on how they think the C/S dynamics, and its progress over time actually results in the changeable symptoms they experience. I have my own ideas about how it all combines to produce the daily struggle we endure, but I'm also aware that opinions differ, and it might be a wise thing to do to consider other opinions, so that I get a more balanced overview. Same for everyone, I suppose.
I've had C/S a long time, over 30 years, and I've many of the different phases that are common to posters on this site, and other sites. One thing that strikes me is that most posters are in different phases of the condition, and although sympathy/empathy are nice things, they don't quite get into the area of finding or sharing suitable solutions for those differing experiences. What seems to be missing is a general overview, common to all, and acceptable to all, which would give a foundation to build suitable solutions upon. Some might even think that there are no solutions, except possibly medications or surgery....but, I personally, disagree with that, because I reckon that those possible but risky solutions are only relevant to certain grades of C/S.
The one thing that really stands out for me, after experiencing many different types of C/S phases, is that reasonable manageability always seems to return after difficult phases, and I'm inclined to ask questions about that because that is not a common feature of many other chronic conditions. It's like a rollercoaster effect, which in turn plays a bit of havoc with our expectations, and with our default settings for just getting by with the least possible disruption. It adds to the overall problem, by introducing a mindset that can't predict tomorrow's issues. Also, I think that just adds to an undermining of the decisions we might want to make in the present moment, decisions which might affect how tomorrow actually does evolve.
Just going back to the issue of 'phases' which pass, I've come round to seeing that as an attempted 'corrective' dynamic, whereby most of the symptoms we experience probably result from reactions to threats of nerve compression, and that those same symptoms have little to do with bone degeneration except in the sense that the threat to nerves wouldn't happen if there weren't any bone degeneration. I realise that some people with C/S have an underlying arthritic condition which increases degenerative rates, and thus increases symptom potential, but I still think it makes sense that symptoms result from threats to nerves rather than from spinal degeneration (although one causes the other, and the other causes the symptoms). By that definition, I think it's possible that even where there is serious degeneration, it doesn't necessarily mean the symptoms will get worse....unless there is accompanying increase of threat to nerves. Make sense ?
Fibromyalgia What You Have To Share?
For the past year I have had what appears to be fibromyalgia. I have had bad luck getting info from doctors so I am wondering what others who have a diagnosis might share.
View 14 RepliesFrozen Shoulder :: Age / Jobs And Lifestyles - Share Your Experiences?
Hi all just thought I would try and get us all together; to see who we are how we got here, how many there are of us; our ages , jobs lifestyle etc to try and find any plausible link to what we are going through..
I have just turned 48, i live in Norfolk, UK.
I think I am starting to go through the change in life with the dreaded hot flushes and lack of menstrual cycle. I have had frozen shoulder since Oct 15, although I believe my first diagnosis was rotator cuff injury ? I had not had any injury to my shoulder, just a bucket load of stress prior to the onset ??
I would consider myself healthy, with a good diet, I drink occasionally and do not smoke. I am a senior support worker, I do use a computer daily...., and I probably did not exercise as much as I should have.
There is history of FS in my family and arthritis?
This forum has kept me sane (thank you all).. I believe I am now FROZEN, movement is restricted and the pain;although still there is more bearable. I still need the comfort of my heat mat and I have found a TENS machine works well , I have also started Trigger Point Therapy which is helping: I am also sleeping a little better although 8 hours sleep is a very distant memory ! Anyway I'm rambling now my idea for this discussion was bullet points to try and find a connection ; so I've blown that already anyway if you want to respond.
Mucosal / Rectal Prolapse Share The Same Symptoms As Piles / Hemorrhoids?
I'm a 32 year old male and I have had a Mucosal Prolapse for about 10 years.
A bit of history:
When I was around 22 (2004) I used to suffer from itchiness and the occasion leakage from my back passage, I put up with this for 4 years until I started noticing blood the toilet paper, this prompted a visit to the doctors who at the time was a stand in Doctor and he diagnosed me with a anal polyp.
I received a letter a few days later saying that he wanted to get it checked out by a specialist and have for me to have a colonoscopy, the colonoscopy came back all clear only for doctor to say it was a prolapse. I refused further treatment because I couldn't bear the thought of having an operation on my anus. So I managed the condition by changing my wiping technique and using wet wipes instead of dry toilet paper, this helped massively.
Fast forward four more years and in 2012 I had a normal bowl movement, and when I went to wipe there was quite a bit of blood, I headed off to the Doctors again (different Doctor), had an examination and he diagnosed a mucosal prolapse and said bleeding is part of the symptoms etc...
Over the past few years until last week, I had been managing things well, only the occasional spot of blood on the toilet paper until last Monday when I went for bowel movement and had a fair bit of bright red blood on the toilet paper along with streaks on the stool, this worried me but I put it down to my Prolapse, Tuesday was the same and then the rest of the week up to Last night were ok, last night I had had a few beers and felt the urge to go, which I did, and because I was anxious about seeing blood i had to strain to get it out, this was followed by the most blood I have had while having a prolapse, the bright red blood was dripping into the toilet and covering the paper, after about 3 - 5 minutes it stopped, and there was no blood at all, I have since had a bowl movement with no blood.
A few questions answers to questions you may ask.
My bowl movements had been normal up to the latest episode last Tuesday, then my anxiety set in...
The blood is bright red, I have had 1 occasion when the blood is on my stool.
My stools are normal looking with no visible blood inside.
