Itchy ears and sinus pressure

25F, BMI healthy range, no smoking, no drugs, low alcohol consumption. Physical job, good shape. Medications beclometasone (asthma), sertraline. North Europe.
EYES: For the past month I have had nonstop visual problems which feels like a migraine aura. My vision is grainy like TV static noise. If I look at a geometric pattern, it starts moving: if I stand on our geometric rug and look down, my feet disappear from my vision. If lighting changes, I see white and black spots and patches moving around. If I close my eyes, I also see patches moving, even flashing lights sometimes. I struggle to focus on looking at things, other thigns around the focus point start moving or then I have double vision. I have occasional pain behind my **left eye**, a feeling of pressure, sometimes tingling and goosebumbs in the eyesocket. One night red spots (petechiae) appeared around this eye.
VERTIGO/EARS: I have vertigo on and off. At worst I couldn't stand straight without swaying and even crawled on the floor cause everything was spinning. If I close my eyes and try to walk or stand on one leg, I fall down. (Normally I do sports that require good balance and am able to eg. go up and down a rope on one leg and jump onto obstacles and slide while downhill skiing.) I have tinnitus, mainly low noise like holding an ear against a seashell, sometimes periods of loud beeps. Once I lost hearing in my **left ear** for a period of time.
COGNITIVE: I forget things a lot and struggle to focus. I've always been absentminded but never this featherbrained. Before in my life I had never lost my bank card, and only once left the house while forgetting my keys inside. Now in a short period of time I have lost my bank card twice and keys twice and only got them back with the help of strangers. I have also felt just generally disorientated at times, asking stupid questions and misunderstanding what I'm told and just having very absurd thought chains that leave me acting like an idiot over something that could be done simply.
NUMBNESS: My legs, hands from elbow down, and mouth went numb last Saturday and still remain a little bit numb. I struggled walking, had to sit down a lot, and my grip wasn't as tight as normal. I felt lightheaded standing. I could speak and smile, though, and my face wasn't and never has been droopy. When I smile, though, the muscles on the left side of my mouth tense up unusually with wrinkles that used not to be there.
SWALLOWING: I struggle swallowing at times, threw up water once and just keep coughing at other times. (The petechiae I mentioned earlier happened after I threw up, so it could also be a result of that.)
EXHAUSTION: One day I was able to stay awake for just five hours (granted I was in the ER the past night for numbness), another night I slept for like fifteen hours. I am tired a lot, some days all I can do is lie in bed or sit on couch, other days I have to take more breaks and just go to bed right after work (if I've been even able to get to work.)
Tests so far: EKG normal. CBC normal. Blood pressure within normal range, a little elevated in one test but could have been just me worrying about not being able to stand at the time. Blood sugar and culture normal. I tried Epley manoeuvre for two weeks as a doctor suggested it, either that or rest from sick leave days might have improved the vertigo from "unable to stand without swaying" to "just annoying."
I feel like doctors aren't taking me seriously, even brought up my mental health history out of the bush like I'm imagining things even though I'm all gucci on that end. I get that my symptoms are unusual as a whole and they find it unlikely it's anything acute, but my life is so hellish with this shit, it's like flipping a coin if I'll be lying in bed all day with a headache and nausea and numbness and what not, or when I do drag my ass to work, if I gotta drag a chair around cause I struggle standing, and keep pushing myself to the end of the shift telling myself "just one more hour." It's also annoying I haven't seen properly for a month, even now writing this hurts my head. It's like they are hiding referrals like government secrets lol.
Background information: I have asthma and alfa-1-antitrypsin-deficiency (MZ alleles). I have also been on sertraline for years. (I did stop it last autumn when a doctor suggested it wasn't necessary anymore. I have family history of bipolar, and experienced a two week period of hypomania like symptoms after stopping. Soon after, a stressful life event triggered a depressive episode, which lasted for two months, but subsided as I started the medication again and got over the stressful life event. For the past four months I have had less stress than normally, I have been happy, I love my new work, I have friends, etc. When starting and ending sertraline I had mild side symptoms such as a feeling of vertigo for a second or two when moving my head quickly, but I would find it quite strange that a medication that has worked well for me for years would suddenly be behind all these strange symptoms that started about a month ago.)

