A rant

[mgaggie]

Went to see my ear specialist today, to spend only five minutes in there for him to clean my ears, and tell me there is nothing he can do about my ear drum bursting. He suggested that I try a FFM as that should help.

$150 poorer (which I was not told I 'd have to pay upfront)

One good thing he said is that my respiratory specialist is one of the best, so thats something

[stage0]

I would expect to have a sign at the front door about paymet....must have been a very small sign

[mgaggie]

Most receptionist tell you if there is an out of pocket expense when making an appointment. I will get a large portion of it back from Medicare, but it would of been nice to have known about it. It was money that was towards car registration due Friday.

Sigh, first world problems

[khauser]

How did you burst your eardrum? There's a slight insinuation that it was related to CPAP, and if so I really want to know what happened...

[DeadlySleep]

Went to see my ear specialist today, to spend only five minutes in there for him to clean my ears, and tell me there is nothing he can do about my ear drum bursting. He suggested that I try a FFM as that should help.

$150 poorer (which I was not told I 'd have to pay upfront)

One good thing he said is that my respiratory specialist is one of the best, so thats something

An ear doc knows about FFMs? I am impressed.

Thinks it will help a burst ear drum???? Maybe he thinks FFMs also cover the ears?

BTW, I thought Oz medical care is "free" and wonderful. Why are you complaining?

[mgaggie]

How did you burst your eardrum? There's a slight insinuation that it was related to CPAP, and if so I really want to know what happened...

Ever since I can remember I've had multiple ear infections, burst ear drums. The specialist described my ear drums as being quite scarred.

My original CPAP pressure was 12, and it blew a hole in my ear drum. Pressure has been adjusted down to 8, and so far no problems. I should point out what has happened is totally different to ears 'popping' when in an airplane.

[mgaggie]

Went to see my ear specialist today, to spend only five minutes in there for him to clean my ears, and tell me there is nothing he can do about my ear drum bursting. He suggested that I try a FFM as that should help.

$150 poorer (which I was not told I 'd have to pay upfront)

One good thing he said is that my respiratory specialist is one of the best, so thats something

An ear doc knows about FFMs? I am impressed.

Thinks it will help a burst ear drum???? Maybe he thinks FFMs also cover the ears?

BTW, I thought Oz medical care is "free" and wonderful. Why are you complaining?

He even personally knew my respiratory specialist.
His reasoning for a FFM is that breathing through both nose and mouth should help eqaulise the pressure, he said it MIGHT help, no guarantee.

Oz health care isn't totally free. If the Dr bulk bills, then its free. But this ENT doesn't. What I'm complaining about is that I wasn't told of the upfront cost when I made the appointment (previously I'd been bulked billed). The money I had to use was earmarked for my car registration, so now that will have to wait until next pay day which means, I can't drive it.

[Goofproof]

That doesn't compute that a FF mask will help much, the mouth and nasal are common ducted with the ears and eyes. Sounds like you have a eardrum weakness or infection problems. XPAP pressure should not harm normal eardrums. Jim

[mgaggie]

Yes I would definately say I have eardrum weakness, because I sometimes blow my nose and it will burst

[msla]

Just an offhand observation. Would the foam ear plugs that you compress and then insert for hearing protection help to "slow" rapid pressure changes to the middle ear when on the CPAP? I did this a few nights and noticed a slight effect.

[chunkyfrog]

Might have to go with ear plugs designed to equalize air pressure.
http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/ear-pl ... 0039e52967

[ChicagoGranny]

Might have to go with ear plugs designed to equalize air pressure.
http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/ear-pl ... 0039e52967

$240/month

[mgaggie]

Might have to go with ear plugs designed to equalize air pressure.
http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/ear-pl ... 0039e52967

This would certainly worth trying, not a huge cost going to waste if they don't work. ATM with my pressure changed down to 8 I've only had one bursting. I am concerned that after my third study they will want to increase the pressure again.

Chicagogranny I wouldn't put fresh ones in each night, so the cost wouldn't be that much. In fact I probably wouldn't use them every night as I can sometimes 'feel' if my ears are going to play up (hope you know what I mean?)

[Shellie_p]

I wonder why the doc didnt possibly suggest tubes. After all kids who have issues with drainage get em pretty commonly. they are temporary though and only last up to like 3 years or so. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tympanostomy_tube
But one of my kids had hers for almost 5 years.

[mgaggie]

I have no idea about him not suggesting tubes (I have 3 lots of them over the years). When my drum burst, I could feel the air rushing through the hole, so maybe tubes would just do the same? They are really only designed to drain fluid.

He said that can't stop the air going through the eustachian tubes.