posted
One symptom that seems to coincide with others when I feel the worst is ear/head pressure. It seems my cognition/coordination and energy to down with this. Also experiencing a lot of spine soreness in the last week, in the mid-spine and sort of radiating out into muscular soreness.
Sometimes the ear pressure seems as though its muffling my hearing and thoughts. Very strange sensation.
Not on abx now. I'm scheduled to go on minocycline, but I've seen literature that says it can cause inner ear ("vestibular") issues. Confused at such reports, but also others that say it is neuro-protective? Some information seems to be conflicting.
Anyway, thinking out loud. Lots of bad symptoms this week and feeling discouraged Posts: 131 | From Neptune, NJ | Registered: Oct 2012
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dbpei
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33574
posted
Hmm, I have had lots of ear and head pressure throughout this illness. I also lost most of my hearing in my left ear before I knew I had lyme disease.
I took minocycline for about 4 months with rifabutin. It may have aggravated my tinnitus a bit, but it did not worsen my other ear or head symptoms. It is known to cross the blood brain barrier. Looking back, it probably did help me. It can cause dizziness and vestibular problems while you are on it. So just be careful.
Have you had any dental problems in the past few years? I just had an infected, root canaled tooth removed due to an infection. I only learned of the infection through a bump in the roof of my mouth (a fistula) that was draining bacteria from the infection in my tooth and jaw bone.
This was building up a lot of pressure and was likely responsible for much of the head pressure I have been feeling. I learned that the roots of this tooth had penetrated into my sinus cavity. I had a lot of pressure and sensations of fluid moving in my head, ears and face.
The doc took a culture of the tooth and bone fragments. Hoping that this might give me a clue as to what we are dealing with.
I can't say for sure it is behind everything, but hoping that over time, as I heal, my symptoms may lessen. Interestingly, the oral surgeon prescribed augmentin for me 2 weeks before the surgery and it seemed to go right for that area like no other ABX had before. I am remaining on it for another couple of weeks unless the culture advises otherwise.
This is just something for you to consider. We have to be such good detectives with this disease.
Posts: 2386 | From New England | Registered: Aug 2011
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Sorry to hear about the head/ear pressure. The ear pressure for me has always been a problem - both early in my Lyme problems and also as it flares up.
I have had some relief by using regular nasal irrigation (neti pot, etc) and sudafed (not the pseudophenaline on the shelf but the one you have to go to the pharmacy counter to get)
I often wonder if the lyme causes enough inflammation that is closes off all of my sinuses, etc.
My thoughts and prayers for you - I do believe things will get better.
Posts: 118 | From New England | Registered: Apr 2013
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posted
It seems like the pressure corresponds with confusion, loss of balance and coordination. It makes me feel so uncomfortable and unsafe.
I feel so debilated the most I can really do I use the bathroom or microwave a meal.
I feel like the more I use my body, the worse it gets, so I end up flat on my back watching tv without really retaining anything (and feeling too drained to be emotionally moved by anything).
It feels like a struggle just to type messages on to this message board.
Posts: 131 | From Neptune, NJ | Registered: Oct 2012
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posted
I also want to say that the pressure may be different from what others are referring to. Very hard to describe but it feels like a fluid fullness, it is not painful like a headache. It is a dull sensation, but it feels wrong. It is also not consistent in that it feels like there are moments of flushing where it seems much more intense for a few seconds at a time. Very bizarre.
Posts: 131 | From Neptune, NJ | Registered: Oct 2012
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- What to look out for AND also what HELPS:
Topic: TINNITUS: Ringing Between The Ears; Vestibular, Balance, Hearing with compiled links - including HYPERACUSIS -
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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dbpei
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33574
posted
Hmm. I have exactly what you are describing. It is so hard to explain to others because it is such a bizarre feeling. Mine also feels like fluid in my skull and ears. It feels warm and tingly and as though it does not belong there.
It makes my brain feel foggy and it seems to be connected with some horrible tinnitus and air pressure changes in my ears. I am hoping this will go away as I recover from recent oral surgery. I will try to keep you posted.
Posts: 2386 | From New England | Registered: Aug 2011
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posted
Yes, I had this head/ear pressure since 2008 when I first got sick with lyme/babesia. In fact, the first month I was sick in June 2008, my brain felt like it would explode out of my skull which was very scary.
At the time, before I had a lyme diagnosis - I was convinced I had hydrocephalus or pseudo tumor cebri (sp?) but after 4 lumbar punctures and seeing numerous neurologist I knew this was not my problem.
But, after 4 years of treatment I feel the same pressure,squishy, wet feeling in my head/right ear too. It's my most annoying symptom next to the chronic neck pain.
I do think it's better though compared to what it was like the first 9 months of the onset of lyme/babs. Strangely enough it reduced the first year after 4000 mg of amoxicillin, flagyl, and 300 mg doxycycline.
posted
To me it's similar to the feeling you get in your face when doing a handstand. I think I used to get it occasionally with excercise, but now I get it just lying in bed. It def seems to come with a change in cognition and feeling more spacey, which is followed by anxiety (perhaps just because of the weirdness of it).
Posts: 131 | From Neptune, NJ | Registered: Oct 2012
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posted
I'm highly considering candida/yeast as a big part of my head pressure and other symptoms. Makes me want to go back off the abx again. All natural??? Abx just don't seem to agree with me.
Posts: 463 | From Sandusky, Ohio | Registered: Jan 2012
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posted
I know when I cheat on my candida diet, I get head pressure, I'm off balance, etc.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96223 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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phyl6648
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 28522
posted
I have the head, ear pressure, off balance and at times vertigo. This was one of my first symptoms and was treated for sinus and ear problems for over 4 months. To this day I still have them from time to time about every two weeks and it last for about two..
Been thinking of candida and try to stick to the diet but guilty of cheating. I had a blood test and did the spit test , negative but have a lot of the symptoms.
You have my sympathy on the darn head pressure I have posted topics and call them weird head feelings..
Posts: 1058 | From VA | Registered: Oct 2010
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GretaM
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 40917
posted
When I started having my first neuro symptoms, it felt like my head was going to explode, and with it my left eye. When the head pressure ramps up... I get a feeling like my facial skin is on fire, I turn bright red in my face, my sense of balance gets screwed up and I feel as if the sides of my head will pop off. Very unpleasant and it is one of the symptoms that is almost always around. The only thing that reduces is laying my head and neck on a towel wrapped ice pack and moaning. NSAIDS make it worse.
Posts: 4358 | From British Columbia, Canada | Registered: Jun 2013
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