Hi! I'm a male, 46 yo, 1.68 meters tall, 65 kg. In 2000, while preparing for a corneal transplant due to rapidly declining vision acuity caused by keratoconus I was feeling bad (pulsating pain in left arm, headaches, numb small finger on left arm). Going through different doctors, I was diagnosed with diabetes (marked as "probably MODY"), and put on a diet. Each time I ate too much, I started feeling bad again, but my blood sugar remained normal. In 2003 I was hospitalized again in the endocrinology ward, and again discharged on diet with 'diabetes', despite normal sugars; also was sent to geneticists, but they found nothing.
In 2010, while studying at courses (preparation for an institute), I went off the diet and ate more, because I was feeling tired; basically it was not overeating in normal person's terms; my blood sugars were okay. This overeating caused a kind of stressed stuporous state, but I persisted; I started having weird sensations in my left arm again.
After some days I had a "stroke-like episode" with dizziness and a kind of numbness in the left half of the lips, left arm, left foot. I was afraid and went back to my strict diet, took some cardio aspirin, resumed taking an ACE inhibitor, despite normal pressure. This was when I first had an MRI scan of the brain, and it revealed only an unrelated tumor of the trigeminal nerve (1 by 2 cm, invading a bit into the left orbital cavity), described as "probably a schwannoma" - this tumor has not grown a bit ever since, it has the same size on all scans since 2010. Except this tumor, located in the left cavernous sinus, nothing was found.
After this stroke-like episode, I could not properly read texts - upon reading, I was having attacks of dizziness and sudden strong ear blockage, a kind of 'airplane ear', and sensations of heaviness in my left arm. The same happened upon starting each meal. I was afraid of subsequent episodes, so I went on a really strict diet.
I then had myself hospitalized in the same endocrinology ward and asked the docs there to finally discover what this so-called "diabetes" was, with neurological symptoms and with normal blood sugars. They instead decided to put me on insulin therapy, on tiny doses, only 3 units of ultra-fast Apidra insulin per meal, with no long-acting insulin. Their reasoning was that I was having "anorexia nervosa" and that the insulin would "make me eat more". No amount of describing my neurological symptoms would dissuade them.
I signed an informed refusal to start on insulin, and they discharged me with a diagnosis of "diabetes, probably MODY" again. I then nearly starved myself, being afraid of overeating and having a new stroke-like episode. I could not read, so I spent time listening to audiobooks. Then, half-starved, I had myself voluntarily hospitalized there again and consented to start on this microdosing insulin treatment in November 2011.
Surprizingly, on this microdosing insulin regimen my strange left-sided sensations gradually diminished, over the course of the next 6 months, and I could read again without sudden attacks of "airplane ear" and dizziness and feelings of "my left arm is weirdly heavy/stiff all of a sudden". By the end of 2012, I was working as a translator, studying for a university again, jogging and bicycling.
On 20 April 2018 I had an attack of lower back pain after a bicycle ride in the cold; had some etorixocib prescribed for it; the pain went away in mere days, and bouts of severe fatigue set in. After each bicycle ride, however light, I was having 2 to 3 days of not being able to do anything. I could not translate, I was mentally too slow. My total urinary 24h cortisol was constantly at about 150% of the upper range and my blood potassium was slightly elevated. Doctors found nothing, I went to the psychiatry hospital and they found "sub-depression" (their tests showed that I was 1 point short of being in "light depression). We decided to try out escitalopram, and it worked - my cortisol normalized, I could work again.
In November 2020 I started having bouts of heavy feeling in my left flank some 1 hour after each meal, accompanied with extreme fatigue which lasted for many hours, until the food went completely through the GI tract. I could not work again: slow thinking, tiredness. In the summer 2023 I was hospitalized in the gastro ward of the same hospital, but they found nothing.
While in the gastro ward, I was asked to undergo a planned hospitalization for my diabetes, since they noticed that I had no such hospitalization ever since 2011. I said that I would only consent to that if during my stay I would be re-tested for the presence of diabetes, because I was highly suspicious on whether I actually had it. They agreed, and during my stay in the endo ward, I had a glucose tolerance test accompanied with two measurements of C-peptide. This revealed that my pancreas was producing insulin and I had no diabetes.
I still had several days to remain in the endo ward, so the doc and me decided that I would eat a lot of carb-rich food, and track my blood sugars with the Bluetooth sensor they put on my upper arm. I treated myself to cookies and honey and stuff, and my sugars were just fine - but I suddenly had the same neurological feelings that had vanished in 2012 upon starting on the microdose insulin regimen.
So I was discharged from that unit for the fifth time since 2000, only this time with "no diabetes" in my discharge paper instead of "diabetes, probably MODY" -- but I go on injecting micro-doses of insulin before meals, because otherwise the 'airplane ear' and 'heavy left arm' and 'numb left part of lips/external fingers on left foot/hand' reemerge. Stopping insulin increases these sensations, restarting insulin brings them gradually down.
I was sent to the geneticists again, and as a condition for seeing me they had me take another MRI scan. This time, to my amazement, the radiologist's impression contained a mention of a "lesion in the right part of the corpora quadrigemina area, probably an area of gliosis". The geneticists did some dry blood spot testing and found nothing.
I went to my neurosurgeon and asked what this lesion in the tectum (corpora quadrigemina) could be. She took all the MRI scans dating back to 2015 which I had with me, and after perusing them for a long time said that the same spot is visible on all previous scans; and that she has no idea what it is, but the spot is of the same size, so she indends to pursue watchful waiting, with follow-up MRI scans every 2 years.
I went home and managed to find the rest of the MRI scans dating back to February 2010, shortly after my "stroke-like episode". I can see the lesion there.
I have these questions: 1) Why would radiologists not mention a midbrain lesion in their impression papers for years? Is it clinically insignificant? 2) Could a lesion there be somehow related to my odd sensations? 3) What could have caused the lesion to arise there in the first place, while I was only 32 years old, or even 22 years old (if it arose there in 2000)? 4) Why insulin treatment diminishes these sensations, while going off insulin and eating a lot of carbs makes them worse?
What can I do to research my condition further? I have little confidence in local doctors in Russia, having been treated for a non-existent diabetes for 23 years. Recently I had some stress at work (my attention is flagging, so I had to go from being a translator to being a food delivery person), and my left arm is feeling heavy sometimes, despite the insulin, and I have weird sensations of being a little clumsy, despite not being clumsy in reality.
I'm ready to provide additional information. I'm currently taking 150 mg venlafaxine, 75 mcg thyroxine, 5 mg rosuvastatin, and 1600 to 2000 mcg methylfolate daily. I visit a psychiatrist for a follow up and to renew drug prescriptions. I'm trying to save for a psychotherapist, but my salary is peanuts, so I haven't been able thus far.
I have MRI scans from 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2022 and 2024 - the lesion is visible on each of them, but is described only on the radiologist's impression from the spring of 2024. I can upload the scans somewhere if necessary. The lesion is described as "a T2-enhancing area, 6 by 6 by 8 mm in size, with no mass effect".

I need the otolaryngology medical community’s help, as many physicians have been stumped by my situation. Admins, please read before deciding to delete. I am not a medical professional, but I possess a unique situation that cannot seem to be resolved by the medical professionals available to me. I am not sure how to phrase this without breaking the subreddit’s only rule, so I will try to express it in a manner oriented to my obsessive curiosity to understand my (undiagnosed) condition.
 
For starters, I have no credentials to confidently say anything I am about to; some of it may even be jargon or irrelevant, but I will try my best.
 
Eight years ago, I weighed around 285 lbs. I began an exercise routine that caused me to lose about 20 lbs within a short amount of time. During this period, I developed persistent discomfort in my left ear. I noticed the discomfort after visiting my aunt, where there was a 500’ elevation difference. When I came back home, my ear would not pop. Over the course of a week or so, the ear pressure eventually equalized, but everything sounded muffled.
 
This led me to my first ENT visit. The ENT didn’t really give me much time, and paired me with an audiologist who determined my hearing was perfect. After hearing the unfortunate news of no diagnosis, I asked why I have to pop my ears to hear consistently. I was brushed off and told to see a TMJ specialist. The TMJ specialist told me I’m fine.
 
