Hi Greenne,

Did you manage to establish what was wrong?

I am too in a similar situation to you. I was in close proximity (20 m) to a 155mm artillery shell that was converted to an IED back in 2004.

Basically, I was conducting top cover in a soft skinned vehicle when the device was detonated about 20m front-left of my vehicle, I was hit by the heat and pressure wave, and the loudest bang I have ever heard. Luckily, the device was buried too deep so there was not too much shrapnel, the vehicle windscreen was totally cracked but not blown through.

I don't think that I was knocked out, there was a large wall on the right hand side of the road, so I assume that the blast was deflected off this wall.

I suffered immediate pain and tinnitus, but my left ear seemed to be affected the worst (possibly from the deflected blast?).

I saw the doctor in Iraq who's only advise was to stay away from loud bangs, kind of laughable really!

After about 6 months or so, the tinnitus faded away, only returning intermittently, usually after being exposed to sharp cracks such as wood slamming together, metal on metal, gunshots etc.

I have also suffered from a continuous dull pain in my left ear since the blast, which I can only describe as a pain similar to being in an aeroplane during takeoff/landing or going too deep in a swimming pool. The pain also fluctuates from what I would describe as an annoying bearable level to quite painful, the latter being less often.

I've attended the military medical center loads of times, each time I have an audiogram test (headphones with a button that I press when I hear beep noises), I pass these tests, with what the 'specialists' describe as just minor hearing loss. The first few times I was given nasal sprays which did absolutely nothing.

Last year, I saw another specialist who fitted a grommet tube to my left ear, everything seemed to improve for a short while, but now the pain has started to return, the grommet is still fitted and I know it's not blocked as when I pinch my nose and blow I can hear and feel the air being passed through the grommet.

I have never noticed any kind of leakage from the grommet.

I'm just getting sick of it now, it's been almost 10 years and nothing has improved, as far as the military are concerned, I can pass the audiogram, so there is nothing wrong with me.

I've never had an MRI scan etc. as the 'specialists' that I have seen have said that if I did have a TBI, it would be obvious.

Thanks in advance.