Question: Finished course of medications for ear infection that occurred 7 weeks ago. Ceftin and oral steroids. Sudafed for ETD. Had aural fullness but that seems to be almost Still experiencing rumbling in the ears along with pulsatile tinnitus which is sometimes pretty loud. Will this go away at some point? I started back on Sudafed.

I have had both Audiometry tests done. And the results were within normal limits. Initially I did have some diminished hearing, but that has returned the last few weeks. The ENT I saw does not see anything visual that would indicate infection, but could be in another area of the head.

I am taking the Sudafed orally for a few days on and off a few days to help with the ETD, which has improved. I take no more than 4 pills a day and not in the evening.

The pulsatile tinnitus started when the infection started. I am concerned that perhaps the infection may be vascular related now. I frequently get a headache under the mastoid process along with the tinnitus, and it is hard to tell which is causing which. Pulsatile causing the headaches or visa versa. My BP is within normal limits. I am thinking about seeing a neuro if this does not clear up within the next few weeks. Hard to sleep with the pounding in my ear.

Thanks in advance

Ruled out Meniere's - I do low salt diet anyway. - Had a trial of diuretic. No vertigo or dizziness with this. I have an appt with Neurologist who may do the Doppler and MRA. given everything else that was ruled out.

I had an MRI in late May which was normal. PCP just gave me a script for Tramadol to take as needed for headache to see if possible migraine related . She did not hear anything unusual with the carotid artery blood flow. But I understand blood flow has to be really bad to hear anything with a stethoscope.

Thanks for you answer as causes are ruled out.

The list of items under 2 have been ruled out. I did get an eye exam. Beginning stage of cataracts otherwise healthy. Blood tests all came back normal and no sign of infection. My ET feels like it is working. I can "pop" my ears. The aural fullness is just about gone. I did stop the pseudoephedrine a few days ago.

I started seeing a chiropractor a few weeks back and x-rays indicated a small deviation of c1. He also detected substantial muscle tightness of the cranial muscles at the base of the skull. Particularly on the side of the ear issues. So he has been treating me for that. Not sure if this has been effective yet since I have been 4 times. He is w





orking on the TMJ just in case, although he did not detect that this was a problem.

This all happened when I had an ear infection on July 4 - which was treated. I did not have this PT or aural fullness before in this ear.

My PCP told me after the infection cleared it could take up to 3 months for what I am experiencing to resolve. At the end of all this differential diagnosis, I suppose it is possible that the infection caused nerve damage to the ear which may be permanent ( I pray not).

I will be sharing all my current findings with the Neurologist at my apt in less than two weeks. I do not want to continue taking drugs for the headache if that is possible. I am trying to control pain with ice and heat pacs. I am trying not to take too much Tylenol no more than 4 pills a days, and some days I can get by with two.

If it turns out that everything is normal. My next step is to concentrate on habituation therapy and TRT.

I just want to make sure that nothing serious is causing this.

During all this I have been using sound therapy to help me sleep. This distraction does help.

I apologize for the long response. It helps to share this with someone who does not think this is not my imagination.