I've had ETD for the last few weeks- pressure build up and mucus possibly due to not blowing my nose for three months after having a myringoplasty. I've had to be super careful! The perforated ear drum has now heeled but this ETD is horrible!!
Just wondered if anyone else has had this and what works? Does anything get rid of the mucus and relieve the pain? I feel like I've tried everything! Sudafed seems to help a bit!
Thanks!
I take allegra and flonase. That seems to help with the drainage. The new ENT I saw said he recommends azelastine antihistamine nasal spray but it's prescription only. I picked it up yesterday but can't take it until after Friday since I have to be antihistamine free for skin allergy testing. He said it's worked for some of his ETD patients.
Have you used a sinus rinse? They got rid of the pressure/clog but I was getting a "wet" feeling in my ear that was caused by the rinse. I stopped using it and the wet feeling mostly went away.
Can you pop your ears by yawning? When mine get the fullness popping them helps and when they do pop I can feel the drainage down my throat. I am lucky that I can pop mine about 60-70% of the time.
Be careful taking too much sudafed. I was taking the max dose daily and started to develope some neurological issues. They don't know if it's related but told me to stop taking it to see if I got better. So far I have.
There are some you tube videos for eustachian tube massage for drainage. There are also some sinus pressure points. Does it help? Maybe? maybe it's mental? but it does seem to help a little.
My sister has ear issues and when hers clog up she swears by getting on the bed on her side and hanging her head off the side of the bed with the "bad" ear down for 4 minutes. Roll slowly to your back for a minute or two and then slowly roll to your other side and hang the other ear off the bed. She swears this works great for her but I haven't had much luck with it. The blood just runs to my head and I get lightheaded.
Hot showers with the vent turned off so there is a lot of steam. While in there put a hot rag over your face. I've used a microwaved rag wrapped in a plastic bag and towel and held it on my ear. I've also used a heating pad.
Nothing seems to help for very long. I felt the best the week before last when it was warm out and I could go outside and walk. Then we had a 40 degree temperature drop and I went back to being miserable.
Have you tried a round of steroids? That sometimes provides some temporary relief by reducing the swelling in the tubes. both of mine were completely clogged and after 2 days of steroids they unclogged and were full of fluid. That took another 2 days to clear up. They still clog but nothing they did at first. I just started my 2nd round of steroids so I could come off allergy meds for the test. After the first big dose on Friday my ears were mostly ok for almost 30 hours. Yesterday wasn't too bad. Today was miserable but I was in a car all day and the pressure/pulling gets worse.
What did your ENT say?
Oh, drink water. Lots and lots of water. I gave up carbonation, caffeine, sugar, most dairy and wheat/gluten. All of those can cause sinus congestion and make your ears feel full.
Hello, there are so many of us suffering Eustachian Tube Dysfunction and I think it's one of the hardest problems to solve. I've suffered for over 30 years with this problem. I also suffer severe sinus and allergy issues, which I think plays a big part of ETD. I use Flixonase Steroid Nasal Spray and take Citrizine antihistamins too. I too get perforations in eardrums and when it drains it feels so good. Sometimes the perforations are small, so I have to see my ENT Consultant for microsuction to clear out the musus. I'm sure this complaint is just grin and bear it. Unlike a blocked nose, blocked ears are so very hard to clear.
Good luck
Thank you for your comments! I think my problem got particularly worse after I had a cold that never really ran after an op to have a perforated ear drum close. The pain!!! Argghh basically because the gunk was/is trapped on my new solid ear drum that's rock hard with new cartridge and skin. But. . . I don't want to speak too soon but I'm really hoping and praying that it's easing. Firstly I've been using a steroid spray for the last two weeks which initially didn't seem to be doing anything, then secondly the good old steam treatment but after extensive googling I was able to locate my pressure points by my ear and massaging my neck and ear I think may well have helped them start to drain! I also rubbed ibruprofen gel behind my ear and on my neck. Try it! Nothing to lose. And it's more natural than having to resort to the medication as if you're like me you're sick of taking them! Good luck!
