I have been feeling unwell with ringing in the ears and throat problems for several months now but no help from gp as they put down everything to stress!
Has anyone been dismissed by their doctor when... - Tinnitus UK
Has anyone been dismissed by their doctor when tests can find nothing wrong but you still feel very unwell?
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Knittinganimals
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13 Replies
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Hello Knittingsnimals If it is tinnitus that you have then you can go to a hearing centre or audiology centre. Doctors don’t seem interested in tinnitus really. It is a very distressing condition. I’m new to it too, I have found help and support on this forum . Some really useful and kind information from everyone on here .
Thank you for your reply. The doctor did suggest a visit to a hearing clinic so I’ve got an appointment next week. I am taking betahistamine tablets but they are not making any difference I think they’re for menieres which I don’t think I’ve got. Take care and best wishes
Whilst I agree, Knittinganimals, with what rabbits65 has said, I'm slightly concerned that you have 'ear and throat problems' which haven't been diagnosed - other than stress. Whilst stress is a normal and natural reaction to Tinnitus, and we cannot diagnose on this forum, I'm slightly wondering about your throat problems too. Can you, for instance, see another doctor in your practice?
I realise you probably feel they all stick together but that's not necessarily the case. Most doctors want to learn from their patients and I saw a video a few months ago through the BTA website which talked about this. If you contact the administrators on BTA they will help you find it.
Another thought is that lots of people - because of the pandemic - are feeling stressed. It might be that some temporary medication to help you could be the right thing.
Thank you for your reply. I think the trouble is I have a few tests for other problems and they think I’m a hypochondriac! I have only had telephone appt about my throat and have been given beta histamines for the ear ringing but no difference. Also they suggested it could be acid reflux so am on omeprazole as I have had pain in my tongue also for months! All in all I do sound crazy! Thank you for kind advice and best wishes to you
Doesn’t sound crazy! Omeprazole is good and can’t hurt you! But, I’ve a suggestion to make. NICE released guidance on the management of T in March last year and because of Covid it’s thought GP’s didn’t really take the new guidelines on board. I’m assuming you live in the UK.The NICE website is a technical one for use by medical practitioners but the section on tinnitus is very good and understandable by us lay people. Search for NICE Guidelines click on Find Nice Guidelines and then enter Tinnitus as a search term. They say DO NOT prescribe betahistine.
If you find it a bit overwhelming then give the BTA a ring.
Thank you for your reply and concern! I will have a look at the NICE website as you suggested. I am in uk in Milton Keynes. How long have you had tinnitus? Mine is like a continuous buzzing but if I shake my head it sounds like rattling if that makes sense! Best wishes to you
Mine has been present since, I think, my teens. I just assumed that everybody had it, just like fingers and toes, In many ways this is very fortunate, as I don’t have to habituate - I’m habituated! That said, it’s still intrusive and much louder than it was years ago, It more like a badly tuned radio, with occasional squeaks. I dare not shake my head, though, the vertigo and arthritis would kick in!!I’m keen to know the result of your research and subsequent chat with the docs - do let me know on this forum!
Hello knittinganimals, I can't add anything to the posts that offer experiential advice about tinnitus, however, I might have something to throw into the pot with the combination of burning tongue and throat problems.
If your throat feels as though it's 'dragging', you might have a nerve problem. There are many nerves that run through the face/throat and across the tongue. Is your burning tongue one-sided? If so, you could have a nerve impingement somewhere along your cervical spine or temporomandibular (TMJ) joint (jaw joint). If so, this might be relieved by appropriate physiotherapy and a visit to the dentist to have your TMJ checked out.
If you've had a neck whiplash injury at some stage, neck strain or simply spend rather a lot of time daily on a smartphone or at a PC, any could contribute to neck muscle spasm and nerve impingement. Might be worth a trip to a physiotherapist!
Don't worry about being labelled 'hypochondriac' or dismissed with a diagnosis of 'stress'. These options are the usual port of call for doctors who cannot join the dots when many fruitless visits with assorted complaints actually point to one cause. As long as you're still functional, doctors often won't take time to thoroughly investigate. Many of us have been pushed down this path at some time.
I think a good fix for acid reflux is a careful diet; if indeed reflux is what you have. Have a look online for the best foods and eat small and often rather than large infrequent meals. Also, avoid dairy milk. It promotes stomach acid, contrary to popular opinion. Avoid tomatoes and citrus fruit, including juices, as well.
Hope you feel better soon!
Thank you for your reply.I had an mri on my neck a few months ago which did show impingement of the nerves and the pain clinic have referred me to a spinal specialist as the vagus nerve could be damaged which can cause a range of symptoms. I have got tmj disorder also!
My acid reflux is terrible despite trying all kinds of tablets and am now trying a lactose free diet as suggested by my doctor.
Your comments cover most of my problems and thank you for bringing these ideas to me.
Wishing you well
Jenny
Same but not only do i have same symptoms as you but added ones i cant walk legs feel heavy & i get pins needles in feet what go blue & skin tightness of legs & arms dont sleep so well either all i get by feeling unwell from my dr is try & get some fresh air well if i didnt feel so drained i would but feel like all my body is weak honestly 8 months of me complaining to like i want to or even live like this 
If you are feeling this bad, and your doctor is not doing anything, then I suggest you make a formal complaint to the practice manager. And if that doesn't get you anywhere ask them for the ombudsman number.
He started doing something now but i think its to late for months i've been saying its cancer & hes just ignored me put my 7 wks fatigued & walking issues down to anxiety & now he making me wait 2 wks to see some medical experts who can test me to find out where it is because my blood test come back ok all my body is so weak & painful in neck legs & my walking is a struggle swallowing issues & major headache plus lack of eatting & drinking now so tired definitely way to late now been ill for 9 months but this is like a different kind of ill
This is all deeply unpleasant for you. You have my sympathy.When you see the specialist for tests, it might be worth making sure that they test for Lyme disease. I'm not a medic, but I've heard about this illness and your symptoms sound familiar.
Here's a link to more information: cdc.gov/lyme/signs_symptoms...
It's an American site, but it has lots of useful information including a good bit of detail about symptoms.
Walking in a forest or wooded area and being bitten by an infected tick is the chief cause of Lyme disease. It's often missed by doctors unless their attention is brought to the tick bite in the early stages. Judging from the timing of your symptoms, if you are infected it suggests a bite sometime last summer, i.e. 2020.
Of course, Lyme might not be what's troubling you, but it's worth ruling out.
