Hi everyone, I hope someone out there has had the same thing I am going through. This started New Years Eve, I thought I was getting a cold because I was congested. Went to bed and was fine in the morning. It is just my right ear. At 1:30 in the afternoon the congestion came back I sound like I have a cold and sore throat and my right ear will echo when I talk so it sounds like I am screaming but I am actually talking low. Everyone asks what did you say? It last until I go to bed and lay down then I am clear in morning until 1:30 in the afternoon. I had eating hot spicy food but one day was at the Mexican restaurant and my friend said the salsa is really good. I tried it only to have my ear start popping and then my ear and throat drain. It only lasted about an hour as soon as it drained I heard this popping sound and instantly clogged. The feeling like I have a ball of snot in my throat but can't cough anything up. I am so grouchy by the time I go to bed because of the vibrating when I talk and people asking me to repeat what I said. I eat hot stuff just to get a little relief. I have had acupuncture,massages, adjustments. Did the antibiotics, prednisone, Zyrtec,singular, Flonase, astatine, afrin, sudafed, musinex d. Netty pot. Have had a hearing test. I had knee replacement in October and didn't do well with pain meds lost quite a bit of weight. But why is it good when I wake up in the morning? I am spinning my wheels going to ent that do no further testing. I can't be the only person that has experienced this. Then the dry wander why we get on the internet to self diagnose. Anyone experienced this? I am seriously wore out.
Hello, I can't reply to a name as one wasn't given. You certainly are not alone with regards to Eustachian Tube Dysfunction. There are so many of us on this Forum suffering exactly the same. Unlike you, mine is sometimes alright during the day, but once up in the mornings having been lying down all night in bed My left ear is pretty blocked then......probably do to Post Nasal Drip that manages to get into my left eustachian tube. This is the most awful condition to suffer and makes us all feel run-down, bad tempered and thoroughly miserable. May I ask, how long was the course of Prednisolone. If it was just 6/7 days, that just isn't long enough to get rid of this problem. I have recently taken a 20 days reducing method course. You seem to have done everything that is correct to try and remedy this problem, but nothing works. My left ear has been clear since I took the 20 days of Pred. back in April. Of course doctor don't like prescribing this drug too often due to side effects. I usually have to take it approximately every other year. I imagine you've tried popping your ear, which is impossible to do if it is so clogged. I have to use this method and I perforated my left eardrum in doing so. Sadly, the mucus is so thick and sticky, albeit clear, it doesn't drain, as the perforation is so tiny. That's when I get myself an appointment to see my ENT consultant and he Microsuctions all the mucus out. It feel absolutely wonderful once that's been done. I then use Flixonase Nasules, the ones where I hang my head over the bed to administer. Six weeks is the longest we can use these for. I then revert back onto the Flixonase Aqueous Nasal Spray and use twice daily. If you look on the Forum you'll see many of my messages to people suffering the same. I suffer Allergic Rhinitis and Sinusitis and take a daily antihistamine called Citrizine. At present I'm taking Oil of Primrose, that a man on this forum swears by in helping this condition. However, what works for one doesn't always work for others. I've recently started a supplement called Turmeric, which is better absorbed using black pepper, I've been told. Our eustachian tubes get so swollen from the inflammation there is no way they will drain. I've suffered this condition for years and years on and off, but more on than off, most days. Sometimes when I pop them the tube remains open, other times it pops then closes again. You'd think in the 21st Century there would have been a cure found for this wretched problem. Like a blocked nose, which is easy to sort out. It's a vicious circle, because if we are making a lot of mucus this is the cause. My left nostril gets so blocked too. We Have to find the underlying problem, which is hard. I live in England and our damp weather doesn't help. Mould from the trees in the Autumn and Winter and Pollen during the Summer months, so much other stuff too !!
Don't give up hope and if your course of Pred. was too short, go back for more. I was messaging a lady in Australia a couple of days ago and recommended the 20 day reducing course and her ears are now both un-blocked. Which I'm so happy about. Which country are you in ??
Regards Anne
So sorry to learn that you've joined the club that we all belong to.As I've mentioned in previous posting here,my GP doesn't know where or who to send me to either.Learning to live with it is very difficult & don't expect any sympathy from anyone either.Unless you have the complaint you simply don't understand it.