Hi Jo, where are the points with the ear and nack massage ? I've tried absolutely everything out there and would love to come off the steroid medication that I've now been using for years and years....wondering if that's the reason why my hair has started to thin quite badly. I'm in touch with the Drug Company GlasSmithKlne who supply it to try and find out if it could be connected, probably not though !! I use the NeilMed Nasal Rinse too, which helps flush out allergens and mucus. Continue with your nasal spray as it can take a while before they work. Sadly, mine is an ongoing problem, Rhinitis and allergies so it's unlikely I'll be able to come of meds, it would get much worse. Wish there was a herbal remedy that would help me. I contract Pneumacoccal Meningitis because bacteria was stuck in my eustachian tubes too long and it turned nasty....don't want that happening again, so first sign of earache I take antibiotics, another drug that shouldn't be over used....but what can one do !!
Good luck and hoe you get sorted soon.
Regards Anne
Thank you Anne. I sympathise with you!
I have found that if you massage to the side of your ear up and down in like a wave motion pressing relatively firmly for 50 times, then move slightly further down to just below your ear lobe closer to where your jaw starts and do the same. Within about half an hour I start to feel my ear draining to my throat and have a bit of a coughing fit! It's worth a go I thought. Now my ear is a lot less painful but now a bit ticklish?! I'm guessing it's from the ear still draining. I go back to the ENT surgeon in a few weeks so will ask but thankfully the pain has eased for now at least! I'm praying it doesn't come back as it's horrendous.
Good luck!
Sally, Jo and Anne: Here is my story which may or may not help you in your search for a cure. Ove rthe last 5 years I have had mainly my right ear close off so it was muffled, I had clicking when I swallowed and crackling when I moved my facial muscles. Last June my ear become much worse a closed off congested 2 to 3 times a month, the clicking happened evertime I swallowed and my ear crackled and if filled with rice krispies and sound was muffled. From June to may I saw 6 ENTs, A gastroentologist (because one ENT attributed my issue to GERD), 3 GPs, 2 allergists, 2 chiropractors and in desperation a naturopath. Nothing worked including flonase, sinus wash, decongestants, antihistamines, eliminating dairy, ear popper, otovent..... I began to search the balloon dilation route after contacting some clown outfit in San Diego I decided to call Acclarent a 2nd time and they gave me an ENT here in Seattle from my home state of Ohio who was trained on AERA. I made an appointment and I explained my symptoms of fullness, clicking, crackling that would vary from day to day and even within the day, He examined my ears and asked what the other doctors and practitioners had told me. I said they told me I had eustachian tube dysfunction and I was looking to see if I was a candidate for AERA eustachian tube balloon dilation. He said no you are not because you do not have eustachian tube dysfunction. He explained the two main muscles and said I was having tensor tympani muscle spasms: an involuntary, anxiety-based condition where the reflex threshold for tensor tympani muscle activity is reduced, causing a frequent spasm. This can trigger aural symptoms from tympanic membrane tension, middle ear ventilation alterations and trigeminal nerve irritability which look a lot like ETD. I stopped him and told him in Dec while working with my son on something I had enough of the crackling, clicking, fullmess when I talked and decided to take a Xanax I had from 2 years ago. 20 minutes later my son asked what is wrong as I had paused and I replied the fullness, clicking when I swallow, crackling and closed off feeling is gone and my ears are perfect. The doctor said yes, a muscle relaxant stops the spasms in the tensor tympani muscle which can shut off the Eustachian tube. I got a prescription of Xanax which enhances GABA which is what makes you happy and less stressed anxious and all symptoms that I thought and was told were ETD are gone. No fullness, no ear congestion or closed off, no clicking when I swallow and no crackling when I move my facial muscles. My next step is to find other ways to reduce anxiety causing this spasm.
I hope this may help you if you think your symptoms are similar.
I know anxiety definitely makes mine worse. I have wondered if it is all in my head because every doctor I go to says I have allergies. If I get the allergies under control, my ears will be fine. I have moved out of my home that has dogs and cats because I am allergic to them. I am living in a house that we have scrubbed but I am still having problems. I have the same ear issues you mentioned but I also have a ridiculous amount of drainage. I can feel it drain inside my head like a faucet. When it starts draining my ears act up. I don't have the typical allergy symptoms. I don't have a runny nose, stuffy nose, itchy eyes, itchy throat, itchy ears etc. My only allergy symptom is the drainage and my eustachian tubes. When I tried to go back to my house I feel like I can't breathe and my ears clogged up and pulled so tight that it's painful. I have always had anxiety but since my ear issues started around Christmas it has been off the charts. I've also started having panic attacks from the claustrophobic feeling.
