Ruptured Eardrum

[Tuba Guy]

So, I went back to the doctor today after I stopped being able to hear in my right ear (and some major pain there too)...a little backstory, last week i went in there, and was diagnosed with with a 101.2 fever and ear infection. i was given amoxacilin, and told that if it didn't get better in about 10 days, to come back. Well, my ear stopped working today, so I figured now would be a good time to pay a visit.
Anywho...is a ruptured eardrum something that could have been caused by my tuba playing, and is it something that could be agrivated by such? I have a couple small concerts coming up that I could get some people to sub for me, but I also have my jury in 2 weeks...should I not even go near a horn, or what?
Thanks Tubenet

[Tuba Guy]

Good job...you just made me laugh so hard I started coughing...haha
Other hobbies? what other hobbies do you mean? I suppose I could do that essay that was due almost a week ago, or sign up for classes (...started at the beginning of the week)...or play Paper Mario (N64 emulator!!!), but that's all I could think of

[tubafatness]

I would say do whatever your doctor says to do, while also explaining to him just how important it is to be in contact with the horn, and how much it means to your grades and schoolwork. If he says lay off the tuba for a few weeks, lay off the tuba for a few weeks. Ruptured eardrums are nothing to mess around with. Doing anything that can disrupt the healing process could potentially etch away at your normal hearing abilities. As someone who used to have chronic ear infections, (and who has lived with a moderate hearing loss his whole life,) don't mess around with your ears.

I'm sure if you explained your situation to your teacher and to the music faculty, they would understand the necessity in laying off the tuba for a bit. In all honesty, I can't think of a reason for your music grades to suffer because of something as serious as a ruptured eardrum. They may have to put you on "academic probation", or postpone your jury to next semester. But they shouldn't be able to completely screw you over because of an unforeseen and serious medical problem.

[Tuba Guy]

Brian-got it...took me a while...too many perscriptions in me, plus being sick is making me way more tired than i should be...so my coherence isn't the highest right now

Tubafatness, awesome, thanks...I am trying to schedule an appointment with an ear doctor, but if they aren't able to see me tomorrow, I may have to wait until tuesday. Good news? I have a friend who can cover for me completely reliably in the orchestra concert (he's a better player than he (or most people) give him credit for, and the part is nothing more than whole notes every few minutes)

[jeopardymaster]

Sympathies.

I went through this back when I was a senior in high school. Went home from school at 3 with an earache, couldn't get it to clear, and by 8 I was biting my hand to keep from screaming. Pain such as I've never felt before or since, like someone put a nailgun to my head. Blown-out eardrum, blood, pus and goo squirting down the side of my face.

The good news - my doc at the time, who had played tuba in high school and college, told me to lay off playing for a couple of weeks but that the back pressure from playing tuba should not be a serious problem long-term. Just take it easy at first when I started back up. If it were oboe, he said, then a longer recuperation. Four weeks after the injury I auditioned for and made the KY All-State Band.

If your doc says you're done as a tuba player, find another doc.

Meanwhile, dose up on Vitamin C and protein.

[GC]

I had a chronic problem with ear infections and ruptured eardrums as a child. Back in the '50's and '60's, they were far more common than they are today. I was always able to go back to playing after about a week, but your case may be different, so express your concerns to your doctor but follow his advice.

My parents were chain smokers, and I lived in a very tight, leak-free house. I ended up with ear infections (usually both ears) and ruptured eardrums every 6-8 weeks during cold weather because the house stayed closed up. The more time I spent away from home, the fewer problems with my ears I had. When I hit college and got away from the smog, they almost stopped. Now I might have one infection every 3-4 years, and tubes in the ears prevent rupture.

Ruptured eardrums are ungodly painful, but if you don't develop a chronic problem (or if the point of attachment of the ear bones is not involved) it should normally be a simple recovery. Best of luck.

[SinNawlins]

I had lots of infections and hearing problems but they turned out to be excess earwax. So who knows? It might not be as bad as you think...

But do use the issue to get a reprieve from your 'jury' until you can get the problem under control. Don't force it when it might possibly take away from your performance.

[oldbandnerd]

Go get it looked at but go to a specialist. You need a specialist in Otolaryngology and Otology/Neurotology.Forget about going to a G.P. . I just had surgery on my left ear to repair a collapsed ear drum. I'd had problems for at leat 10 years with the hearing and had it looked at by several different doctors. I had gone to this specialist because of a balance problem not related to my left ear drum but he discovered that it was collapsed.
Anyway a perforated eardrum can be repaired by the same procedure he did on me. It's called a Tympanoplasty : http://www.surgerydoor.co.uk/so/detail2 ... asty%20%20(Adult" target="_blank)

[Tuba Guy]

Well, a little follow up.
So, yesterday, I had gone in and been diagnosed with a perforated eardrum (my bad, I was told that it could turn into a ruptured one and got the two terms confused). The doctor prescribed ear drops. A little while after using those, I got a pretty bad rash. This morning I went back to the doctor, and was told that it is most likely a side effect of the medecine i had been taking for a week (which magically appeared after the drops? w/e...)
I went to an ear specialist, and was told that it is in fact....a blister on my eardrum. Painful? Yes. Hearing loss? yes. But playing tuba won't damage it any more. It may hurt to play, so for the time being, I have been given time off from playing if needed.
I'm also incredibly itchy, waiting for the side effects of the other mediccine to go away.

[peter birch]

Well, a little follow up.
I'm also incredibly itchy, waiting for the side effects of the other mediccine to go away.

Also, take that seriously and report it to your doctor, it could be a reaction to the antibiotics which may have future health implications for you.

[Tuba Guy]

I did, and they put me on something for that (which hasn't worked yet)....can't really sleep too well...

[ken k]

I ruptured an eardrum Jan of 2008. This happended after about 4 months of chronic sinus infections (and consequently ear infections) Other than sounding like everyone was playing a kazoo for awhile I don't think there were any serious longterm consequences. My hearing is back to normal (as far as i can tell anyway). After the infection finally cleared, I ended up getting a "sinusechtomy" (?) where they removed a good portion of excess sinus material and straightened out a deviated septum last June. The good news is I have not had a sinus (or ear) infection since. Even now with allergy season in full bloom I have not had a problem at all. Pretty amazing. I hope it all clears up for you.

ken k