Couldn't have put it better myself Mike. What is your current status regarding this horrible condition and what have you tried ?
Anne
Faces,
You described much of what I have had for a little over a year. Feels really good in the morning upon waking, with little tinnitus and a pretty clear head. Throughout the day it worsens, and in the afternoon it will get pretty bad and the congestion starts. To me, the weather plays a role. Two different ENTs, several different GPs, an audiologist, a TMJ expert have looked at me and I am fine medically so the internet searches that suggest tumors or really scary stuff are ruled out. But, they don't know how to fix it. I have a long history of ear problems and infections related to cleft palate and its repair decades ago, so those do not help the situation. I did just get a referral to an allergist since that is worth a try, but I am doubtful that anything will be found.
I will say this about what I believe has worked, and is working for me, so maybe it will help you. This stuff has slowly gotten better, although it can vary. Diet can impact it and I cut out dairy and wheat for a while since the theory is that dairy and gluten thickens mucous. I drink lots of water and have been trying to sleep more. Basically, it's trying to thin the mucous and relieve the inflammation in your ears and your Eustachian tubes. From what I have read, you feel better in the morning because your brain and nerves 'shrink' while you sleep and your sinuses and tubes also drain more. This condition brings lots of stress and that works against your body. Exercise helps much, as it helps the blood flow and at least makes me feel clearer in the head. Yesterday afternoon, I was feeling pretty clogged and my ear was ringing and 'stiff'. I did some weight lifting and it felt much better; so much so that the tinnitus was almost gone for the rest of the afternoon and evening. These are things that I believe have really helped me, although there's certainly no guarantee.
I hope this helps. I'd recommend a book by Dr. Robert Ivker called "The Sinus Solution" (I think), and some other books about natural methods. I am not very holistic in my outlook, but it is clear to me that the medical community and its prescriptions cannot solve this problem. Flonase only made me skittish.
Sadly my status hasn't changed at all from my previous postings.Recently had tests & various scans & the senior audiologist told me that there are no indications that I have ETD.What does ail me is that neither he or any of his team or two ENT specialists have a clue to what I have got.
Hi Mike, if your ear/ears are blocked you most definitely do have ETD. By looking inside the ear how would they know. The indicator is blocked ears, crackling, popping. What else do they need to know. I was told if the eardrum is shiny there is no blockage. Well in my case there definitely is and I know for certain having suffered this problem for so many years. What is the prescription you are currently using and what's been tried in the past ??
Anne
Hi Anne,
I guess I forgot to put my name. It is Sandy. Thank you so much for responding. I will try the prednisone again. Do I do 20 days all in row or the 7 days break and do it again? It is so weird how this just started out of the blue. I forgot to mention I deal with RA, but haven't had any ear issues. My tubes are backwards it is usually that's they clog at night instead of the day. You can't imagine how much better I feel just having people to talk to. Thank you so much.
Sandy
Hello Sandy. Your doctor should tell you how they should be taken. I think mine was 6 tabs straight off first thing in the morning for 6 days, then 4 tablets for 6 days then 2 tabs for 6 days...how many tablets is that. without adding those tablets up and without looking at what I;d written down before I started I can't be 100% sure this is correct. But that's about it I think. It's 10:30 pm here in England so going to bed now. I will find my paper work tomorrow and let you know how I took them. I always write down the days and how many tablets I take and tick them off. But your pharmacist will have written instructions on the box.
Anne
Just read your message again. The tablets are taken for the whole 20 days without a break. That's the only way they'll work. Just read the box they come in and make sure you take them properly. You didn't let me know what was the course you took. Was it one week ??
Anne
Yes Anne just the 6 days dose. I asked the ent that prescribed it if I needed another round and he said no. Then said I don't know what to do with you. I asked why does the hot sauce make it drain? He said let me refrain this. I don't know what to do with you. I have blonde hair and have my bangs colored a light blue. He walked out of the room and I said do I have to live like this the rest of my life? He said I can't make anymore clearer I don't know what to do, maybe it is the blue hair and walked off.
