what is your 'pressure' like?

[taylapj]

Hi i just wanted to ask what everyone's experience of head pressure and ear problems, for 3 weeks now i've had on/off pressure headaches, REALLY sharp pain behind my right ear that goes around to behind my eyes, and this totally wierd 'ringing' in my ear, it;s like all of a sudden my hearing goes really low and this low level noise in my ears, like the noise you hear on a medical machine when someone dies [ sorry to be morbid but it's the closest likeness i can think off ] i've really began to struggle with my hearing lately, i went out for dinner the other night, i was sitting right next to my friend but i still had to get closer to her to hear what she was saying... it kinda freaked me out, she said to me are you deaf! lol in a nice way mind you.

[taylapj]

Cotton buds are a must lol always carry them, due to last night having to take tramadol for the pain I feel like rubbish this morning, dizzy urrg I hate taking tablets.

[taylapj]

Cotton buds are a must lol always carry them, due to last night having to take tramadol for the pain I feel like rubbish this morning, dizzy urrg I hate taking tablets.

[lu7997]

Oh and it is salty and clear.   Wonder if i should be concerned if fluid gets out can infection get in??? That is all I need is to end up with menigitis

[lu7997]

I have had to get up and use w tips and they would be quite wet.  Other times I would sleep through it and my pillow would be wet. It only seems to occure when the pressure is the worst.  My pcp said I have fluid behind my ears but no infection. And didn't seem concerned. But it is painful when it gets tobthat point

[dkdean]

In terms of my head, it just feels 'full'...esp in the back and on the right side...my hearing goes in my right ear quite a bit--but it's odd--like there is no sound, but I can hear?  I also get the ringing and a sharp pain on the top of my right ear.  The pressure though makes me think if I could just move my head around a bit I could 'pop' that pressure and feel 'right'.

[LisaM46]

My scalp has been very sensitive to the touch for years.  Behind my ears right now does have a bruised feeling.  I'm wondering if it's the heat here in CA.  I can't lay on my back & am not sleeping through the night either.  My left ear doesn't feel as much like there's something in it like it has the past three months - but, still itches sometimes.  I've had the electric shock pains before, but now I seem to get more of the "humming/vibrating" type feeling now & then.  

And - the fatigue is just obnoxious!!!

Lisa

[taylapj]

Does the back of anyone's head feel 'bruised' ?? Mine does all the time, but not to touch, but tender when i lat down at night, that's why i tend to lay on my right side, Physio have advised me to lay on my back but i just cant get comfy, havnt had a straight through nights sleep for weeks now, head pressure, ear pains, itchy ears, tinitus, electric shock pains, arrrg so tierd.

[LisaM46]

I would describe mine a bit like Sleepypea.  Just swollen & there's not enough room for everything in there.  I bought new reader glasses about four months ago, and there are some days I can't use them because they're too tight.  I imagine it's not the glasses that swell & subside!  And, after I take them off, my right eye feels like it wants to cross in.  Real tight.

The hearing thing!  Sometimes it's a high pitch ringing, sometimes it's a "SHHHHHHHHHH" nonstop.  I also have a hard time with one-on-one conversations in noisy public places.  Especially if there's live music.  It drives me NUTS!  I've never liked going to see live bands because of it.  I always thought it was just ME because everybody else didn't seem to have a problem having conversations in that situation.

Interesting!

Lisa

[dermarfx]

the pressure I try my best to explain, feels like something is to big in my head, sudden movement,...etc makes it worse.

I do feel like this with my hearing.....
I have the same problem hearing when I am out in public. It seems like all I can hear is background noise and it's all jumbled together so I can't hear the person I am trying to talk to.

[ploink]

According to wikipedia, intercranial hypotension due to CSF leak may actually cause chiari. But chiari is also associated with high CSF pressure... I am a little confused here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intracranial_hypotension.
I have no idea how to explain csf discharge from both ears simultaneously if that is supposed to be an accidental leak and cause of the problems. Discharge due to high ICP seems more reasonable then, to me at least...

[AJ29349]

Your comment "were you leaking CSF through your ears?" hit home to me.  For several years I have woke up with my ear wet.  To the point where I have to get up and use a q-tip.  I would let my internist know (way before Chiari diagnosis) and he would take a look each time I would go in.  He always said, there is not infection, but you do have some fluid behind your ear.  I just forgot about it and went on about my business, but still wondered why that was happening.  I just googled CSF leaking through ears and it is definitely something that happens with Chiari patients.  Very interesting.  And after 6 MRI's in the last 10 months, I see that MRI's usually don't pick that up, that CT scans are more out to show this.  Very interesting.  Does anyone know anything about this or has been officially diagnosed with this?  I have newly diagnosed with Chiari in June after many tests and doctor visits. Thanks for any information!
Chiari 8mm, no surgery yet.  

[ploink]

Above a certain level, loud music becomes a blur of shrieking noise. I have had that all my life. Music in general feels distracting and often intimidating, as if my mind is unable to process all the information. Basically I dont listen to music ever.

My ear pressure has been increasing last few days, tinnitus too.
I remember, about 15 years ago I had a two-week episode of stinging pain in my ears, ringing and everything sounded like I was under water. Back then I thought it was an ear infection, but now I am not so sure! Thanks lu! I 'll remember about the diamox if it happens again. I am glad it helped for you, it must have been awfull..

[Stephiec79]

Lu- where you leaking CSF through your ears??????

[lu7997]

The pressure was so bad a week ago I cried and cried in the doctors office. He put me on diamox and it does help. I still have some but that was beyond my ability to deal with


I thought my ears were going to explode like when u drive trough the mountains but 10x worse. I couldn't see I had so many floaters and everything was blurry. Not to mention my ears were ringing and draining some clear fluid (not water).

The diamox has helped now I just feel like some one is squeezing my brain

(it feels  like when you get chlorine up your nose swimming. Pressure and burn mixed with no escape)

[jessbee82]

I also have the feeling that my head it being squeezed.  i have alot of pressure behind my eyes. i am very light and sound sensitive.  i have a hard time hearing and i can't go out to a club with music without stuffing my ears with toilet paper or foam.
all i want to say to the outside world is 'SHHHHHHH!' lol

[jorlex137]

I've been having the same issues past few weeks!  I thought it was a sinus issue!  Went to dr as I'm so tired but the ringing is so loud it's keeping me up.  I had a MRI and my docter referred it to surgeon.  
Surgeon is suspose to call me today, but big surprise has not!  

I know a lot of people have issues with pressure, some need shunts and some just are learning to live with this.  

[sleepypea]

The only way I can really describe the pressure in my head is like my brain is being squeezed. It feels like my brain is swollen and too big for my skull and in turn is popping out through my eyes (especially the left eye) and my ears. If I sit down too fast the pressure in my ears will change . I have experienced the ear pressure and tinnitus all of my life so I thought it was normal, then one day someone told me when I experience that it means a spirit or ghost is passing through me...LOL
Went around for a few years freaked out over that one, but now I come to realize it is just one more symptom of this horrendous condition.
I have the same problem hearing when I am out in public. It seems like all I can hear is background noise and it's all jumbled together so I can't hear the person I am trying to talk to.
I'm sorry you are going through this and wish you success with beating it!!