posted
I went to an ent for my ear pressure/thumping/ringing. Firstly, my llmd told me to take the zithromax(started about 1.5 months ago, along with bicillin, which I have been on for 5 months) only during my herx, so for about 2 weeks I will take the zith, then off for 2 weeks till my next herx. I went to see an ent, he took a nasal culture to check for staph infection, found some blood up my nostril, told me could be inner ear problem, balance and fluid thing going on . He ordered lots of test, so still waiting. He gave me an antibiotic ointment to put in my nostril for 5 days until the results get back. WEll, what do you think guys. My ear is a pressure balance problem. It did get worse on my last herx, which was 10 days ago. SO, it could be that the zith is getting into my brain and killing this crap, not sure if side effect since I have had this ringing since august, but it has become more profound since I added zith, and the balance/pressure has worseed. Muy hearing is fine. the ent wants me to take a hearing test too. Jenin
Posts: 455 | From Maryland | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
I'm very interested to hear your results. I have an ear buzz in my right ear - mostly hear it at night when it's very quiet. Day noise masks it but it's there.
I have a lot of crackling, too, both ears. Seems like I don't hear as well.
Been thinking of going to an ENT however I do believe all this ear stuff is Lyme. Lyme definitely goes after the ears.
I think I've read that Zithromax can cause ear ringing which gets better when you go off it. So maybe your Zith is just making your ringing worse?
~webmeg
Posts: 257 | From Connecticut | Registered: Oct 2007
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Dawn in VA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9693
posted
Get thee to a neurotologist! They're kind of hard to find- specialize in balance-related disorders. Dizzinews (I forget the actual website is under resources on VEDA; again, I can't remember their website- do a search under VEDA- vestibular disorders association) board people might be able to help you find one. They can do tests on your VIII nerve (vestibular nerve), and others, that might give you insight. (Also, "rocky boat" and/or vertigo feeling can be a presenting symptom for lyme according to my LLMD).
-------------------- (The ole disclaimer: I'm not a doctor.) Posts: 1349 | From VA | Registered: Jul 2006
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posted
hi! the strange thing is i have ringing and
buzzing in my ears too, and my right eye was
effected the other week with drooping. A steroid
cleared up my eye and inflammation, which is
weird because i thought it's bad to be on a
steriod when you have lyme.
Posts: 12 | From Pa | Registered: Feb 2008
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
-
I can only read bits and pieces of the 2 posts that are solid paragraphs, so I can't really comment fully.
However, I've had many, many vestibular tests and gotten as many dx . . . my neuro-otologist was the one who told me to get tested for lyme. Unfortunately, the GP did the wrong test.
Later, I had Igenex and was postive for lyme, babesia and a ehrlichia.
I will post a bunch of web sites in case you want to look around those.
Zith can cause tinnitus and that may or may not go away when stopped. Some drugs are ototoxic, though the lists may vary a a bit between researchers.
And some people do fine.
Be sure to check any over the counter products with the ototoxic lists, too. Aspirin can be toxic to ears, for instance.
also know that, while on abx, ears are much more suseptible - sp?_ to damage. be sure to wear ear plugs around your vacuum and your hairdryer. Really. It could keep the tinnitus down and help you hear twenty years from now.
I don't mean to be an alarmist, however, ears are very tender and once damage happens, it is very hard to fix, sometimes possible, sometimes not.
If the tinnitus is from herx, magnesium, taurine, B6, NAC may help.
B6 and NAC are also mentioned in some abstracts to help protect ears.
Please call your doctor if this is more than just annoying.
If you take a hearing test, be sure to tell them if you are on abx.
AND - if, at any time, the sounds hurt your ears. STOP. they may push you on, but STOP. Unless they really know about lyme, etc. they may not know how tender ears can be with lyme.
Protecting your ears - and possibly preventing a sensitivity to set in - is more important than an endurance test. You are paying them for their time and the test. Be sure it works for you.
