O.N. v. Allergies

[Bobbi]

Is there some type of exam or are there certain symptoms that facilitate a doctor's ability to make a differential dx between O.N. and severe allergies, i.e., when the eustachian tube is affected by inflammation?

Saw my doctor this week, and I sure as heck don't know which is which; the two sure feel much the same: P-a-i-n-f-u-l.

My doctor noted it - for labwork she's ordered - as ICD-9 995.3.

I do have allergies, I know that, and have been on Zyrtec for ages (pre-dating when it became an OTC); I've also had RF'ing on my C-spine related to O.N.

It's great if doctors are able to make the distinction. Is it also possible for me to know the diff. (so I know which doctor I should be seeing) when the pain is terrible? As I mentioned, the pain feels the same to me; it hits pretty much the same areas.

[Kathi49]

Bobbi,

I just don't know as I don't have severe allergies. I CAN say that when the ON was at its worst painwise, my ears felt stuffed up. As a matter of fact I had to go through some hearing tests. And of course the eustachian tube is right there too. Anyway, I just don't have an answer just what the my PM said. That the nerves are so tight and congested in there they "crosstalk" to the auditory nerves. I know this doesn't help with the eustachian tube stuff. But it was affecting my ears/hearing or whatever. I always had some kind of ringing too. But I can definitely understand how you could FEEL it in the same areas. Glad to know too the doc is ordering a test and I hope someone can come along and give you a better answer. All I am really saying is that I simply felt stuffy in my ears when it was going on. And then of course you probably already heard my story a long time ago when I said a blocked tube blew one of my eardrums out. :( And I DID have a spring allergy going on at that time.

And also, I am glad to see they made a separate board for this. I don't know if people realize how incredibly painful ON is!

[Nik-key]

HI Bobbi,

I can understand the ear pain, I never know if mine is from ON or TN.

If you have ON it is my understanding it wouldn't effect the facial allery sinus....I assume that is how they would be able to tell the difference?

http://<a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i27.tinypic.com/2llexbt.jpg" border="0" alt="Image and video hosting by TinyPic"></a>

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http://www.asaabstracts.com/strands/asaabstracts/abstract.htm;jsessionid=6716CB19EA9FC4F3B6048B43DF 1A7377?year=2004&index=12&absnum=886

Hope this has helped and you find some relief soon :hug: Nikki