This is where my independent research began. I determined that my “popping” was actually me forcibly equalizing the pressure in my Eustachian tube by repeatedly moving my jaw. I went to an in-network ENT. This ENT took offense to my self-diagnosis of Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (ETD) and told me my issues were allergy-related. I was referred to their allergy department and put on immunotherapy shots. After completing my treatment and reaching maintenance, my issue persisted.
 
Frustrated, I looked online for the highest-rated ENT in my state. This doctor did not accept my insurance, so I decided to pay out of pocket to get the issue resolved. This doctor’s niche was rhinoplasty, and he was the first (and so far last) to give me the time of day. He performed a nasal endoscopy and a CT scan of my sinuses. Both tests revealed nothing of use. He noted I have a slightly deviated septum, but not nearly enough to cause any of my symptoms. However, he did note the sinuses on the side where I’m experiencing discomfort were inflamed. His diagnosis was chronic sinusitis. I was prescribed Azelastine 0.1% (137 mcg) nasal spray (an antihistamine). I used this medication for about a year in conjunction with Flonase, but nothing changed.
 
Once again, I sought out a different ENT. This ENT also took offense to my description of symptoms because I used medical phrasing (ETD). After a brief consultation, I was told once again that my symptoms were allergy-related. I went back on allergy shots, reached maintenance, and once again the issue persisted.
 
At this point, I gave up and didn’t bother refilling my prescriptions or finishing my shot treatment. Over the course of a year or two, I developed a severe sinus infection that went several months untreated. It came to the point where I was unable to breathe out of my nose at all, affecting me to the point my family members became concerned, as now there were comorbidities (such as sleep apnea). I eventually saw a pulmonologist who made it clear I needed to see an ENT and get my sinus issues fixed.
 
Thinking that maybe if I stuck with the same ENT and followed the trial and error process, I went back to the last ENT I saw. I was diagnosed with a sinus infection and prescribed medication. For the first time in months, I was able to breathe again after excreting from my nose what looked like petrified mucus. With this small victory, I returned to the same ENT and expressed my frustrations. I passionately described the location of my discomfort and explained that I believe the Eustachian tube problems I’m having are not the issue but a symptom of something else. I explained that I feel a mass or some sort of inflammation in my throat and mentioned the inflammation found by the previous ENT who performed a nasal endoscopy.
 
That was a mistake. After expressing my frustrations, I was diagnosed with "globus hystericus." Initially excited to finally have an explanation and a treatment plan, I was disheartened when I was told he could no longer assist me and suggested involving different medical professionals. When I got home and googled my new diagnosis, I realized he was referring me to a psychologist. Needless to say, I didn’t return.
 
Unable to accept my new reality, I resorted to more independent research. Before I even say this, I want to strongly express how much this improved my symptoms. Mewing, changing my tongue posture, and stopping mouth breathing drastically improved my Eustachian tube pressure over the course of a year. Using a jaw exercisegum daily also significantly reduced my ear pressure issues. Although the discomfort was reduced, it was not fully resolved. Sometimes I’d use a massage gun on my jaw, chin, bridge of my nose, head, and neck, which helped with mucus and provided temporary relief, especially lower in my neck near my chests, this seems to what felt like drain mucus/fluid. I am 120% able to the breath better after, but the “mass” still felt present.
 
After a while, my circumstances relocated me to a different state, giving me a new opportunity to finally resolve this. I saw a new ENT, and I gave the full rundown of my symptoms and history. I mentioned every medical ailment, bad habit, and quirk I have ever experienced. I mentioned my frequent regurgitation from overeating, how sometimes ground beef or rice seems to get stuck somewhere in the back of my throat, how I sleep on the side where I’m having discomfort, and how I pick my nose in the morning. I also mentioned that I can feel when my ears are producing wax and can remove hot wax with a Q-tip in real-time. I mentioned having tubes as a kid (as I mentioned to every ENT). This ENT diagnosed my issue as being caused by the acid in my regurgitation irritating my sinuses. I was prescribed Omeprazole 40 mg. I took this for a while but realized it was a bandaid on a bigger issue. I needed to prioritize my weight and eating habits.
 
I eventually started measuring my portions and eating slowechewing my food better, which fully resolved the regurgitation issue. However, I still occasionally get food stuck somewhere in my throat and definitely stuck in my soft palate. I have had my tonsils and adenoids removed when I was a toddler, but I can’t help but wonder if something grew back and is trapping food (I assume this would show in a CT scan).
 
As of recently, my latest symptom is hairs coming from the back of my mouth. Initially, I thought they were beard hairs, but after the fifth or sixth time, I became fully certain that single strands of hair are coming from the side of my mouth where I’m experiencing discomfort. I can replicate this over a long period of repeatedly opening my jaw (like I have Tourette’s) in an effort to equalize the pressure in my ear. I did some research, and it sounds like it could be a million different things. So once again, I have an ENT appointment coming up.
 
Now we’re caught up. I started to about a year ago still use the nasal spray and Flonase daily, and I even have a tablespoon of raw local honey. I have ZERO allergies. My ear pressure has progressively gotten worse over the past month, with the frequency of hairs increasing due to my constant need to open and close my mouth for pressure relief. I am not sure what to even tell this new ENT. I need experts to help me navigate the landscape of this condition.

As an indian residing overseas, I visit india about twice a year and every time after I land, I get either a nasal infection, itchiness or face allergies which are not gone until I go back to my country of residence. Doctors often point out that it is the reaction to the extreme air pollution. I know many people who face similar issues. Living in an indian metropolis is equivalent to smoking multiple cigarettes daily.
— I’m deeply concerned about the lack of widespread action and the unmuted response to the environmental emergencies.

• We owe it to our parents who deserve to breathe fresh air in their golden years, to fellow citizens l, and future generations. They should inherit the nation that’s as beautiful and bountiful as its meant to be.
  
• It goes beyond health. Imagine getting unobscured view of the Himalayas and our country being lauded for the beauty and cleanliness and us becoming a leader in promoting a cleaner and pristine natural environment, globally.
  
• In my country of residence , Germany, parties are solely formed on the basis of environmental issues. ( Green party for example) and elections can make or break on the basis of environmental issues.
  
• This also has to do with what we as a society demand from our law and policy makers. Here I observe a huge pressure from the general population to breathe fresh air, get clean water and access to a ton of natural beauty to make living more fulfilling.
  
