ENT and infections.

[pinkvision]

Hi I wrote a post recently about Temperomandibular issues.

This is a follow up and may be interesting for people with ENT issues.

I had jaw and ear pains, balance and spatial awareness issues immediately following a TBI. There were other issues that got resolved with treatment for various physio and visual processing. This has been over the last three and a half years. Currently I'm finishing off cognitive reconditioning.

A year after the TBI my ear issues got dramatically worse and have been that way on and off ever since. I went to the doctor over a week ago feeling really ill with pus coming into my mouth, inflamation and pain in the ear and jaw and throat area. I was getting fever like symptoms also and drained of energy. I was given antibiotics for suspected tooth problems. ( also the advice that the jaw pain was due to anxiety and jaw clenching ).

I ended up in A&E last weekend, the swelling in my neck was making me faint and pass out if I moved my neck in certain ways or put any pressure on the area with my fingers. The swelling was around the carotid artery and went down into the upper chest.

I got an emergency dentist appointment on Tuesday and the dentist xrayed the area and said there was no issues with the teeth. He found the salivary gland, temperomandibular and middle ear was infected. He gave me another type of antibiotic.

Both the antibiotics have cleared out the majority of infection up to today and I can move the jaw fully with no pain, my ears have cleared out and there is no more tinnitus. The pains in my head and back of the neck have gone and the sensations in the face have also stopped.

I had nerve damage in the left shoulder, arm and hand and this area has been weak with overall 80% function. Over the last 24 hours areas of the arm have started twitching and and fingers have clamped into strange positions. I've had this before, it starts when the nerves reactivate the muscles.

I have had an ominous dull feeling around the sash area of the heart for years following the TBI and many gastric issues. The sash area is now 'normal' and my gastric system has noticably calmed down. I have become much brighter all round and feel energised.

It seems the ENT and infections were having a much wider impact than just the ENT. Weirdly I feel more complete all over the body and free.

Just thought I'd share this for info in case anyone experiences similar.

The dentist referred me to the hospital for imaging of the entire area around the jaw, ear and neck. Think this is an important point, many doctors go along the lines of 'it's all stress and anxiety' another avenue is going to the dentist for ENT jaw related issues if you are having trouble getting it seen to.

[Painting-girl]

Glad you are on the mend PV. Thanks for sharing - worth knowing 😊🌸

[Pairofboots]

Many moons ago, pre BI, I had an abscess on my jaw, I was under the Eastman Dental Hospital.

I had just been measured for a taylor made uniform (that I'll come back to).

I was prescribed various antibiotics over a two month period. None touched the infection. I was living in Portobello Road at the time. My jaw eventually was clenched shut, and the infection had started to impact on my general health.

I blew the fuse in the kettle, not a problem. So I went out to buy a fuse. As soon as I got out, I forgot what my mission was. I could remember it was something electrical. So I went to the electic shop. They had a stuffed colley dog outside the shop, so being a dog lover, I spent about ten minutes stroking the dog, chatting to it, saying what a good dog it was, watched by the shop staff.

Eventually I went in the shop, I looked around the shop, the staff retreating behind the counter, brain wave, it was something to do with a kettle, so instead of just leaving, I bought a kettle lead.

Now I knew that wasn't what I was meant to buy. Tesco's was my next target. The household section was in the basement. So there I headed. I wondered around trying to remember what it was I wanted. I soon became aware of this humongous security guard following me around. In my fuddled state, I thought I have to buy something or he will jump me if I just left. So, something to do with the kitchen, obvious, ice cream scoop.

I now decided that I couldn't complete my quest, so home I staggered. Went to make a cuppa tea, ah blooming fuse! Hay presto, I'd bought a kettle lead, so tea was made.

The next day I was in the Italian Hospital (private hospital on the NHS). Couldn't work out the lingo, I was so confused. But emergency surgery, the abscess was drained and cleaned out. The jaw needed physio to open. And I couldn't enjoy the freshly cooked food a private hospital provides.

At home, recovering from surgery, I found that everytime I had a drink, my collar was getting wet. I had a hole in my mouth through to my neck where a drain had been. Disturbing at first, but eventually the hole closed.

Bact to the uniform. I went to the taylors to collect my uniform. Being a posh taylors, you just stood there and was dressed. The taylor helped me on with the trousers, he had a quizzical look on his face. He did the trousers up, and they promptly fell down (these were taylor made). I had in the time since being measured lost 6 stone. Thought he was going to have a melt down. So I explained I had been unwell. He breathed a John Inman sie of relief.

The stuffed dog, disappeared, never to be stroked again, and I still have the ice cream scoop, the kettle has left it's mortal coil.

This has nothing to do with your issue, but I hope it gave you a giggle. Glad you are on the mend.

[FlowerPower62]

My goodness, that sounds horrendous. Glad to hear you're on the mend. X