Hi, I hope you can offer me some advice. I am a 24-year old woman who's
had ringing in my ears for slightly more than a year. I also have
incessant "cracking" and "popping" in my ears for the same length of
time. Below my left ear my lmphnode is always swollen. I've been to four
ENTs and they all say my symptoms are normal and that I should live with
it. I am not convinced and feel as though I have been poorly diagnosed.
I have gone to a tinnitus support group meeting and all the sufferers
there agreed that something is not right. None of them have this
cracking and popping, and none of them have a swollen lymphnode so close
to the ear.
Could I have chronic eustachian tube dysfunction? Could it possibly
cause tinnitus? About three years ago I had all of these same symptoms,
but they went away in six months. At that time I was being treated for
chronic tonsilitis and sinusitus.
PLease help!
Reply ---------------------------------------
Certainly, ringing tinnitus and "popping" or "cracking" in the ear could be caused by eustachian tube dysfunction. Chronic eustachian tube dysfunction developing in an adult might be associated with inflammation in the nose or sinuses such as that which might occur with allergy or infection. However, I would mostly be concerned with your complaint of a chronically swollen lymph node. If a lymph node is enlarged and palpable for an extended period of time such as described, a comprehensive examination is required which might necessitate a biopsy. It is possible that there is some association between your auditory complaints and the swollen lymph node.
--
Steve Dankle, MD
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Milwaukee, Wis
NOTICE: OFCN is not engaged in the rendering of professional medical services. The information contained on this system or any other OFCN system should not supplant individual professional consultation. It is offered exclusively as a community education service. Advice on individual problems must be obtained directly from a professional.
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