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Fluid in ear and dizzy/drunk feeling?

I sporadically have fluid/fullness in my ear which I believe is due to allergies, but I am afraid of taking allergy meds because I was recently diagnosed with Subclinical hyperthyroid disorder and have been told that sinus/allergy medications and amplify the effects of the meds.  My problems is that I have this feeling like when you drink way too much alcohol and your head is all over the place.  I guess that is like a light vertigo feeling.  Could this be due to the fluid?  Also, does anyone have a situation like this?  Have a thyroid disorder and take allergy meds?  
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I have an under active thyroid but I was taken off my anxiety meds. I need this dizziness to stop. I need help.
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Hi, Thanks everyone for your terrific discussion.  I have many of the same symptoms: dizziness, light-headedness, balance issues, etc.  I have over the years (I just turned 60) been diagnosed with Meniere's (at 34), Thyroid issues (in my 20s), etc.  I had one very serious 4 day episode of vertigo where I literally could not get out of bed without falling or throwing up from the dizziness.  Most of my life I have been just fine.  No special diet, very active in sports, etc., though I am about 25 lbs overweight.

Over the past 6-months or so, I've felt like I periodically had the ocean sloshing around in my ear and a more increasing sense of dizziness and lack of balance.  I had knee surgery about a year ago to correct a congenital deformity to my right knee which significantly altered my balance.  I had been attributing my balance issues to that.... but now I'm not so sure - and especially after reading many of your experiences.

After reading the great clues to what might be going on, I followed a line of research for endolymphatic hydrops and found a doc with a very interesting treatment - by Skype.  Sounds interesting and I wondered if any of you were familiar with him or his treatment.  

I'm going to share it with my very open-minded doc to see what he thinks.
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Avatar universal
I suffer from dizzy spells..  i have a full feeling in my ear i get dizzy really all the time ...if i get up out of bad run wash my head stand up too long or even move my head i get dizzy i am just so tired of suffering from this i really want my life back....
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I was off my XANAXED for 2 years cold turkey and get rid of my dizziness need help in a nursing home 2 years I am only 56 years old
Avatar universal
I've been experiencing all of these symptoms, as well.  It first started out with me just getting dizzy from watching tv (staring at a screen for too long) and then it escaladed into me constantly feeling dizzy.  It has caused me so much anxiety and I can not get rid of the anxiety.  My doctor told me to take Zyrtec D to get rid of congestion, and it worked fr a bit, but didn't last long.  I know you aren't supposed to take medicine like that for a long time so I am not sure what to do now.   It really has started to consume me and affect my life! I am going to really try to work on the stress/anxiety and hope that that lessens the issue a bit.  Glad to know I am not the only one dealing with this.
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Avatar universal
I've been experiencing all of these symptoms, as well.  It first started out with me just getting dizzy from watching tv (staring at a screen for too long) and then it escaladed into me constantly feeling dizzy.  It has caused me so much anxiety and I can not get rid of the anxiety.  My doctor told me to take Zyrtec D to get rid of congestion, and it worked fr a bit, but didn't last long.  I know you aren't supposed to take medicine like that for a long time so I am not sure what to do now.   It really has started to consume me and affect my life! I am going to really try to work on the stress/anxiety and hope that that lessens the issue a bit.  Glad to know I am not the only one dealing with this.
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Avatar universal
I also have the same problem.  I can't sleep because of the popping, cracking, and drainage in my ears.  I bought a house 18 months ago and after being in the hospital several times and have been to every doctor you can imagine trying to figure out why.  I had never been allergic to anything but they say I've become desensitized to mold (Aspergillis one of the deadly types). I get allergy shots every two weeks that cost my insurance (that I thank God for) that cost $6,000 each and I am awake now at 4:28 a.m.ive been through another round of steroids, and two antibiotics, and drops two different types of drops for my ears and no relief.
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There is a delicate balance of water, salt (sodium), potassium etc in the fluid that flows thru the middle ear. when there is an issue (like ETD etc), drink a lot of water and make sure ur getting enough potassium like potatoes and bananas. also, if u lose weight, the fleshy part of your etubes lose weight/ mass & can create problems- so gain weight. get yr ears checked 4 broken off crystal(s). And: the vertigo may also be due to your etube staying open longer than it should due to inertia when u move yr head too fast. Also- decrease the amount of histamine in yr diet (see foods w low histamine) and get yr B9 (folate) checked to see if it's too high. and: u may have migraines w aura ( as its called). solution: do an elisa igg test 4 food intolerances. dont eat any if the foods on the left side of the igg list for 3 months. believe it or not: food intolerances r a huge part of migraines and inflammation (which r happening possibly due to not enough, or the right digestive enzymes being produced cause of back up from your intestines putting more work on yr liver/pancreas causing too much mucous in the duct. Finally: food intolerances can cause anxiety, panic disorders, depression, migraines w or w/o aura. fixing yr diet and u may get rid of ALL yr issues w/o ever having to take a single med. anyways: raise all these potentials w yr doctor. and see a few doctors til u get the right treatment and understanding. the brain gut relationship is 'new' to MDs and many r sliw to catch on or catch up.
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Have you considered superior canal dehiscent?
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took bath with cold water , some entered the ear . had a bad vertigo( dizziness) soon after that which lasted for hours and was also associated with vomiting
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I got the same feeling yesterday, but it happened instantialy, you see I was tubing and I fell of on a angle that made my ear to fill up with a far amont of water, that second I got the dizzy drunk feeling and was not able to continue tubing, the next morning [now ATM] my ear still has water in it do it feels, will this disappear by its self or will I have to see a doctor ????
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Would absolutely love to chat with some of you regarding the ear and dizzy issues.  I too have had all these symptoms with no help from doctors.  If any of you are on facebook, friend request me and lets chat.  Maybe together we can figure out something to help us all feel better.  http://www.facebook.com/blueeyesbb
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Avatar universal
You might have an allergy to mold which is causing fluid/pressure in your ear which could cause dizziness.
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Hey all, I got an excellent tip that has been helping me tons with this- if you have to wear ear plugs at work or to sleep at night, you HAVE to stop using them for a while for this to clear!  

