Investigations

[hollyrain]

Hello

I had my long awaited ENT appointment last week...5 minutes......I felt so deflated when I came out. However, he said he would arrange CT with contrast for me (I can't do MRI) so at least I felt that I'll know what's what (hopefully) afterwards instead of the worsening bilateral daily PT on top of my constant T.

Got my letter this morning.

The appointment was yesterday 😢😢😢😢😢😢 so I will have to ring on Monday and reschedule. However, he has requested CT Angiogram Intracranial (which I get) and CT Angiogram Carotid (which I get as I asked about my carotid in relation to neck pain - he said you don't get pain in your carotid, end of conversation) including Aortic Arch - not sure why....is that routine? Trying not to worry about it but was surprised to see it.

Just wondering if anybody had had the same and knew more about why it was requested?

thank you

[rabbits65]

I can understand your disappointment about the ridiculous 5 minutes time scale of your appointment after having waited for so long. Mine was similar, it was a few years ago now and I remember the private appointment very well. The specialist sat on the corner of his desk swinging his leg up and down as if he was bored , and like you I got given a CT scan. I have managed to conquer my tinnitus/ear fullness issues on my own luckily and don’t care about these silly specialists anymore. It’s so annoying. Let them feel how debilitating it can be. ….. I wish you all the very best….

[Britomartis29 in reply to rabbits65]

rabbit65 can you share how you’ve managed it? I’m not having any luck and have been trying everything. Been driving me a bit crazy since 2021. (And I agree with the “useless 5 minute ENT appointments” consensus here.)

[ModelMetalworker in reply to Britomartis29]

Hello, I found this post a few weeks back and am trying it out. Also have a NeilMed sinus rinse to start.

Please do not shoot the messenger…

Mucus is often draining from the sinuses … and post nasal drip(LPR) in chronic conditions.When you swallow that follow on of sound in the ear can be blocked Eustachian tubes…

Stubborn mucus often responds to catarrh lozenges and steam inhalation with a teaspoon of Vicks in a bowl of hot water inside a larger bowl of hot water.. ten minutes am and pm..starts to break down the mucus blocking sinus cavities.. which in turn hold pockets of infection.

Post nasal drip often caused by reflux at night… sodium bicarbonate mixed in a little egg cup of warm water … use a silicone pipette or nepi pot… try to bathe nasal passage with this .. helps dry up watery mucus which may aggravate sinus issues.

Often low grade infections persist because of biofilm…. This helps pathogens to survive against the body’s immune system… and a short course of cranberry juice or serrapeptase (proteolytic enzyme) is great for sinus issues because they remove biofilms …and let the immune system get to work.

Mucus is often sticky and hard to remove because it is a disulphide bond..you can break this down using NAC N-Acetyl Cysteine.. it is given to people for cystic fibrosis for this reason.. loosens mucus wherever it is in the body and expels it.. because it breaks those bonds up so they are less sticky.Amazon or EBay 600 mg one a day.. .. every household should keep this in for stubborn chest infections that never seem to clear up.

If none of the above seem to help then the last suggestion might seem odd…

Nicotine patches… low dose 2mg once a day…

Somewhere upper torso… non addictive but restores certain receptors in the cns especially around the brain responsible for tinnitus issues… not really necessary to explain the concept in detail because it often occurs after using certain medications that use peptides…most do… B.P….blood thinners…heart medications…even certain face creams but it certainly worth trying if it brings quick relief…if it is going to work it does within a few days…amazing results.

I have use all the above to stop tinnitus and persistent mucus issues with great effect.

Best wishes and hope this is helpful.

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[hollyrain in reply to ModelMetalworker]

Thank you so much for your very detailed and helpful reply,

[Britomartis29 in reply to ModelMetalworker]

Thank you for sharing this with us and for taking the time to explain the steps/elements fully! Much appreciated .

[ModelMetalworker in reply to rabbits65]

I have the eustachian tube dysfunction thing and right ear is starting to feel full, can you explain how you conquered yours?

[daverussell]

I've had a similar very brief appointment. The appointment are often a triage and they need to eliminate different causes.The best you can do is keep pushing.

I'm awaiting similar answers at the moment to what appears to be labyrinthitis, but I have to until January to see a neurologist as I've had episodes of amnesia. I've had both CT and MRI scans, and taking medication including being halfway through sleeping tablets.

Stay strong and keep following up, but you will it be a waiting game and grounded hog day after ground hog day.

In their defense with such symptoms it could be dozen and dozen of things or many of these.

[hollyrain in reply to daverussell]

Thank you, had the CTs on Monday, just wait to hear what he says next.It is so frustrating isn't it? Hope you are doing OK

[daverussell in reply to hollyrain]

That's great. Thanks for the update. Just try to think of it as progress - whatever the outcome at this stage.

As it happens I got to speak to the neurologist secretary today. She put me on the cancelations list.

Wishing you all the best. Stay positive.

[Philip6]

Hopefully you will get the scan done soon, and that will stop you worrying. Sadly ENT specialists do seem to be hopeless where tinnitus is concerned, unless you want to pay them lots of money. Then they go through the motions and end up being hopeless and expensive. I would imagine the scan was routine so try not to worry.

[hollyrain in reply to Philip6]

Thank you

[Karlos99]

From doctors, consultants and even tinnitus specialists I’ve felt let down at every point. There seems to be a blanket approach of dismissing people, maybe because there is “no cure”. The tinnitus specialist I saw at the hospital didn’t even know what somatic tinnitus was.

The after care is nonexistent and you basically have to find help yourself. I imagine if there was money to me made from a treatment then you’d probably be treated a bit differently.

[hollyrain in reply to Karlos99]

So sorry to hear of your experiences and hope you are doing OK

[Karlos99 in reply to hollyrain]

Yeah I’m ok regarding my tinnitus thanks. Just suffer badly with insomnia. Never feel tired and can go days without sleep unfortunately.

[Burntorangeheresy]

I would endorse all of the comments above x 100. Completely useless medics trying to look useful. I didn't bother with any of the CT or MRI as I could see they were just punting me onto the next test to look like they had a clue about what was going on. (I got T from AZ Vax and the specialist ENT guy had never heard of it before but promised to pop into some medic forums and have a look around while airily showing me the door; to his assistant to ping sounds into my ears in an airtight box for 20 mins....a few graphs later and out the door non the wiser as to cause, but 300USD poorer). Someone needs to do some fundamental research to unblock specific causes rather than these palliative bandaids more concerned with upholding the status of the medical profession than illumination.