I’m sorry, LIsa. I was really hoping that it would at least result in some more tests that might give a hint if not a full diagnosis. I’m so sorry you wasted time, money and (especially!) energy on that trip.

*hugs*

What I don’t get is why wait for the culture? I asked him about complications and he pretty much said complications don’t happen anymore because medicine is so advanced and people go to the doctor. In his words – I haven’t seen mastoiditis since the 90′s and even though your skull is right there, I’ve only seen one case of someone having something go wrong there.

Dyspatient – I turned to you for the meaning of sensitivity and mycotic because you provide details beyond regular Internet info. Thank you!

Mycotic is fungal (general idea being that the long term/repeated antibiotic use could have made for a friendlier environment for a fugal overgrowth). You can just ask “could it be fungal?” if you say “mycotic” then I guarantee chilly responses. More on this topic: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3216882; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19649486

I am horrified that they have not cultured this stuff yet. You’ve had ear infections for so long! What the hell are they thinking? With the misuse of antibiotics and the development of drug resistant infections, I think culture and sensitivity (especially for a chronic/recurring infection) is just common sense. But when has common sense had much to do with business as usual? :/

Here’s what I think. If they culture it and find out it’s mycotic or very drug resistant bacterial, then your ENT doc should have to write an essay on “what I learned from my internet using patient” and submit it to a journal as a cautionary tale.

With ear infection – no culture and sensitivity by ENT. What is sensitivity? Prior to going to ENT, my PCP attempted a culture but I had already cleaned the goop out and as we expected, it didn’t show anything. That was a few months ago.

ENT says that in 2 weeks, of oral and drops of antibiotics don’t clear up, he may do a culture. I asked what he would be looking for with culture and I got no direct response.

You know more that ENT seems to: what is mycotic infection?

You can send me a bill for this consult. !

How frustrating about the ear infection. Have they done a culture and sensitivity? Do you know if they checked for a mycotic infection?

Thinking of you!! xo

Btw – I care about you and wish you weren’t getting worse. No matter what, you have a friend in me.

Am I understanding that your dx is still undefined myopathy? If so, I especially am glad to know that docs are taking it serious enough to finally get the treatment. This is great news. Thanks again!