• We are still way focussed on topics such as communal and religious politics, in an unhealthy proposition.
  
• I am sure many people who have been in other parts of the world also more or less notice it. But it still hasn’t become a mainstream issue. None of the election manifestos emphasise on those topics. I wonder what is it going to take to finally that to happen!
  

Anyone use their headphones on a commuter bus? Not a city bus. But more like a long commuter bus (think Greyhound type).
I love my Sony WH1000xm4. But when I'm on a bus and the bus hit bumpy roads, I get a popping/thumping/booming sound that's so annoying. Almost feel pressure in my ears when it happens. Only on bumpy roads though. And this only happens when ANC is on. When I turn ANC off, the issue is gone.
I had a cheap set of ANC headphones that did the same thing.
Anyone knows if Bose headphones have the same issue? I may jump ship and come over to the dark side. I take the bus 3hrs a day and turning off ANC defeats the purpose.

(The Merrow)
It has been a long time since I thought about these things, but I think starting with the Merrow was the right choice. They were dangerous, sure, but for the most part, they didn't interact with us much. I think it's time I told another story, this time, though, I think I'll go into one of the things that sent me to the hospital.
Normally, when you're sailing one of the big things you want to do is avoid storms. They can cause unnecessary damage to your ship or even kill members of the crew. When I was in the military we never ran into a storm, high-tech sonar and weather monitoring equipment made the chances of that happening slim. The same goes for my time on cruises, really. We'd sail around them and the passengers would be none the wiser. So, it wasn't until I started working on smaller cargo and fishing ships that I learned about hellclouds.
Nobody really knows what causes them, but they always seem to appear near storms. To most, they look like fog resting atop the waves, but I've learned differently. I know what's in Hellclouds.
The first few times I encountered them, it wasn't anything crazy. We were inside and getting ready to bunk down for the night when the pa sounded.
"Alright boys, dog down all hatches and stay inside. Looks like we have to go through a Hellcloud."
Those who were more seasoned on these smaller boats quickly ran to all of the doors and locked the hatches down tight, placing a piece of steel on the handle to prevent it from turning. I watched with morbid curiosity as they scurried about like ants, dutifully sealing the inside of the ship off and covering all of the portholes. When they finally finished I took the chance to ask one of the saltier sailors what the hell was going on.
"You'll see soon enough. Thought you'd been sailing a while, never been through a Hellcloud?"
I shook my head "Been on a lot of bigger ships, don't ever remember going through one of these."
He nodded, "Bigger ships have fancy navigation, usually able to avoid storms and Hellclouds without too much issue." We talked for a little longer, sharing some sea stories to pass the time, but then, things got eerie. The sound of the waves lapping against our fishing boat suddenly disappeared and everything was silent. I looked to the older sailor and he gave me a solemn nod. "Keep quiet. Don't draw their ire."
Suddenly the world exploded, cacophonous agonized screams and horrid roaring echoed across the deck. I could hear heavy breaths as something moved outside, within moments it was at the hatch, jiggling it in an attempt to open the door, to expose us to the nightmare outside. The jiggling stopped and something heavy banged against the steel, letting loose a low throaty growl. I jumped in shock, but the other guy grabbed me and raised a finger to his lips. The banging continued, and the screaming grew louder as the ship began to rock and shake. It was like being in some of the choppiest waters I had ever experienced.
I've never gotten seasick, never even come close, but that night when I first went through that cloud I nearly puked. Soon, the pounding ceased and the screaming began to fade. The churning waters stopped tossing our boat and everything seemed to calm down. We unlocked the hatches and checked outside for damage to the boat. There were dents in the deck and on the hatch, but things were otherwise fine. I breathed a sigh of relief and spoke to the other sailor after we had made sure things were still in working order.
"Yeah, Hellclouds are weird. Lot of guys think they're portals to other dimensions. Heard stories about ships that get caught in Hellclouds. When the clouds disappear, so do the ships. Bermuda Triangle's got a lot of 'em. All I know for sure? You don't want to get caught outside in one. You seen the door." he murmured, motioning to the dented hatch.
​I went through seven Hellclouds on that boat. None of them were exactly the same. Some were short, five minutes, others we were harassed for hours while strange creatures tried to claw their way into the ship. Every time the damage to the ship was minimal, and every time we just got back to things like nothing happened.
Until something did.
We were sailing somewhere in the Atlantic and I was on deck with another deckhand, Gregg, and we were finishing up the late shift. Things suddenly got really quiet and the captain frantically came on the PA "HELLCLOUD! SEAL THE SHIP NOW!" Gregg and I exchanged a glance before we bolted for the hatch, but it was too late. The door had been sealed. I felt my stomach sink, and when I looked over to Gregg I could see the color in his face was gone. We were outside. We were outside in a Hellcloud.
​The anguished roar of a thousand voices dropped me to my knees, my hands shot to my ears and I wanted to scream in pain, but I couldn't. Weakly, I looked to Gregg, he was in the same position. We knelt there covering our ears as the screams echoed deafeningly all around us, my head swam and my vision clouded. I could feel the blood pooling in my clenched hands, and then there were stars.
My vision was rocked with a bright light as intense pressure sent me flying into the wall of the boat. Even through the screams, I could hear the thing growling, but as I opened my eyes I saw nothing. Within moments of colliding with the hull, I felt myself leaving the ground. I heard the low growl of the creature again as my body was racked with white-hot pain, cooled only by a warm trickle of what I could imagine was my blood. I gasped, hands beating desperately at something I couldn't see, but there was no relief. I squirmed, screamed, and fought. There was no solace, only agony as I felt my body being torn to shreds.
Blacking out was a mercy.
​I was airlifted to the nearest hospital, and that night I died for four minutes. I spent two months recovering from the mauling I experienced, doctors had no explanation for what happened, it wasn't like lions or bears just roamed the ocean. Eventually, it was chalked up to falling overboard and being attacked by wildlife, they never delved deeper than that. Gregg was injured, but he was able to recover within a few weeks, sadly the ordeal cost him his eye.
For me? Two fingers, and a foot. I'm also now partially deaf. I still consider it a blessing that I survived. Apparently, we were in the cloud for six minutes, which means I was beaten for six minutes and I survived.
I spent around six months on land, doing jobs in docks and fish markets, but I couldn't stand it. Everything about shore life felt empty. After that time I went back out, because even Hellclouds weren't what finally broke me.

