Can braces cause inner ear disturbances?

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#16 Post by **gorie** » Sun Sep 04, 2005 7:44 pm

oops posted twice.

#17 Post by **strugglebuggy** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 7:25 am

I just want them to figure it out because the hum in my right ear is getting to me...lol. I've always had a problem with that ear- if I got a sinus infection, that ear would always block up, etc. I have to take Allegra-D just to keep it open. (I've got HORRIBLE allergies... sheesh) But now that isn't even working and i always feel like I'm on the verge of being carsick. Yesterday wasn't bad, but I feel it more today. I notice that it bothers me more when I'm tired.

How does a low sodium diet help the ears? That's very interesting.

Anyway, thanks everyone.

I'll keep you posted on the outcome of my tests.

#18 Post by **invisagirl** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 9:25 am

Yeah low sodium helps Meniere's. Meniere's is basically were your inner ear can no longer regulate how much sodium it keeps within the inner ear chamber. So theoretically the fluid level will build until the chamber bursts which causes extreme dizziness. I've never had the chamber burst so it takes a long time to get to that point. Anyway the treatment for Meniere's is to regulate sodium intake (since Americans tend to get way to much anyway) and take Lasix (which makes sure that there isn't extra fluid in your body). When I was first diagnosed I was told to get no more than 1500 mg of sodium. At first its hard but you can tell the difference. If I ate something high in sodium my ear would immediately start to feel full and hurt.

Anyway keep us posted and good luck!!

#19 Post by **strugglebuggy** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 5:01 pm

Wow! That's is really interesting! Well, who knows- maybe I do have something like you describe. I'll keep you posted!

#20 Post by **strugglebuggy** » Tue Sep 06, 2005 10:24 am

Hi.

Bood tests came back fine.

So, I'm not dying....lol. CT scan results haven't come back yet due to the holiday weekend. I go next Friday to the ENT. Keep ya posted!

#21 Post by **strugglebuggy** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 8:32 am

Hi all.

Well, I went to the ENT this morning, finally. They did all sorts of hearing tests, etc..... he doesn't think it's anything serious, thank God. He believes it's a problem with the Eustacian tube in my right ear that is the culprit, and he thinks it's totally allergy related. (My allergies are horrible... had to go through the scratch test, etc. Probably should get shots, but I'm a big chicken...lol) He said I have good days and bad because my allergies are not always on the rise... he said they could be causing my tiredness, and the fluid I get in my ear when I'm having a bad day is probably what is causing my dizziness. Glad to know it's nothing that can't be treated.

Thanks for hanging in with me guys.

Oh yeah, he also said the braces could play a tiny part in all of this with the TMJ, etc. My CT scan came back very clean. I have a small pollup in my left sinus cavity, but we've known about that for years.

#22 Post by **invisagirl** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 11:28 am

Glad to hear it all went well!! I was wondering if you'd heard anything. Gee maybe when your allergies are really bad cutting out sodium would help? My co-worker had been having a really bad time with ear pain/dizziness and she came up negative for Meniere's so they put her on a different allergy pill and its worked for her.

In an interesting side note I happened to get on the subject of Meniere's with my physical therapist and he doesn't think I have Meniere's. There is a viscular (??) therapist where he works that he wants me to talk to but its interesting since he doesn't think I have it and an audiologist friend of mine was questioning the diagnosis too. Hmmmm.....

#23 Post by **strugglebuggy** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 11:55 am

Very strange! Ya know, doctors don't always know what their talking about...lol. My ENT was really cool- I liked him a lot. They put me into this booth and ran all sorts of hearing tests first. It figures, 2 days before my appt. my ear decides to drain, so of course, I could hear just fine. <sigh> I swear it did that on purpose...lol. Anyway, he put me on a steroid for 6 days to see if that helps with the tube and my fluid build up. Ragweed is bad here this year, and my ragweed allergy is through the roof apparently. I hate summer.

Keep me posted on how you make out!

#24 Post by **strugglebuggy** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 7:56 am

Well, I am going to the ENT again today. My nausea is back along with a really strong tenderness that goes from right behind my ear down my neck. I feel really yucky.... I've toppled twice today...lol. I don't feel dizzy per say, just unstable at times on my feet. The saga continues....

#25 Post by **strugglebuggy** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 9:38 am

Well now....

I went to the ENT- my ears and sinuses are the best they've been all summer.

So, my episodes as of late are not caused by my ears. I did have a swollen node that was making my neck sore and causing the ear pain. The dizziness was a different matter- and I think I've got it figured out on my own. I started an experiment of taking my medicines at night- I take Allegra-D and Nasonex for my allergies and Wellbutrin for depression. Now I feel fine.

I think the meds are making me tired and dizzy. I will talk to my family doc later about that. Hopefully I have it figured out.

#26 Post by **invisagirl** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 9:08 am

Wow I hope you figured it out! I guess its good that at least you were able to be seen when you were having symptoms. An interesting piece of info I learned from my physical therapist was that if your having neck problems and swelling, the swelling can cause things to push against your brain(??) and cause dizziness. Interesting huh??