just an update; it took a total of 7 weeks using the otovent ear popper, twice a day, and now my ears are pretty much fine. however my ENT specialist suggested that I used on intermittently if I have a cold, just to keep my ear tubes clear
if you are in the UK and your Dr doesn't come up with anything useful ,DEMAND to go to a specialist, they can't refuse you. GP's are wonderful, but as the name suggests exactly that 'general', not specialists.
I had a grommet inserted 6 weeks ago and still have a slight echo sound when I talk and also having to clear my throat quite often. I have always had a slight throat clearing problem but seems worse since my middle ear blocked up in June 2012. My hearing has much improved.
Has anyone been to see Dr. Dennis Poe in Boston? Apparently he and others have pioneered a new technique called "tuboplasty" where they thread a catheter through the Eustachian Tube to clear out excess mucus and get the ET working better.
I've been having problems for almost three years now since I had the first ear infection of my life. A few months after the infection I went swimming, got a hue amount of water in the previously-infected ear and the ear has not drained properly since. I had an ear tube (it's out now) inserted which only seems to have made things worse. I'm seeing a great ENT but she says it's a chronic thing. Although Nasonex does seem to help, I'm looking for a more lasting solution. I've been reading about this somewhat new procedure which is being used by several doctors affiliated with Harvard and Yale. I was wondering if anyone has more information about this procedure and/or has been to see Drs. Poe. Metson or Michaelides?
I've had ETD for about 18 months. Usual story of anxiety, no sleep, headaches, neck pain, dizziness. Doc prescribed antidepressants and a steroid nasal spray. Nasal spray did little to help but the antidepressants take my mind off it and it's clearing up naturally - but very slowly.
So have your ETD got better now after 18 months....?
Try otovent its a special pressurised ballon which you blow up with your your nose, it sounds whacky but google it , it seems to work by putting air back into the middle ear. hope this helps.
Your symptoms sound like mine. There is a new surgery, balloon dilation of the Eustachian Tubes (Dr. Brian weeks in San Diego Cal,. performs it). There is no cutting of the ears and gets to the route of the problem,. I have been communicating with someone who did and the results were fantastic (all her symptoms went away and the tubes are still open 1 1/2 years later) Hope this helps and good luck!
Ot that u will read this but there are no muscles in your eustachian tube! excercise can help dilated the tube
hi, how are you now? i am like you, after flu and flying ive had this 9 months. its so awful!! tried everything and more haha!! it shows no signs of going!!!! i havent been able to work foe 2 months now. no one can help me, am so fed up. how did you feel when it was going?? your post was a light in a very dark room.
I understand the agony one goes through one you have clogged ears (eustachian tubes blocked). I got this after a flight from Thailand back to Malaysia and almost spent more than USD 3000 visiting doctors here in KL. Had antibiotics, decongestants but tubes refused to open. I ordered an ear popper device (Summit medical) and it opened the tubes in 1 minute.
I asked my doctor why they don't know about ear popper when i can search it on net. She smiled. I got my message that how commercial medical profession has become now. If doctors will resolve the problems in 1 visit, then how flashy hospitals will run and how doctors will afford fancy cars.
My suggestion order an ear popper and you will thank your stars
I have suffered from ETD for the past 6 years. I usually get it really bad after a little cold. Every november to be exact. It usually resolves on its own and I go on to have good 9 months symptom free. Well what i consider sympton free--no ringing, no pressure. Throughout the year i still hear crackling and have to open my tubes but i can deal with that. In fact when I am good my hearing is bionic! I can hear everything! The hard part is recovering from it every time I get it. I suffer tremendously and cry a lot from suffering from it. I have it right now....i had a cold last week and went to a concert (bad choice). Now i have crazy ringing in one ear and the other is not as bad ringing but has some type of noise i can distinguish. I went to the doctor and they put me on prednisone taper, did a hearing test and it hearing was normal, they also put me on steroid nasal spray. Doctor says is should go away..it always does but this time if feel much worst...at least the ringing on my right ear. That is what scares me. I have been online reading threads and to be honest they all sound really negative. I usually never post again once i get better and regret it..but this time around if i get better I will come back and post my results. Oh i also forgot to say i am 6 months pregnant and my ENT thinks that might be making it worst...but I told her I get this every year!! The ringing is worst this year. I feel depressed and down right now because i have it.....I am on my 4th day of 14 day prednisone treatment and 2 day of nasal steroid (they say the nasal stuff takes a while to kick in). i have also been tested for allergies..and was doing allergy shots till i got pregnant but stopped (dumb move). So that is my story...i will be checking in to let you al know how I am doing.
Well here I am almost a month later...3 dr visits saying they can't do much cuz im preg. ENT thinks preg is making it worst but wont treat with other meds cuz im preggo..so for now still on nasal spray and saline..and claritin d. Good news is one ear is kinda clearing up--sort of..the other one still really clogged. Dr. thinks it will clear up after i deliver but who knows...i am sort of desperate...ringing is worst in the clogged ear..the one ear getting better sort of rings...soooo i will continue to update...to let you know of my progress. Oh i went to see a dr in Bev. Hills who says he does a ballooon dialation surgery to help this probelm..but it is a new procedure so..i dont know..but an option i guess.
Although I have only been suffering for a week now, does anyone else get everyone else quieter but themselves so incredibly loud they must talk quietly because shouting would hurt more than stabbing yourself in the ear. Even if I am exaggerating a bit, it is very painful, also does anyone experience a pulsating sound similar to the sea when they are alone or when it is quiet? I have just been taking painkillers and a nose spray, I was using this sinex nose spray before I visited my GP and they told me to ramp it up to prescription nose drops. After using these for a few days, I realised that they were completely useless and reverted back
I have had Eustation Tube dysfunction for almost 8 years now. I am on my third ENT. The first ENT, said it was stress causing the headaches, the second one said i was border hearing aid but finally agreed to tubes after he saw that my eardrums were so sucked in it looked like there was a hole in them. He would not replace them when the first set fell out. I am on my 4th set of tubes. I still get headaches when the chinooks hit Alberta but they are managable. I see the third ENT every 6 months, but he has no answer to why it's like this or what i can do for long term..well..except more tubes. I have pretty much tried it all and have given up hope that it will ever just magically *clear up* on it's own.