just to preface, i would never do this to someone. hello, food allergy sufferer here o7
cw: childhood abuse, allergy suffering.
growing up, i have always had a hard time with bananas. thankfully, it’s one of my non-anaphylactic allergies. regardless, it’s extremely uncomfortable. my throat, tongue, mouth, and ears get tingly and itchy. my stomach WILL reject it (nausea, vomiting, cramping.) if i ever eat it raw.
back in 2020 or so, my mother would force me to drink smoothies. they would consist of anything she could find in the fridge + water + maybe some random other ingredient. pretty much every time without fail, she would put banana in it and lie about putting banana in there. (needless to say, i knew every single time.) i did not have a proper diagnosis from a blood test at this time, but i remember frequently begging her to not put bananas in because i was (and still am) allergic. (honestly i was begging to not drink the smoothies at all because OAS sucks and they were disgusting. but she would watch me and scream how she’d be laughing over my grave in 10 years :P)
now, my family isn’t new to allergies. i grew up with dairy, egg, peanut, tree nut, and allergies to most meats. but my mother would scream at me how banana allergies “don’t exist” and that she hasn’t ever heard of them.
going straight into adulthood, i got allergy testing done. low and behold, banana popped up as a class 3 allergen (11.5). learned from my dad that my mother got upset with me for getting this done.
this past mother’s day it suddenly hit me that this is still affecting my mental health. i literally don’t know what to call this. assault? poisoning? reckless endangerment?
i’d love to know, it would help a ton. thank you for reading up.

Hello guys i've had tinnitus in one ear (left) for almost one year, my ENT measured the pressure with a device and the results were normal but when I cover my ears with the palm of my hand and (quickly) release, it really hurts. I can apply as much pressure as I want it's only on release when this happens and only on the left side. Is this a common thing for middle-ear damage?

I get like a constant feeling in by upper back and chest of like being hugged tightly, is a mild pressure a mild numbness feeling of stiffness Also I usually have pains on the left side of the body lately a lot of pain in the left muscles of the neck Also like a pressure or numbness in the sinus area and the base of the skull and around my ears that feels like i had headphones on Does this happens to you?

Before that happens i had a worse sore throat/strep throat every morning.
Sneezing a lot everyday and runny nose everyday and itchy nose,eyes,ears
heart palpitations
heart racing whenever i do some chores

This weekend, Ajax Budokan invited Kodokan 9th dan and former head of the Tokyo Police dojo, Michio Fukushima Sensei, to conduct a 4 hour clinic for Kodokan Goshin Jutsu. It was open to yellow belt and higher, though the majority consisted of Yudansha. My senseis had the honour of demoing the kata, as Fukushima Sensei's health did not permit presenting each technique multiple times, though he did show some of the finer details, demo mechanics, and gave comments as to what was good and displayed what could be fixed. He also talked about older versions of the techniques and how/ why they have been changed. Regretfully, it totally slipped my mind to film during the seminar, as there was a lot of good information, translated (and left untranslated) by the interpreter.
Some General Notes on Fukushima Sensei Fukushima Sensei on multiple occasions mentioned how one should carry themselves and move, more specifically he talked about how he usually sees toris get away with bad shisei as uke's attacks are generally to kind or passive, and that if they genuinely attacked, most toris would be off balance. Additionally he mentioned that a lot of IFJ competition now is power judo, where the technical aspects are replaced for brute force and speed.
The main note he makes is to keep the knees alive (slightly bent and bouncy like a spring), and that most novices have a tendency to straight leg their kata. He also made it a great point to explain the logic of the waza in the kata and how the kuzushi is created. Other important details he talked about were that uke shouldn't be a limp noodle once his attack is over, that tori should keep good sabaki (unclear if sabaki was short hand for tai sabaki as he also stated tai sabaki on different occasions (the details were paraphrased by the translator)), and the usage of rotation from the hips to maintain proper balance (tai sabaki). Additionally, he talked about things relating to karada (the body) and some anecdotes (such as stories about judoka such as Michigami, Isao Okano, and Nagaoka if I was hearing correctly, though I don't speak Japanese, only somewhat familiar with it), which were left untranslated or paraphrased sadly.
Emphasised details in the kata (not explanations or descriptions of how to do a technique) and my experiences (FYI Sensei mostly used the Tomiki names for the waza Tori applied)
Attacks when held

1. Ryote dori - my partner and I (both new to this kata for the most part) went in on this one and struggled as we didn't see the detail of thumb in hand for the lock (blind leading the blind, though we later worked near a kind pair after this who helped check more closely as they were experienced in the kata)
   1. Yahazu (hook shape for hand) is very important to direct uke's arm
   2. You aren't pulling the arm away to free it, you are pushing your elbow forward which pressures uke's arm
   3. Te gatana to the uto (point between uke's eyes)
   4. When applying the lock (te gatame), make sure to rotate uke's hand such that the fingers are pointing up
   5. When applying the lock, take the uke's arm in the direction perpendicular to the line made by his feet
2. Hidari eri dori - I particularly liked this one, though my uke was confused the first few times as he kept trying to apply waki gatame.
   1. Tori must grab underneath uke's hand on the lapel when stepping back
   2. When grabbing uke's hand to break the grip and apply the lock (kote hineri), tori should have his thumb in between uke's thumb and fingers, and to take the uke's arm in the direction perpendicular to the line made by his feet
   3. Uke should try to maintain jigo tai rather than lean so the lock is applied cleanly
   4. Tori's hand should not be limp when delivering the strike
3. Migi eri dori - I couldn't get kote gaeshi to work properly, will have to practice and ask my sensei about it later, same with my partner
   1. Tori should maintain a upright posture as uke pulls him forward, and use the landing of his foot to drive his hand for the uppercut to uke
   2. Tori should try to keep uke's hand attached to his centerline as he makes tai sabaki
4. Kata ude dori - My uke was very stiff, so applying the initial lock to him proved difficult, though he claims he felt it. I found this kata easy to remember as the legs go left right left right (step, step, tai sabaki, kick, then lead with the right for the lock)
   1. You are kicking with the side of the foot
   2. The step before the kick pivot around so your feet are almost parallel
   3. For waki gatame, you should be standing inside his feet, near parallel to the line perpendicular to his feet
5. Ushiro eri dori - I had experience with this one as sensei had taught during some free time a while back
   1. The parry with the arm was stated to also be the preferred way to receive punches, though take that as you will (though it is a common method in karate as well)
   2. The strike should be to the suigetsu (solar plexus)
   3. Trap uke's hand with your head so that it can't wiggle all over the place when applying the lock
6. Ushiro jime - My partner and I both had a tendency to lift the shoulder off after spinning out, will have to work on that. I will be honest, had I known this escape, I probably would have come out of an incident a few years back (before I started Judo) rather unscathed as I was jumped and then kicked on the ground by a person who was quite a pain.
   1. The attack and initial defence are identical to that of katame no kata, following which tori rotates out
   2. Keep pressure with your shoulder until your grip has been changed
7. Kakae dori - We didn't have enough mat space to finish the throw without running into other groups, but the technique is surprisingly effective. Though I couldn't initially find out how to do the armlock and had to ask my sensei about it, now it's pretty easy.
   1. Rotate the arm away from you (clockwise from your perspective) and pull uke's arm into you
   2. During the initial stomp, straighten up and raise your arms to loosen uke's grip

