Unwell for a year with dizziness, tinnitus and balance issues, does my ear drum look ok?

[Comealongpond1308]

Hey all,

so as the title states, I’ve been unwell for a year with dizziness, it’s been awful and I’ve given up on ever getting better. I can’t drive or work.
I have seen ENT (discharged me with a “I don’t know” I had an ecg and blood work which is fine apart from slightly low iron (normal for me)
I decided to get an ear camera as I have a reoccurring cut inside my ear, my ear drum does not look normal and it is very close to the opening on my ear, I compared mine with my daughters and hers is much further down and looks nothing like this.
Doctors have said my ears are fine?

You might have labyrinthitis which is your inner ear and not visible with a camera.

Take travel sickness meds for a bit and see if that helps and get lots of rest and gentle exercise like walking.

Find someone holistic and try a Hopi ear candle.

Thank you for your reply, I cannot get out of the house much because of how debilitating this is, I have tried various meds and none have worked and ENT told me to stop taking them to allow the ear to do its own thing so I’m just back at square one

I'm really surprised they have just dismissed this
Would you describe it as dizziness or your head spinning
For example I have Vertigo and it feels like the room is spinning around, my eyes actually move -nystagmus.
I'm on medication and I do exercises to manage it
If it's dizziness, it could be anything from anxiety to low iron

Ménière’s disease?

Thank you for your reply.
So it feels like I am spinning, not the room.
I made a complaint to PALS and changed dr surgery but nobody seems to be helping me.
I’m awaiting a cardiology appointment but other than that, everything has came back fine.
I just dont understand!

Look into vestibular migraine also called migraine associated vertigo (MAV) You can have this without ever having had migraine headaches, the symptoms can be continuous and it is a very common cause of dizziness. Disabled me for nearly two years before someone tipped me off re what it could be. I was discharged by 2 ENT's who were woefully ignorant of this diagnosis and just couldn't find an explanation. It was horrendous as I was SO ill. I was diagnosed in neurology. It's treated with migraine preventatives.

There is a Facebook group called 'vestibular migraine professional' you'll get a lot of info there.

When I started with vertigo, muffled hearing and vomiting last year, my gp ordered an mri. I'm surprised that your ENT dismissed you.

There are medications you should be given to try (betahistine). You should have also had a hearing check at your appointment.

After a year of suffering, I've finally been diagnosed with vestibular migraines. I take an anti-migraine medication.

Definitely chase this up, you should not have been left with no answers. Re your ear drum...I have no idea sorry.

Interesting as I currently have this.
I suspect vestibular migraine as I've dropped hrt meds and gone back on them again.
Also had an occular migraine today.🤢

That was my thought. My sister has this and symptoms sound very similar.

I've had issues with bulging eardrums on and off for a couple of years. Im no medic and don't actually know what it would look like but if you say yours seems very close to the opening then it sounds like it could be bulging? I was given steroid nose spray and advised to try nasal rinses to unblock the eustachian tube.

Look into Menieres, as already suggested, or Sjogren’s. A family member was misdiagnosed with the first then finally treated for the second.

@Comealongpond1308 , whatever else you do, don't try to use a Hopi ear candle unless you want to add all too likely burns and blisters to your ear problem.

As a side question , brilliant camera , can you link to which one you purchased ? .
I one I got was rubbish.