Hello, I woke up one morning with a terrible feeling of no balance. It
caused me to miss a week of work. Every time I would go to walk, it
seemed that my balance was gone. I had minor pain in my left ear and
noticed that I would tend to fall toward my left side. I went to my
doctor who told me that I had a virus in my left ear. He gave me
meclazine to take for the balance problem. I took it but all it did was
make me tired. Finally, after about 3 months, 90% of my balance returned
but I still have the feeling of a blocked left ear in which I am always
trying to unblock by clicking my ear's. It also feel's like my hearing
is not as good as my right ear. The pain is just on and off, very minor,
but it seem's like whatever I had really never went away. Then, here
about a week ago, my throat had the feeling of being swollen. The left
side of my throat also seemed to be a little worse. The gland on my left
side, which is the infected side, is also enlarged. This would also come
and go. I then went to see my doctor again who told me that I had fluid
around my eardrum, and what looked like an irratated red throat. I
advised him that I smoke but he didn't think that was the cause. He gave
me some antibiodics, Celcor, to take for 10 day's. I have been taking
them but I still have the sense of fullness in my left ear and some
sense of balance problem when I turn my head to my right shoulder and
look up? Also, there is some very minor pain in my left ear still. I
shower and tend to get water in my left ear which seem's to worsen it
somewhat.
Please let me know if what my doctor is doing is right, and why
it has lasted for 3 months. Why did most of my balance return, not all
of it though, and why is there still some discomfort in my left ear.
Would you advise NOT getting water in it? What should I do if the
symptom's do not respond to antibiotics. My throat feel's better but no
comfort on that left ear. PLEASE HELP! I don't feel as though it is a
life or death situation, but I am worried that if not treated, it could
cause future problem's. Thank you very much for your time. I am greatful
that God has given a person, such as yourself, the ability to answer
such questions as mine!!!
Reply: --------------------------
It is conceivable that following your initial balance disturbance you may have been experiencing residual eustachian tube dysfunction which may have resulted in air pressure problems in your middle ear space. It is not uncommon for eustachian tube symptoms to persist for fairly long periods of time. Your more recent health problem sounds like an acute upper respiratory infection and the treatment rendered as you have described seems appropriate. If symptoms persist, however, I would recommend an evaluation by an ears, nose, and throat specialist. It is strongly recommended that smokers who develop fluid accumulation in the middle ear have a careful examination by an ENT specialist if the condition is not clearly associated with an acute upper respiratory infection or if fluid associated with an acute upper respiratory condition fails to clear after several weeks.
--
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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