Attacks when at a distance - I got less time to try these in general as I wanted my partner to get a feel for them as they are a bit more complicated and he is less experienced

1. Naname uchi - this was a fun situation, it shows how a little bit of atemi can be used to setup a randori waza, and Fukushima Sensei complimented my senseis' performance saying that it was better than the current text book
   1. Te gatana is used to redirect the strike
   2. Osoto otoshi is performed
   3. Pushing the arm through is important to create the kuzushi necessary for the waza
2. Ago tsuki - I didn't actually get a chance to try this one more than once as my partner struggled with it, he kept applying a shoulder lock by pushing on the elbow without the redirect with the thumb up (shoulder is still sore)
   1. when directing uke's attack up and away, do not lean back as then you are unstable
   2. Use yahazu to direct uke's elbow toward his ear
   3. As uke will not like this use the moment after releasing the elbow lock to throw him forward in the direction perpendicular to his feet.
3. Gammen Tsuki - My partner really liked this one, I can see the uses as I've used similar entries when messing around with strikes + judo with this partner as I have a bit of karate experience
   1. Uke is meant to do a break fall, thus tori needs to get out of the way after releasing the choke
   2. Uke should realistically be aiming for where tori's uto would be if he did not evade
4. Mae Geri - this was a relatively easy one to grasp, but quite a bit of practice is needed before a full force kick can be considered
   1. Rotate ukes foot outwards so that it is not easy for him to rotate in to escape
   2. In the original, tori would lift uke's leg high but many ukes ended up injured from hitting their heads, so now tori just pushes back
5. Yoko geri - My sensei has introduced this one at the dojo before as well, though he prefaced it with about a minute of just practicing a side kick. My partner (who suffers from light knee pain) couldn't kneel during the finish
   1. The use of the te gatana to redirect the kick in the direction it is going, very similar to karates low block
   2. During the finish tori creates a void for uke to be thrown but in real life tori would throw uke onto his knee

Attacks with weapons - I understand people dislike these (reasonably in some cases), but I've found them to be useful points to explore
Attacks with a knife - Sensei Fukushima mentioned how despite my senseis making it look easy
Both my partner and I have practiced these quite a lot (I was the only one who was taught it by sensei but we practiced it on our own time), so not as many personal notes. Though I don't have a good experience so my brain switches to serious and my heart rate increases despite the fact that I know these are fake weapons.

1. Tsukkake
   1. The elbow should be pushed forward (I've actually experimented with this in the past by asking uke to try to stab me as I applied the defence, and we've found after the initial push and strike, tori is in a relatively good position, be it to run away or finish the kata)
   2. Push the locked up arm up and towards uke, then guide him to the ground
2. Choku zuki - I struggled to apply the waki gatame, I'm guessing it was control of the wrist that was the problem, this form is relatively straight forward and makes sense
   1. The strike should not be a boxer style punch, but more like the first punch in szkt
   2. uke should not go limp
   3. when moving away from uke, take him perpendicular to the line between his feet
3. Naname Zuki - Personally I think this form is cutting it close in many regards, but the control tori has is quite surprising
   1. Don't grab the blade from the sharp edge

Attacks with a jo - PSA, no matter how much you trust your uke, mistakes happen (especially with such a solid weapon) so remain vigilant to mitigate damage

1. Furi age - this was a relatively easy technique to grasp as it is an application of O soto gari setup with a palm strike to the chind
   1. Tori should enter as soon as uke begins to raise his arm, almost a preemptive entry
   2. Tori strikes at the ago (chin) with a palm strike, then places his hand on the throat for the throw
2. Furi oroshi - My partner leant into the swing and wacked me on the forehead, it could've been worse but it just grazed the outer layer as I saw the jo come closer after my initial retreat and attempted to turn out of the way. Both a PSA for tori and uke. Tori do not keep your eyes off uke, and uke please don't lean into a swing, you are horribly off balance, and you make it harder for tori to read. Also uke don't speed up when you 2 are learning (I don't know why my partner chose too...)
   1. Do not hop back onto one leg and then towards uke with the other, it leads you to have bad posture
   2. Better to make a big retreat than get hit
   3. 2 strike, one ura ken (back fist), followed by knife hand push
   4. Uke's swing should be at a diagonal
3. Morote zuki - I didn't get to practice this one as my partner was taken a bit aback after the previous incident and couldn't get the steps right for this one. Fukushima Sensei mentioned something along the lines of how a judoka was faced with a juken and couldn't figure out what to do, and thus this form was created to address that.
   1. Tori shouldn't be rowing the jow away to shake throw uke
   2. The arm puts pressure on uke's arm forward
   3. Tori should be trying to angle the jo down towards himself after the initial grab

Attacks with a gun - I struggled with all of these, but I think the principles are relatively sound. Though in real life, I'd most likely give up my valuables. Fukushima Sensei emphasised hip rotation in these movements, as he says that you want to direct the gun away without moving your feet, which is what uke would be seeing when looking at your pocket.
Always make sure to begin your defence after uke is clearly focused on checking your pockets, never when his focus is directly on you