Thank you so much for replying. I have learned so much just reading in here. I feel like I am being heard. I don't eat much dairy or gluten. I get most of the gluten from crackers. I live in the Midwest and the weather is so crazy. I just have never had sinus issues and then this started out of the blue and hasn't left. Would your clear if you ate hot sauce? Mine will for about an hour. Then I will have this little popping noise and the congestion is back instantly. I am sore in my neck area by the end of the day and can't wait to lay down. It is just so weird that ent can't fix these problems.
I am so sorry you you are dealing with this junk. It is so frustrating when we can't find drs that have the answers. I am so achy,tired and grouchy by the end of the day. Hopefully all of us will come up with the solution. I am so thankful I have found this forum.
This forum is O.K.but so many just go on endlessly repeating their symptoms ad infinitum.
Hello Anne & thank you for your kind words.I'm not using anything now because I've tried all the known so called treatments without any success at all.My GP tells me that they don't have a pill for everything & just to learn to live with it.
Hi Sandy, That's utterly disgraceful and he needs reporting. I doubt very much whether the 6 days course will do anything to help you. A lady I befriended on the Forum and we now speak via facebook only had 1 weeks course and they didn't help at all. She was then given more and it helped like it did for me. I certainly wouldn't take that attitude from any doctor, that was so rude. His reputation needs checking out. If you've suffered for months and months with blocked ears something has to be done to help you. My ENT consultant is wonderful and wouldn't dream of talking to me like your did. Go to a different doctor.
Anne
That's very true Michael, I repeat myself constantly. However, there may be new members that need to read our comments, symptoms and sometimes advice.
There are some really lovely people out there that seem to be getting no where with this condition.
Anne
Good Evening Anne, I did report him he was the second ent that was so rude. The first one didn't even check me out just ordered a hearing test which I got done and went back to that dr for the results. He said we need to order MRI to check for a tumor. I said a tumor and how do you fix that? He said I don't you have to have brain surgery. He wouldn't let me ask anymore questions. I deal with anxiety and they ordered the MRI I called to see if it could be an open MRI which it had to be a closed one. The day before the MRI at 4pm my insurance company called and said they cancelled my MRI because the dr didn't put the right diagnosis code on the order. I called the dr so angry because I had been so nervous for two weeks about having a brain tumor and getting the MRI. I told the dr I wouldn't be back to them. Then went to the one that said it must be my blue hair. When he looked at my hearing test he said oh they just write this stuff on here to cover their ass. So two ent with two opinions and no answers so I am on my third one who is nicer but didn't have any answers just prescribed all the sinus sprays, sudafed. I see her again on the 29th and will ask about the prednisone. I just can't understand that these drs made the decision to be an ent dr and can't figure this stuff out. I hate being so achy,tired and grouchy. I understand where Michael is coming from that this forum is people repeating but I am so thankful for this forum. I look forward to seeing if someone responds to my posts. I feel like I am being heard. Thank you so much.
Hello again from England. I really doubt you have a brain tumour, so stop worrying about that. Sorry if you've already told me, but which country do you live in ? I don't think some ENT specialist take ETD seriously, as it isn't life threatening. However, unless they suffer they wouldn't know just how debilitating the condition is. I think it's worse than a headache, or toothache. I know our ears don't ache, unless of course there is an infection present, but the full feeling is just awful. Unlike in England, where we don't have to pay for treatment, you do, so you should be receiving the best of treatment and care, by the best professionals....it's a disgrace how you'r being treated. Do try and stop worrying as really ETD isn't a serious condition just a very irritating one. Prednisolone WILL WORK if you are able to get prescribed some. Your ear may never block up again once all the inflammation in the tubes have gone. Obviously I'm no doctor, but absolute years, years and years suffering from ETD and seeing my great ENT consultant twice yearly, I really don't think there is a total or permanent cure....just to get some relief from time to time, is what we just have to accept. Just make sure if you are prescribe the Pred. that it's a 20 day reducing course, anything less will just not crack it !!
Remember you are being heard.
Stay calm and best wishes
Anne
Good Morning Anne, I am in the US and live in the Midwest where the weather is crazy. I for sure will ask for the 20 day prednisone on the 29th. I though about calling my primary to get started on it now. What is the time difference? It is 734 am now. Of course I feel great. Not clogged at all. I am not achy but come 130 this afternoon it all starts. I transform into an achy, clogged grouch. Lol