Hi,
I've had increased hearing loss since my rheumatologist lowered my medrol medication (in July) from 12 to 10 mg. I saw my ent specialist on Oct 11th and after I took a hearing test, he told me I had increased hearing loss (conductive and neurosensal) in my left ear. He attributed it initially to a possible cold/flu but I told him I've had no cold or flu symptoms recently.
I saw my rheumatologist on Nov. 27th and he felt that the increased hearing loss was due to lowering the medrol medication. I recently saw my ent. specialist (Dec. 27th) and he concurred with what the rheumatologist said (that decreasing the medrol caused increase hearing loss).
After removing a lot of wax from the left ear, the ent. doctor discovered that I had severe inflammation of the ear canal and he gave me steroid/antibiotic drops to use in that ear. He told to come back in ten days so that I can take a hearing test. On a side note, I also would like to add that he said that an inflammation in the ear, would look the same whether or not it was caused by an infection or an autoimmune process as there is a strong possibility (he said) that the "infection" I'm having, might be be part of a flareup that I'm currently having. I also want to add that I have been on cellcept (250 mg) for approximately two months or so and was told recently by my rheumatologist to increase it to 500 mg.
I've also had increased sinus pain/congestion for the past three or four weeks and my ent doc said that he might perform another ct. scan of my sinuses and/or scoping (last ct. scan showed inflammation in all the four sinus cavities) at the next office visit.
I would like to know if anyone has had similar symptoms (esp. inflammation of the ear canal) as me as I'm not sure if I having a flareup of the ears & sinuses and/or combination of both a flareup/infection and would your would love to hear your thoughts/comments on my situation. Thanks!
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