1. Shomen Zuke
   1. Grab the barrel of the gun thumb up
   2. During the disarm, push the gun's muzzle to face towards him
2. Koshi Gamae - I kept getting the second hand wrong and thus the barallel was pointed towards me in the final attack, will need to work on that
   1. Grab the barrel of gun initially with the thumb down with your right hand, and push the gun so that it is horizontal after turning left, then grab the gun from below with your right
   2. make sure to not point the gun at yourself when hitting with the butt
3. Haimen Zuke - this is quite a dangerous move in theory, but also one of the more likely ones
   1. Wrap uke's arm with your arm, but make sure to direct the muzzle up with the free arm
   2. [uke] should let go of gun, as this is a hard breakfall

Overarching and repeated themes in the kata

• The use of yahazu to direct the arm rather than grips
• Keeping uke's hand connected to your centerline when applying kansetsu waza
• te gatana is a useful tool to redirect and or strike the opponent quickly
• During the gun portion, always rotate the gun off your centerline, so that even if it does fire, it doesn't penetrate too deep
• Control the gun by the muzzle
• most finishes are done by guiding uke perpendicular to the line in between his feet
• Do not directly oppose an opponents force
• Maintanence of balance at all times and moving from the hips is key
• Uke should attack meaningfully
• Action reaction is used quite a lot to first lock uke up towards his face, so that when he pushes back he is easily lead away

Overall, it was quite a good event, and I learned a lot. This kata isn't the most realistic with the attacks (though apparently a few people I know have used the ryote dori attack shockingly), but what I've learned so far is relatively sound, hopefully some time soon I can convince my partner to do some live resistance sparring with some gear on (which I have done with the knife portion with a plastic knife). Fukushima Sensei had a lot to say, as he was actively discussing his experiences and koshiki no kata after the seminar with another Japanese speaker, and I hope to be able to attend another one of his classes again someday.
Here are some videos featuring Michio Fukushima from a few years back, both where he was actively demoing, and where he had a slightly more corrective position.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1253474818155243
https://youtu.be/VKgdMJS9eck?si=bGMemLfG9aquAHr1

Hybrid Warfare: The Art of Conquest under the Umbrella of Peace
Introduction
The contemporary world is witnessing an era of unconventional conflicts, where the boundaries between peace and war are blurred. Hybrid warfare, a insidious strategy that combines elements of traditional warfare, covert operations, cyber attacks, and propaganda, has become an increasingly prevalent weapon in the arsenal of major powers.
Inspired by the tactics of the NKVD, KGB, and SVR, this book reveals the subtle art of conquering a country without triggering open conflict. The reader will be guided through the labyrinth of strategies for identifying and compromising key individuals, exploiting their vulnerabilities and secrets to gain control over a nation.
Primary Target: Influence
The first crucial step is to identify the most influential person in the target country. Once the target is identified, a meticulous operation follows to uncover their weaknesses, secrets, and loved ones. Children, as symbols of the future and legacy, become priority targets. Neutralizing them, either through direct control or by sabotaging their chances of procreation, represents a crucial strategic blow.
Secret Weapon: Control
The life partner of the target becomes a central figure. Controlling or dividing them through unconventional methods serves to weaken the target's influence and facilitate their manipulation. There are no rules in this hybrid warfare, and any means are permitted to achieve the ultimate goal: conquest.
Infiltration: Eyes and Ears Everywhere
Well-infiltrated intelligence services, similar to Nicolae Ceaușescu's "Securitate", become essential for the constant surveillance of the target and their entourage. Controlling the doctor, the entourage, and anyone who could influence the target is crucial to maintaining absolute control.
"Coughing from the throat."
A Shocking Example: The Doctor and the Child
To illustrate the cruelty and lack of scruples of this type of warfare, let's analyze in detail a particular scenario: the control of the target's child's doctor. Imagine a situation where the child, the symbol of hope and the family's future, falls seriously ill. The doctor, under enemy control, is instructed to conceal the truth about the child's condition, providing a false diagnosis and ineffective treatment. This perfidious action not only endangers the child's life but also destroys the target's trust in those around them, making them vulnerable to manipulation.
Conclusion
Hybrid warfare, with its hidden tactics and ruthless manipulation, poses a real threat to the sovereignty of nations. This book offers a fascinating yet disturbing insight into this type of conflict, revealing the brutal strategies that can be used to conquer a country without triggering open war. An essential read for those who wish to understand the complexity of the modern world and the hidden dangers that can threaten global peace and stability.
The example of the doctor and the child serves as a reminder of the cruelty and lack of boundaries of those who wage hybrid warfare. It is a shocking yet necessary story that compels us to confront the dark reality of this type of conflict.
Another Shocking Example: The Orchestrated Accident
To demonstrate the insidious versatility of hybrid warfare, let's analyze another terrifying scenario: manipulating the doctor treating the target after a serious accident.
Imagine a tragic situation: the target, a symbol of power and influence, is the victim of a violent accident. Rushed to the hospital, severely injured and vulnerable, their fate rests in the hands of the attending physician.
But what if this doctor isn't a dedicated savior, but a pawn infiltrated in the enemy's operation? Under the adversary's control, the doctor receives sinister instructions: to administer medications that, under the guise of proper treatment, will actually trigger a rise in the target's blood pressure, further exacerbating their condition and jeopardizing their life.
This diabolical act not only endangers the target's life, but also serves as a strategic blow. Weakening the target physically and mentally makes them vulnerable to manipulation and isolates them from loved ones who might intervene to protect them.
In the event the target survives, the orchestrated accident could be presented as a mere medical error, a regrettable negligence, not a premeditated crime. The lack of concrete evidence and the controlled doctor's influence would facilitate the concealment of the truth and maintain control over the target.
This example chillingly demonstrates how hybrid warfare exploits human tragedy to achieve political objectives. The manipulation of the medical profession, a symbol of trust and compassion, represents a pinnacle of perfidy, showcasing the utter lack of scruples of those who wage such war.
The story of the orchestrated accident serves as a shocking reminder of the hidden cruelty of hybrid warfare and how it can infiltrate and corrupt even the most noble institutions. It's a dark reality we cannot ignore, forcing us to remain vigilant and fight to defend humanity's fundamental values.