A very interesting read and wow if it's worked. I'll be seeing my ENT consultant in April and tell him about this. Stress and Anxiety causes all sorts of problems.
As I've said before, I've suffered this horrible comlaint since the early 1980's. Constantly having to take steroid based medications isn't good. I do know know though, that when I've perforated my eardrum by constantly pinching nostrils together and blowing, my ENT doctor has managed to get so much nasty mucus out via microsuction. I also think because I do suffer sinus issues and some allergies, that makes a lot of mucus, so if this particular muscle is going into spasms making the eustachian close, this must be where the trouble lie.
Thank you so much for the information Mike
Anne
England
Does your inner ear ever twitch. Like a an eyentwich but in the ear. You can feel it and hear it like a drum sound. Just intermittently?
Yep, part and parcel of this complaint....get it too !!
What dr do you see? My Ent not very useful for me to date. Do we just live with it? I barely use xanax. Says anxiety based along with tmjd on articles.. Tmjd can do it too. Thank you so much for replying. Geez who knew this stuff happens to people 😞 I dont eat much no caffiene, little basically. But have been drinking more water which is stomach turning lol but read hydration. I recently got dry eyes somehow as well.
Hi Lisa, I think this problem of ETD is more common than we think. Just the amount of people on this site proves there are a lot of us.
I live in England, so you won't have heard of my ENT Consultant. He is an English spoken doctor, but comes from Spain. He is so nice and sympathic and takes good care of me since my bout of bacterial meningitis, through this complaint. I'm really surprised that TMJ can do this too. At one time I was wondering whether it could be due to dental work on upper sides of mouth at the back. Deep fillings I guess could cause it. That would have to be taken up with my dentist though. At last I have had some respite from blocked ears. Not sure if it's to do with the Flixonase nasules that I've had to use again (short period only with these) or the change in Season. Winter time is the worse time for me with congestion and sinus issues. I'm sure what we eat has absolutely nothing to do with this problem.....jst seems to be one of those things with some people. Although after, or during a cold I've heard people complain of blocked ears, which goes to prove it's the mucus that bungs them up.
Anne
I am trying to locate a more proactive ent. I dont know if tmjd is behind this i thought maybe. Mine all began with sinus infection. Had a couple then got the flu. Im happy you have found a good prqctioner. My previous ent was wonderful but he retired ten years abo i had some issues but from a flight and sinus and he fixed me up and ran tests so much more proficient then what i see now, . so i do know the difference of level of care. Oddly the one i do ise is highly rated but not for me and my issues i guess. There are only a handful where i live. I have to change drs. Its a shame. Takes so much time to restart it all. I read so many advances in technology and medicine and all avaialable out there and then i see a doctor and they use the same scope they used from long ago.
I think you are correct. I too have heard complaints with etd.
Maybe, we just have to grin and bear it Lisa. I guess it could
be so much worse Although it's such a horrible condition to have
to up with. Good luck with your search for a decent ENT Consultant.
Anne
Yes! Only recently though. My right ears pulls really tight in the car and it hurts my cheek. The other day after several hours in the car I felt a flutter. Almost like an insect was buzzing my ear drum. It made me jump and has happened a handful of times since.
Hi, I offer my experience on this health issue. Nothing seemed to work my left ear had clogged fullness, until I found video on YouTube. Dr. Mandell MD offered his experience with Tinnitus. The exercise for the ears has been helpful. I watched and listened to his video very closely. My next move is to apply heat to the ear before hand.
I went to a new ENT just last Thursday and the only this he offered was tuboplasty. Insert balloon to the nose and onto the eustacian tube. He states high success rate. I consider myself a candidate. Only drawback insurance problems seems like Medicare is only one that covers it. I will stop here , any questions let me know. Good luck 🍀!
Hi Mike! Do you still follow this topic? I wanted to discuss my issues and noticed this was awhile ago.
Good morning Manda,
Send me your symptoms and I'll let you know what has helped
me. Also the country you live in, as some are unable to get
the medication that I can in England
Anne