Hi everyone I went to see my specialist on Monday a long awaited appointments, which took all of 5 minutes!!! Specialist I say this in the loosest term, I don't know how they can call themselves that since they are not interested in their patients. Anyway he suggested having a grommet fitted but said it would be 50/50 if it worked!!! Has anyone had one fitted, if so has it helped?
More details symptoms, duration?.etc...
I am partially deaf, have tinnitus, dizziness and dysfunctional Eustachian tube. Had tinnitus for about 5/6 years was diagnosed with MD about 4 months ago.
Yes, had a grommet fitted sept 2014 it came out sept 2016. I have been vertigo free during this time. They put a steroid of dexamthasone in at same time.
I had a grommet put in when I first developed MD, about 10 yrs ago. At that time it completed stopped all the vertigo! I was left with hearing loss and tinnitus but I could live with that. The grommet stayed in for 2 yrs and even when it fell out I was vertigo free for 8 more years! Unfortunately this year the vertigo returned with avengense. I was having attacks twice a week lasting 8-12 hrs ( not a lot of fun). I did al the usual things low salt, diuretics and betahistine with no real help! I then had a grommet put in, this time there was no immediate effect but after about a month the frequencyjf the attacks dropped off.
I don't really understand why and it might be coincidental but I would suggest it's a minor op which may help. It it doesn't the next step would be to consider intra-tympanic gentamycin. This probably has the best evidence to support its use in MD but does carry a significant risk of hearing loss!!
Hope this helps!
Hi thanks for this, I've heard a few people say it dropped off, my specialist didn't bother to take the time to explain how it is fitted he said it was a quick procedure. Can you explain how it's fitted and why it dropped of?
Hi can you explain how this is fitted and why it came out? Thanks
A grommet is a small plastic tube fitted in the ear drum. It is normally done under a general anaesthetic and involves making a small hole in your eardrum and inserting the grommet. It can be done under local anaesthetic but I was warned this was a bit uncomfortable!
As the eardrum heals the grommet is pushed out. Most last 6 months to 2 years.
Your ENT surgeon should really explain all this if your not happy with the explanations you are getting I would suggest seeing someone else!!
Thank you so much for this great explanation! I have been wondering for the longest time, what a "grommet" could possibly be, in this context!
Thanks again!
J-
Hi
Thanks for explaining this, I think it's probably worth a try. I'm not happy with my specialist he is very uncaring and has no interest in my welfare at all I am considering wiring a letter of complaint, he couldn't be bothered explaining this process and was extremely negative towards me.