Hello! I have already dealt with 2 CSF leaks (once after lumbar puncture, self sealed, one spontaneously and never found, by the grace of god I self sealed and that lasted about 2.5 months). I have since been back in high pressure (right at a year) and hit remission with my IIH. I was in a very low amount of 250mg diamox as needed for high pressure. I am currently pregnant and therefore advised to stop diamox entirely, however my IIH symptoms have flared up a lot and basically I just have to push through the first trimester.
Well. This week I hit high pressure & did not take any diamox as advised, woke up the next day with wet ears/drippy nose. Two days ago realized I was having orthostatic headaches and brain fog which gets better after eating salty foods, coffee, laying down etc. it isn’t as bad as my previous leaks and I believe I’ve also had a cranial leak that has never been found (local skull based ENT told me I do have thinning of the bone within my ear which could be genetic, but could be due to my high pressure- so my assumption would be that I leak intermittently and the doc said that as well).
IIH is annoying enough, but a leak is a whole other issue and being almost 8 weeks pregnant worries me. I just can’t imagine the next almost year in low pressure 😭 Has anyone gone through pregnancy with an active leak?

Hi! When I was 7, my mom took me to our local Claire’s to get my ears pierced. I wore mainly earrings from Claire’s, and I unfortunately made the mistake of ignoring a few things in the healing process (ears were itchy and red around the area and the earrings hanged lower in the lobes overtime). Months later, one earring dropped out at the Walmart check-out. I split my earlobe and I didn’t feel it happen. Just noticed the earring on the floor. My parents called a plastic surgeon about it, and they said to hold off doing anything about it until I was older.
I stopped putting earrings in the other lobe, and I use the split one as a conversation starter. I’ve been pretty nervous about doing anything else since. After hearing piercing gun stories over the years and enough Claire’s horror stories I learned from the mistake. I also discovered people can have nickel allergies from earrings, and the symptoms I can recall match the ones I’ve heard.
I wear clip on earrings occasionally, but they do burn after wearing them for a while. I‘m not planning on fixing the split one. I think the un-split one has healed the best it could. I’m not sure if it is completely closed, but I don’t want to take the risk of forcing an earring in it.
Should I get the un-split one re-pierced? If I have a nickel allergy, are there other materials/brands I should be wary of?

Edit to add: No alcohol, no smoking. I do have hEDS and possibly MCAS in case that may be relevant.
Hello,
I had my furthest back upper molar pulled last week. It took two appointments because the root was touching my sinus cavity. It sounds like my sinus cavity is still intact but my dentist today (four days after final extraction appointment) told me I had dry socket after I came in suspecting an infection.
I could taste and feel a warm, nasty substance draining from my tooth starting Friday (10th) and started noticing a foul oder and taste in my mouth Saturday. Sunday I woke up with very severe flu-like symptoms (no fever but I was taking lots of OTC pain relievers that also combat fevers) and started getting concerned that this was an infection. My extraction site itself doesn’t hurt much. I have some ear and neck pain, and smiling or opening my mouth wide hurts but otherwise it’s just mildly achy, which is why I hadn’t suspected dry socket. I haven’t taken any pain relievers at all today (hoping to catch whether or not I have a fever) and there still hasn’t been much pain.
About an hour after they applied a dry socket “paste” I started to feel a little better, AND I’d been out of work for several days so I’m not sure how I could have gotten sick, so I’m wondering if it’s possible for dry socket to manifest like an illness rather than pain? Maybe my sickness is unrelated and I’m just lucky it doesn’t hurt as bad? I just wanted to get some other thoughts or experiences.

About 2 years ago I noticed the feeling of something stuck in the left side of my throat. It’s become worse over time, to the point that the pressure on the left side of my ear does not seem to equalize properly. About 1-2 times per day, I have the clogged “unpopped” feeling in my left ear - the feeling you get after landing in an airplane. This only occurs in my left ear and causes no pain, but it comes and goes throughout the day, which made me think that there is something lodged in or near my left Eustachian tube. This sensation mostly occurs after heavy exercise or sleeping.
I found this sub and used a qtip to push numerous stones out of my left tonsil. The more stones I get, the less “full” the left ear feels. I’m 3 days into digging in my left tonsil and my hearing has improved immensely, although not back to 100% yet.
My question for the group is - has anyone else experienced tonsil stones causing hearing issues? Any tips/tricks for removing stones I cannot see? I’m hoping to solve this issue myself, as doctors are expensive and I’m nearly certain it’s tonsil stones causing this problem.
Thank you in advance!

About 4 years ago I was diagnosed with really high blood pressure and cholesterol. This despite being healthy and relatively thin.
I developed afib also. During that time I started having these body swooshes that seemed to come from my chest and expand outward.
I’ve had 2 ablations and now I’m on a ton of meds, including anxiety meds.
I had my gallbladder removed last year and I have terrible GI issues.
I also generally feel nauseous. The GB removal helped with a lot of that, but I still feel it.
I developed pain in my chest wall.. like in the bones and joints.
A couple weeks ago my left eye got pretty blurry. I went to the Er and they done a stroke protocol. It was assumed I had an eye stroke or an ocular migraine. Since then the eye hurts and I’ve had some rough headaches.
A few thyroid nodules were found. One is a small T4.
Every time my thyroid is checked, my levels are fine. It’s just I’ve got a lot going on and I can’t figure it out.
I’m 38. Still sorta healthy. I do get fatigued sorta randomly, I think. But at this point I’m trying to to figure out objectively what are real experiences or what I could be conjuring up.
My ears also have pressure. Not sure if that’s connected. 🤣

I've always had trouble with my nose. Since I was young getting nose bleeds and sinus infection, ear infections. I've seen several ent and now finally an allergist who noticed my nose is deviated.
Shes sending me to an ent to see about surgery or what else they can do. I always have mucus in the back of my throat, can't cough it up, I sound nasally, nosebleeds so much especially during winter the last ent just caterisized and sent me -_- they can last up to 20 mins, sometimes I have a hard time breathing and doing meditation is really difficult I cant bring a full breath through my nose.
I've been to so many specialist and no one noticed. My thyroid doctor thought it was sleep apnea and I've also been told gerd which I have none of. I'm hoping this ent can finally solve this because I'm tired of it.
Edit: my allergist also found a bunch of chemical allergies like linaloo, lemone, balsam of peru, fragrance mixes so I'm not sure if this is making it worse too.