Ear Blockage Needs Treatment

April 20, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I have been having a problem with my ears since 2007. I have been to several ear- nose-and-throat doctors but they all tell me I have dysfunctional Eustachian tubes and give me medication.

My complaint is that my ears always feel plugged. I have tried several different medications such as antibiotics, prednisone, nasal sprays, and others. Most don’t work. The one I am currently trying works sometimes but not all the time. My doctors have even gone as far as ordering a CT scan but nothing abnormal was found. Please help me!

DEAR READER:
If you have been diagnosed by several ENT physicians with Eustachian tube dysfunction, then I must assume they are correct. However, [Read more...]

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Is Noise Exposure Cause Of Tinnitus?

February 26, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I’m a 62-year-old female and have had tinnitus for more than 20 years. You once wrote about something that would help a person with ringing in the ears. I did construction work for 10 years and had to work in a room with very loud noises all that time. I guess that’s where the problem originated.

DEAR READER:
Tinnitus affects more than 12 million Americans. It is recognized as a ringing, roaring, clicking or hissing in the ear. Causes vary but are often the result of hearing impairment, such as through the noise exposure at your workplace. It can also be a common side effect of many medications.

Your first step is to see an audiologist or otolaryngologist to determine the cause for the tinnitus. Perhaps hearing aids are all that will be required. They are well-advanced in comparison to the large units of a few years ago, and provide great relief for many patients. Maskers might also be recommended to over-ride the ringing you may be hearing. If the problem is medication-induced, simply discontinuing the offending drug should solve the problem. If it is the result of other health issues, these issues should be addressed.

Lipo-Flavonoid is the over-the-counter dietary supplement I probably referred to in a past column. The supplement was specifically developed to relieve the symptoms of Meniere’s disease that includes tinnitus, dizziness and hearing loss. It should be available at your local pharmacy or department store.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Ear Infections and Disorders”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped, number 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.

Filed Under: Daily Column Tagged With: ,

Near-Syncope Frightening For Teen

February 13, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
My son, who is 15, has been suffering for the last year with a debilitating illness. His symptoms are dizziness, tunnel vision which turns into total blackness, severe headaches, and feelings of blacking out.

He will have to stand in one place with his hands against the wall for support until his vision returns. He has seen a neurologist and a cardiologist. The cardiologist suggested syncope (fainting) and the neurologist saw nothing on an MRI.

My son is desperate to find out what is wrong with him. After a little online research of our own, we are thinking POTS, or orthostatic intolerance. His symptoms occur upon standing. What do you think?
[Read more...]

Filed Under: Daily Column Tagged With: ,

Daily Column

January 31, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I read your column everyday and enjoy it very much. A while ago you had a letter from a woman who was concerned about the fact that her husband could hear a blood flow noise in his right ear but not the left.

Several years ago I had a bad cold and blew my nose quite hard and often. Following this I developed a blood flow noise in my left ear.

Concerned it was something serious, I made an appointment with my ear-nose-and-throat specialist. After a thorough examination, he told me that my Eustachian tube had been forced open, likely due to my frequent and hard nose blowing. I was told that it may never close back up but I could try deep sea diving which would put pressure on the tube and might close it or I could just learn to live with it. (I used to be a deep sea diver, so this suggestion wasn’t completely outlandish.)
[Read more...]

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Hearing Aids Common Cause Of Itchy Ears

January 21, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am an 81-year-old female in good health. I have two irritating problems about which I would like your opinion.

First, I have a worn hearing aids for about five years. They are digital with the battery section behind, not in, the ear and a small plastic tube inside the ear. I have had itchy ears for sometime but since wearing the aids my ears flake and peel daily. I have used peroxide to make sure there is no infection and anti-itch creams, lotions and salves but nothing helps. My ears continue to peel. My doctor says it is not psoriasis but could only suggest a different cream.

The other problem I have is a persistent itch in one spot on my back by my right shoulder blade. It occasionally hurts. It seems to have started right around the time I developed shingles eight years ago.

Do you have any suggestions on either of these issues? [Read more...]

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Daily Column

December 16, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
My four-year-old grandson recently had tubes put in his ears because of several earaches.

I remember as a child using ear drops, heating pads and bags of heated rock salt. My question to you is will these tubes dissolve or need to be removed as he grows older? Will they affect his balance and equilibrium during everyday activities and sports? I am completely clueless about this. Please help.

DEAR READER:
Tubes placed in the ear are surgically implanted through the eardrum to allow fluid to escape easily rather than building up causing infection. They will not dissolve and in most cases fall out after about a year or so. The tubes are minute and chances are, he will never know when they have fallen out.

As far as affecting his balance, yes it will affect it, but in a positive way. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

November 5, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I have been reading of the success of lipo-flavonoids on dizziness in your column. There has never been any mention of the time span when this treatment becomes effect. Could you advise how long it takes to see some improvement?

DEAR READER:
How fast improvement is seen varies from person to person and is dependent on the severity of the problem. Some may experience improvement within a few days or weeks while others may not see results for up to six months. There is also the set of individuals for whom the product does not work.

If you have not done so, I urge you to see your doctor regarding your dizziness. This can be a symptom of benign conditions such as vertigo as well as potentially serious disorders such as heart disease. Once the cause has been determined, appropriate treatment can begin. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

September 25, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I woke up deaf in both ears, after having a hysterectomy. I went to my doctor threes days in a row and begged, pleaded and cried to have a penicillin shot. He kept saying no but eventually caved in. The morning after the shot, my hearing was back to normal. I immediately called and thanked him. A few days later, I received a letter in the mail stating that he could no longer be my doctor because I wouldn’t take his advice and that I should see an ear-nose-and-throat specialist for any future ear problems.

I want to know why doctors no longer give penicillin shots when they work. I was right and it helped my hearing but my doctor made me change to another physician anyway. I am not a doctor, but know that this shot can help many people, has helped many people and works right away on lots of ailments. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

September 10, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I have been diagnosed with tinnitus and told there is nothing I can do for it.

Would you know of an herbal remedy or natural cure I might try?

DEAR READER:
Tinnitus is defined as a noise, ringing, clicking, or buzzing in the ears that affects more than 12 million Americans. Common causes are ears blocked by wax and damage from loud noises such as from lawn mowers, engines and heavy equipment.

Tinnitus isn’t an actual condition, but a symptom of an underlying problem such as injury to the ear, a circulatory system disorder or simple, age-related hearing loss. Less common conditions are Meniere’s disease and acoustic neuromas. Some antibiotics, cancer medications, diuretics, and almost 200 other medications are linked to tinnitus. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

August 7, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I have a problem with dried ear wax in my outer ears, especially when it settles in the small crevices and is painful to remove. I’m a 77-year-old female who has always had lots of ear wax, but it used to be soft and could be removed easily. How does the wax flow out when it is dry and brittle? Is there anything that can help?

DEAR READER:
Ear wax is secreted by glands in the skin that line the canals of the ears. Its purpose is to trap dirt and slow the growth of bacteria. Why some individuals seem to produce more wax than others is unknown. Blockages can occur when people attempt to clean their ears themselves, most often with the aid of swabs. As a general rule, this process simply pushes any wax into the ear canal and against the drum causing pain, fullness and hearing loss. The practice should never be done. [Read more...]

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