Good luck.
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[ 28. February 2008, 03:30 AM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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here's a bunch of stuff for a shot-gun info. sheet.
Remember that if your doctor wants you to take certain supplements, one or more of those may be designed to offset side-effects or to protect hearing.
Be sure to go over all your lists and if you decide not to take something be sure to discuss it with your doctor. If money's an issue, the doctor may know of a way to help you find what you need.
Fish oil / omegas, magnesium, calcium, B-vitamins, NAC all have certain protective properties, as is milk thistle.
I can't say they can protect the ears in all cases with any drugs, so be sure to let your doctor know if you develop tinnitus.
Although we all may respond differently to drugs, with all the patients they've seen, they are your best guide. It could be a herx reaction - or even low blood sugar.
Gentle detox measures may be of help if tinnitus is toxin-related. Gentle.
Also - some researchers advise not using headphones for music as they feel the sound is just too close to the nerves in the ears.
======================================
Oto-neurologists or Neuro-otologists are doctors who understand both vestibular and neurological systems. One has more training as a neurologist with the other more training on the vestibular.
ENT - Ear, nose, and throat doctors.
Audiologists can help assist with testing, vestibular training and aids. There is something called "tuners" - or similar name that can retrain the ears to disregard the tinnitus.
P.T. there are some physical therapists who have special training with vestibular stuff. (Of all the professionals, though best to see someone who also really knows about lyme. People with lyme seem to have a whole different mix that many professionals in this area have never seen - in my experience.)
QiGong and Tai Chi are slow movement exercises that can help retrain if balance is affected.
==============================
The Hyperacusis Network consists of individuals who have a collapsed tolerance to sound.
In almost all cases, tinnitus is a subjective noise, meaning that only the person who has tinnitus canhear it. People describe hearing different sounds: ringing, crickets, whooshing, pulsing, ocean waves, buzzing, dial tones, even music.
Protect yourself from Tinnitus
risks of loud noise and how you can avoid damage to your ears. Remember Your Hearing Protection and how to properly insert ear plugs.
====================================
Remember to check OTC products you may take. Aspartame (nutrasweet) and MSG are excito-toxic and can trigger tinnitus for some as well. Caffeine can also cause tinnitus.
Perfumes, lawn / cleaning chemicals, and gas heat or gas stove can, too, especially in those with MCS.
If you have a gas stove, be sure to turn on the exhaust before you light the burner and again just before you turn it off. And bring some fresh air into your home frequently.
Ototoxic Drugs: Background and General Information
My original page on ototoxic drugs addressed only NSAIDs, and I put it in question and answer format. Gradually I've added sections on other drugs, ...
ANTIVERTIGINOUS ACTION OF B-6 ON EXPERIMENTAL MINOCYLINE-INDUCED VERTIGO IN MAN
[Article in German]
Claussen CF, Claussen E. Neurootologie, Universit�ts-HNO-Klinik W�rzburg.
By means of a former investigation it has been proved equilibriometrically that the application of 7 X 100 mg minocycline may induce a central equilibrium dysregulation of the brainstem type.
It was the purpose of this study to further assure that the minocycline induced brainstem vertigo is due to a destabilization of a supervisory gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic loop from the archeocerebellum upon the pontomedullary vestibular regulating pathways.
As it is pharmacologically known that pyridoxine is essential for the synthesis of GABA, an inhibitory CNS neurotransmitter, 2 separate double blind trials on 20 healthy young persons each were carried out after the intake of 7 X 100 mg minocycline during 3 days with and without 7 X 40 mg pyridoxine simultaneously.
These trials were checked against an additional placebo or initial non drug investigation. In all the 40 test persons it could be proved that the amount of vertigo and nausea symptoms was increased significantly due to the application of minocycline only.
