I had gone diving in Phuket (Thailand), and on surfacing became dizzy, and suffered from vomiting, and hearing loss and tinnitus in my right ear with sounds becoming 'tinny'.  I was initially treated in a hospital in Bangkok.

However as I was still having problems I went to see Dr Arasa Raj Sinnathuray @ Gleneagles KL in Malaysia.  After taking a history, examining me and performing a hearing test which revealed some inner ear damage, he initially started me on some medications.  As I was catching a long haul flight about a week later, he then performed a Laser Myringotomy (hole created in the ear drum) under local anaesthesia in the clinic, to maintain a stable middle ear pressure during the flight, to prevent any further inner ear damage.  Using the laser the hole would remain in the ear drum for a few weeks, in lieu of a Grommet which would have maintained the hole for at least 6 months (and I was keen to re-commence diving in about 6 - 9 months).

I subsequently had another ENT consultation in the United States a few weeks later, and the ear drum has healed, my hearing test is normal, and my balance is much better.

I wish to thank Dr Arasa Raj Sinnathuray for the excellent care provided during my time in Kuala Lumpur.  I was most impressed by the extensive time spent with me to understand the history, his demonstrated medical competency, the explanation of treatment options and associated risks and his ongoing “internal conversation”  to reassess next steps and ensure the optimum path forward.    I look forward to a continued relationship with him for all my ENT needs.

Ralph Preston Vendeland