My doc told me this and I actually noticed a marked improvement a day later- I know, it seems like a no-brainer, but I totally hadn't thought about it and was still wearing my ear plugs at night- once I stopped, the fluid started to move (and apparently was full of bacteria, as I now have a sinus infection, but I'm told that is not uncommon.)

I really hope this tip will help some other people, it definitely helped me!
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Avatar universal
Thank god.  I am not alone.  I have good days and bad, but have been off and on feeling like I'm on a boat when I'm on stable ground.  It is so frustrating and so scary at times.  I was diagnosed with fluid on my right ear drum and prescribed meclizine, but that makes me so tired I can't tell if I'm coming or going- it's like trading one symptom of drunkenness for another.  I have had a lot of stress in recent history, I think, too, which is probably not helping.  Reading what everyone here has to say, I think there is a good probability that I have sinus swelling that is keeping my ear from draining.  I'm thankful for the good days, but MAN do I wish I could reach a point where this was just a memory.  Today has been particularly bad, but it is oddly comforting to know there are other people like me (exactly like me for the other person who is 30 with a bmi of 27!) who have this problem.  It really will make you feel like you are completely insane.  Here is hoping we ALL find some relief.  
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Avatar universal
I also had BPPV and  have perminant vestibular nerve damage which I was told was from a virus. I had the VNG/ENG testing after two months of being told it was a virus and would get better. I had physical therapy for the bppv which worked (the Epley procedure and the semont manuever).  I still have an off felling.  I am trying an allergist who found I am allergic to many things and has me taking an antihistamine and nose spray.  He said I have fluid in my ear which might be causing this "off" feeling.  I am only on this for a day and have not noticed any difference yet.   I also tried a chiropractor, accupuncture, herbs (ginger and gingo), meclizine, been tested for lyme (read on some blogs people who had undiagnosed lyme had vertigo) and have an appointment with a neurologist.  I am probably 85% of normal after 16 weeks.  I will let you know if the allergist or the nuerologist helps.  I understand how fustrated you are.  Let me know if you come up with anything and I will do the same.
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Avatar universal
Eight years ago I had all of the things that have been discussed here. Control of Gaze is what the dizzy feeling is called. Ringing in my ears. I had Cat scans, MRI's of my head. I went to ENT doctor. Had my eyes checked. I got sick and was given a round of antibiotics. They did not make me 100% well so I went back for a second round. While there I was told by a P.A. your drain tubes must be plugged. This was causing all of my ear problems. It was like a light bulb went off in my head, after all the test and two years of suffering. The second round of antibiotics cleared up my problems and I have had no trouble since. I hope this may help some of you.
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Well, here goes.  For the last five years i have suffered  with balance disorder  and .dizziness, had to quite driving. Have gone to seversal drs. I also have c-spine stenosis.,  One surgeon said could be from stenosis,  ent said it could be from sinuses and deveted septum.  Finely, a neuro says it is ataxia, which is of course a  balance disorder.  I have had all the tests.  mri, cts,  had therapy to learn how to mantain balace. All for nothing,  is has gotten worse, not better, then went to primary dr,  who says i am depressed.  duhhhhh.   I get real anxious when i have real bad days with diziness and balance problems.  Does anybody else have anything like this    ?
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Avatar universal
I have had ear pain for about two years now and finally get to see the ENT doc. It was off and on at first but now its every day, I also have ringing, hissing and when the pain is bad purring (its the only way I can describe it).The pain goes from a dull pain to a sharp stabbing pain which also increases with a headache and I also have the vertigo sometimes too. Last time I was at the doctor's she told me I had fluid in my ears and finally is sending me to the specialist. I had to wait a month to get the appt and now 3and half months for the actually appt. I'm not holding out my hope with all the doctors who can't seem to help us with this problem.
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Avatar universal
I can remember when I felt normal, it's hard to think that a year ago I didn't have this problem. I feel so disconnected from the world, at times I just sit there. After having this overwhelming feeling of brain fog, dizzy, ear pressure, popping and sometimes pain. I have been to dr, to mri of brain, CT of sinus, and ent, vng, which showed me having a nystagmus. I am finally back to the ent. The are having me do eply's but they're not working. I have looked and looked everywhere and it seems frustrating to find peoples' post but you don't ever know if they got healed or not and what they have used. So they call this bppv and vestibular disorder, I just want a cure!!
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Avatar universal
I have been dizzy everyday going five years now and been to every kind of doctor there is for this and nothing seems to help. My doc tells me it is stress.So my ? is if someone can answer "Can stress make you so dizzy that u can hardly walk?"
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Avatar universal
My left ear started bothering me Sept. 1, 10 - feeling of fullness and loud white noise (the noise you hear when the tv goes off the air) and the onset of a feeling of hang over ... dizziness in the head.