However, when combining minocycline with vitamin B 6, the vertigo and nausea symptoms as well as the nystagmus signs from the monaural and the binaural vestibular ocular tests as well as the vestibular spinal signs from the craniocorpography recordings of the stepping and the standing procedures were remarkably reduced.
There were no statistical differences between the initial or placebo trials versus the trials with a combination of minocycline with vitamin B 6.
The same holds for the vestibular vegetative reactions, measured by the simultaneous electrocardiography during the vestibular tests.
All the equilibriometric tests applied showed a significant destabilization under the influence of a pure minocycline loading.
I haven't felt the need to share this with this website.....but after reading this i feel the need to.
Please do not get alarmed....I am just passing you this information that happened to me.
I had been in remission for years......several....not cured but antibiotic free and symptom free....
then out of the blue I started to have motion sickness....never had it before........
then I had a little ringing in the ears....and my ear felt a little full......
it was in the winter and I thought I just had a sinus infection...and maybe an ear infection....
after several months....of this....(I did go on an antibiotic for a little bit)....it just wasn't getting better and reading made me sick....like i was on a boat ALL the time.....
but after a few months my GP sent me to a reputable ear nose and throat doctor....
he took a look at my chart.....Lyme....fibromyalgia....thyriod..heart.. age 39.....
and very cocky told me it was probably caused by the meds I was on....and it wasn't my ear....
and sent me off..... I told my GP...... she did not agree with him........ said I think you have an Acoustic Neuroma....
I looked at her like she was crazy.... she told me its a tumor in the inner ear that grows on the eigth nerve......the hearing and balance nerve........a brain tumor.....
again thought she was crazy...... but she didn't feel it was my Lyme symptoms...(either did I).....and ruled out my meds......
said I'm sending you for an MRI... I reluctanly said ok.........(ive always trusted her.....and have been with her since the beginning of my journey with Lyme back in the early 90's)
So i went for an MRI.....thinking nothing of it....after all .........all my tests come back negative....
anyway....she called me about 3hours after the MRI.....told me I did have an Acoustic Neoroma.......
wow......a brain tumor........wow....
anyway......that ent doctor........called me.....a few days later.....at work....and told me the results........I told him I already knew.....
he was surprised my GP ordered a MRI based on my symptoms.....
anyway.....I did go back to him.....I know that sounds crazy and my husband thought I was crazy...
...but I wanted to go back to him and show him and his staff that he was soooooooo wrong and totaly judge me by my symptoms, on my age and meds....(and maybe because Im a woman)
I went back to him with my husband......he was a much different doctor.....to me..... we got passed the judgment stuff and moved on to what we would do next......
then I made my judgement call as to whether I wanted him to help or not....
ayway..... i could go on..... but my point is......you have to go with your instincs..... and have a good doctor that knows you .....and your Lyme.... we always assume it is Lyme....or Fibromyalgia..etc.
I again do Not write this to alarm anyone..... just thought I would share my ear story....
as a pick me up ...when life was really really bad with Lyme my husband and I would joke....
.."well at least its ot a brain tumor...." ug!!
mtree
-------------------- worrying about tomorrow takes its strength away from today Posts: 970 | From Point PLeasant , NJ | Registered: Jan 2008
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posted
My ent took a culture and blood work. He said I had some blood in my left nostril, and that is the left ear that is bugging me, so that could be an infection.
I took an abx ointment, and boy did it help bigtime.
This is my 3ed day of abx ointment (Still on zith and bicillin). ,
but the pressure is much less, although it still thumps but not as much.
I am to stay on this abx for 5 days and still waiting for my blood results.
I also feel heat around my ears. IS that lyme too?
Posts: 455 | From Maryland | Registered: Jul 2007
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but if whatever is working ....works........then thats a good sign.
I hope it feels better soon.....and that its not anything more then an ear infection.
mtree
-------------------- worrying about tomorrow takes its strength away from today Posts: 970 | From Point PLeasant , NJ | Registered: Jan 2008
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mtree
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