I have no pain when passing a stool, only a slight stinging occasionally just inside my rectum.
I went to the Doctors last Wednesday and he felt no lumps on examination. He did acknowledge my prolapse and gave me a slip to get some anusol cream..
My Questions.
Does anyone else have the same condition?
Can alcohol make you bleed more? as last night I bled more than ever and felt a little drunk.
Does a Mucosal Prolapse share the same symptoms as piles?
Fistula Between The Urethra And Anus?
What can cause a fistula between the urethra and anus
View 1 RepliesRectal Fistula Diagnosed Via Colonoscopy
I have had a rectal fistula diagnosed via colonoscopy. I have zero problems with it and would not have known I had it. From the operative report:
"midline anal fistula which was superficial with minimal amount of muscle involved within the fistula".
The surgeon said it should be fixed.
Why can't I just leave it alone? Do these ever go away on their own?
Prostatitis - Fistula Can Lead To Cancer?
Now 22 , at the age of 13 , i started to have urination difficulties , standing in front of the toilet for about an hour , feeling the urge to urinate even though i know at the same time that my bladder is almost empty and finally a drop or two come , it continued for about a year then it was gone , for the last three years i have been having the habit of excessive masturbation ( sometimes 4 times per day ) , most of the time i go directly into sleep after masturbation , and as result the usual need to urinate after masturbation is suppressed and the urine is retained till i woke whereas i feel its reflux in the ureter , during this period whenever i go to sleep with full bladder ( regardless after masturbation or not ) , the urge to empty my bladder never woke me up , but what came up recently that i started to drink half liter of beer before i go into sleep directly every night for the last 3 days , yesterday i felt my prostate hard as rock , this sensation is mild so far , it is expressed more when i sit on something hard or try to urinate , now today this morning when masturbated after 2 days of cutting masturbation off , this mild sensation became to increase , then afterward masturbation when i try empty my bladder i felt more pain and couldn't pass urine , when i tried about 2 hours later , i managed to do it hardly after i tried to strain my bladder , whereas during these 2 hours i felt urine retention but with much less of the natural urge which drive you to the bathroom but i still feel the pain of reflux at up the ureters , the one thing which is so clear , that my pain is expressed from the prostate as hardening or feeling it like a rock , with mild sensation of burning . Also i think it is important to mention that at the age of 15 i got " pilonidal sinus " and underwent surgery to remove it but , i stopped checking it for the last 5 years and i have been feeling it pain coming back for about a year or more , but i ignored it , whereas i am referring that i may have a case of prostatitis with infection originated from the fistula , i also doubt it may be prostate cancer , even i know the chances of having it at such age is almost nil , this is why i am thinking to take the test of " PSA "
View 5 RepliesBowel Disorder :: Anal Fistula Recurrence
So I have had an issue with fissures in the past, due to being on pain meds for pancreatitis for months and cooccurrent constipation. I have already had one surgery to heal the fissure, and it seemed to work. So when I started have that same burning pain when I had a BM I assumed that was what it was. I became really used to it, and it went on for a LONG time. Flash forward to now. I noticed a couple weeks back what looked like pus on my toilet paper when I wiped after urinating, and was freaked out. I pushed on the area near my anus and more pus came out. I assumed my fissure got infected somehow and left it alone. It happened again, this time I was home so I grabbed a hand mirror and looked down there. I saw a bloody spot that was leaking blood slowly about 1 inch from my anus, and I freaked out. I had NO idea what it was, so I googled it and looks like it may be a fistula. It seems to "close up" and go away for a while, then I can smell something and when I go the bathroom I am leaking a little bit of blood/pus from the hole. Seems to happen randomly, its opening doesn't seem to have any correlation with when I have a BM and BM's aren't bloody typically. I have been using anti bacterial soap down there frequently now and I can feel what feels like a ridge under the skin running from the hole to my anus if that makes any sense?
I am completely embarrassed. I am 28 years old and a female, someone who doesn't even leave the house without makeup and this situation is so bad. It smells, I feel like I smell 24/7 (nobody has mentioned it but I feel like I do) and I am almost too embarrassed to go to the doctor. Doesn't help that I am overweight, and though I am meticulously clean (I even use a bidet) I feel like somehow the doctor will judge me as a gross fat girl.
Crohn's Disease :: Fistula With Cutting Seton
I had a high transsphincteric fistula (multiple abscesses). CRS placed a cutting seton with fistulotomy in July. CRS told me that the seton would be in prob 4-6 weeks. It is now 8 weeks later, new CRS (first one moved), told me that he doesn't use these much as they are not tolerated well and that he thinks he will have to go back in and tighten it as it is not advancing. He says this is/can be a long process. Now I am to go back in several weeks to finalize new plan. Problem is, after surgery, I had Augmentin. The fistula track was not draining like it was supposed to and I got another abscess... after the fistulotomy and seton placement. CRS gave me Augmentin which I'm not sure really helped. So, I got a total body rash from the augmentin. I lasted 5 weeks before I was so miserable that I finally took oral steroids from Dermatologist with CRS approval. After I did two weeks of steroids, which helped tremendously, the rash came right back. Derm subsequently gave me a new prescription for prednisone (for one month taper!) and told me that it is a rebound rash after I stopped steroids. CRS says he won't do next surgery until I am off of prednisone for several weeks. Do I take the prednisone? or try to power thru the rash and not tear off my skin? How long will this next seton take to cut thru? wonder if it will get "stuck" midway too? More tightening procedures? Oh.. what to do?
View 1 Replies