Went to doc - was diagnosed with BPVV (Vertigo) put on meclizine, nose spray and sudafed. Nothing helped. Dizziness got worse.

While on business in FL - went to ER for CAT scan - nothing found. Followed up with ENT in FL ... did hearing test - left ear was bad - right ear was ok. Shot of cortisone in ear drum - followed up a week later with another hearing test - hearing improved so another shot of corisone. Still had dizziness -- nothing was even touching the head issues .... got so bad i felt like i was doing barrel rolls ....

Also did some chiropractic and saw a physical therapist that taught me to do the epiley procedure which seemed to help but I’m still battling this last 10% of dizziness and the left ear is not letting up at all!

Back home - saw ENT here - finally got ok to do MRI. MRI showed left ear was fine - but that there was fluid in right ear and some minor cysts that doc wasn't too concerned with ... but in the mean time left ear is still feeling full and hearing loud white noise and dizziness!

I asked the doc what's the next step and he said a hearing aid ... i said no about the dizziness ... he said to take zyrtec and see if that eliminated the fluid build up! So basically after 8+ weeks - i'm back to square one!!!! ARGGGHHHHH!!!!!
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Avatar universal
I have the same medical issues as you do! I was on many medications for a cough (apparently from an old bacterial infection), and my doctor believes that my "episodes" are cause by them. I would get dizzy, increased HR, vertigo etc. and feel very scared that I was going to pass out. This has happened twice since last week. My heart rate took forever to decrease, but the dizziness normally went away. One day though I was at a waterpark and hot it again, but now the dizziness has stayed.
I was put on a pill to help with the dizziness. It helps sometimes, but I find I am much better lying down. I tried driving alone today- bad idea! I was scared the whole way home that I would have to stop driving.
My doctor thinks its fluid in the inner ear.

Have you found any relief? What have you taken for medications for this? Thanks.
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Avatar universal
I have thyroid issue's, as well as just began having the dizziness and "fluid" sounds in my ears.
I have seen some article's on BPPV and the Epley maneuver. Some of you might want to look into this.
Hope it helps.
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Avatar universal
I've had fluid in my ears since I was 13 and now im 25. I hate going to the doctor so I always put it off. I always have the fluid but it gets really worse when I get a cold.It feeks like my right ear gets plugged and pressure pain that becomes difficult to bare. Any one elese get really dizzy when you move your ear muscles to move the fluid apart, or any ways to get rid of it. Day of Christmas 09', I went to emergency cause the pain was too much. I took anti-biotics for 2 weeks and loritab. The pain left but still fluid. Anyone have any information about this please post a comment
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