Depression or Ear Problem?

[mrsheatherlodder]

Hi. I have been sick with the same thing for the last 5 years and frankly, I am exhausted and so upset.

I am 23 years old, female and have left an abusive relationship in June. So I can understand if I develloped depression.

It all started in 2006 Christmas Day, a month after being engaged. I started getting dizzy, sad, confused why I no longer could feel any feelings for my fiancee and tried numerous times to break up with him in one weekend. He manipulated me into staying and eventually pregnated me.

I also felt, that day, like a fog covered my eyes, my ears and my brain. This was and still is the worst thing ever. I could not make sense of anything and my ears rushed and clicked a lot.

Long story short, I developed depression symptoms in time and had anxiety attacks. Until I left my husband. Then the attacks stopped and I stopped ocd'ing a lot. Not entirely but a lot. Mind you, he had abused me for 4 years before everything hit me on Christmas Day so it may have been slow in developing.

I saw tons of doctors and had every test imaginable and they all came back negative (I was fine that is ) BUT every doctor prescribed depression meds to me AND said that my left ear looks pulled from a sinus infection and that it is red but it's not a big deal.

I used to have realllly bad ear infections as a kid.

I also have a small learning disability and depression runs in my family.

I also suffer from restless legs as stress in this but when I am less stressed they are fine.

My fog has been 24/7.

ENT's said I was fine and should see a neurologist.

Lately, since a bad cold, my left ear started rushing even more (after FINALLY stopping for months now....not the fog just the rushing of the ear...it gets sooo bad when I am stressed) and clicking every 10 seconds and it is starting to get painful.

I think it's an ear infection like my son has with his cold and I am getting it checked out.

BUT I am also going through grieving my abusive husband with our separation, his attempted suicide, numerous no contact breaches and court procedures.

So if depression causes ear problems I would be happy to know that because then it would make sense why I am feeeling worse lately. I hate not knowing what it is.

Could being choked cause long term effects like this?

With the symptoms I described....what tests should I take?

What could it likely be?

Please help me. I have full custody of my two beautiful babues and need to be well for them but I am soo sick of this ...literally.

Thanks in advance:)

Heather

[mrsheatherlodder]

Hi Wellb! If my memory serves me correctly, my husbands coverage does not include neurologists. I am currently on welfare and I am not sure they cover that either. But cost isn't the biggest deal. If I needed it and don't have it, I have an awesome elder from my church who would glady cover the cost!! I had MRI's and CAT scans done numerous times but I guess it couldn't hurt again eh? I am sorry to hear about your situation though!! Thanks:)

Heather

[wellb]

Heather,

My situation is a bit different because I belong to an HMO, therefore even though I pay a monthly premium, I still get coverage for neurologists.

Sounds like you are self-insured or even non-insured.
Either way, somehow you will need to figure out a way to see a Doctor that can advise you as to how to be referred to a neurologist or the like.

A Neurologist can look at you, then determine if you need a CAT scan or an MRI or even just a brain X-Ray. I had to have those done once due to another problem I had with my blood pressure and heart.

[mrsheatherlodder]

Thanks heyjude:):) Thanks also for your post!! It comforts me to know it sounds to you like it's not a symptom of depression because I am on meds and they are only helping with  everything BUT the fog. Maybe if it's something else I can FINALLY get help for the RIGHT thing!! The stress thing makes a lot of sense too!!

[mrsheatherlodder]

Thanks Wellb:):) Thanks for your posts!! It DOES sound physical doesn't it?? My Mom who is ALWAYS there for me and knows me soo well thinks it's just depression but I am not sure. She thinks this because it all gets worse when I am stressed. I always wondered if yes, I have depression for sure, due to not knowing what this is and being abused by my husband but I also think I have an ear or brain problem. More ear than brain though...I think. She, too, thinks I have 2 issues. My luck eh? I feel like losing hope because so far my now doctor has only linked it to depression whereas my old doctor (when I used to live somewhere else) had me see an ENT ONLY because I asked him to. What do neurologists specialize in? Do they cost a lot??

[heyjude1]

Hi, I agree with the others, this does not sound like anything I have heard as a symptom of depression, but, just a thought....

Stress can effect many parts of your body and it can lower you immune system, perhaps all you stress has lower your immune system and it opens up your weakest
areas of your body to infection?????  Maybe???

[wellb]

P.S.:

About the choking...well, I know that choking a child can cause permanent damage,(& death)  but not sure what the effects are on an adult,  but surely, choking a person and stopping oxygen flow must not be good for anybody---no matter what age!
Yieks Heather!

When you go to your neurologist, let him/her know about that choking incident, along w/ your ear infections from your past, etc.

[wellb]

Heather,

I'm not a Doctor, just a poster like you, but honestly, your ear problem(s) sounds like a serious physical problem and not related to your depression. TWO seperate issues.

Reason I say this is because you've been to so many Doctors and already they have established a physical component to your ear problem. Not only that, but they are recommneding a neurologist. So what that tells me is that your Doctors are trying to establish what is causing your ear problems.

Aside from that, of course you are also depressed. Who wouldn't be with all thes Doctors you've been sent to,plus all the time you've been physically in pain. Constant pain can make people depressed, because people w/ chronic pain feel so hopeless.

But alas, do not lose hope because you have Doctors working on your side, trying to find out what is causing your inner ear issues.