yes! fish bowl is a perfect description. and yes my left ear was my bad ear as well. i had both done but the pain is in the bad ear.... i do have a follow up soon. the pain seems to have spread much further than expected. fingers crossed. good luck to ya lisa
P95068,
Hi, did you have any hearing problems before you had the balloon surgery?
I still can't hear very well on my left ear and my doctor told me that is my perceived notion that I can't hear and he wants to get me tested with a hearing test to see if indeed I have lost some hearing.
If you can please reply.
Thanks.
Hi! Do either of you have a follow up on how you are feeling? Are your ears any better after balloon dilation? I am getting my septum fixed in a few weeks and plan to have the balloon dilation in about 6 months.
Do you have an update on your ear since the procedure?
Hey rebecca
So I am healed. The pain and patulous effect went away but it took 6-8 weeks. I do have clicking now when I swallow which is more of an annoyance. The procedure did not work for me. I have a chiropractor who is suggesting my ear pressure and fullness may be from the muscles surrounding my eustachian tube
Thank you for your reply. I am sorry it didn’t work for you. I am very much on the fence about this procedure. The Dr that would be covered to do it has only done it 30 times and the one I want to see, but not in my insurance, who has done it thousands of times is $15k. But it seems like the success rate is so small!
Hey
Yes unfortunately it’s a new procedure. On a positive note, I was told it’s a very simple procedure…I was desperate and knew it may not work as ents have told me my e tubes seem to be workout properly. I’ve had unexplained ear pressure for 10 yrs and ran out of options so I tried my luck. May work for you though. I paid 3000 out of pocket which was upsetting but your health is more important than money. I’d suggest you try everything else before this if your condition is bearable. Good luck. I know how irritable ear conditions are.
I have tubes in my ears for over three years now. They gave me my sanity back!
My second balloon dilation with my adenoid revision was successful. However, I still have tubes in my ears!
Hello,
I know this post may be old, but my ENT has recommended this new procedure on my right ear. I’m a 40 year old female and had ear problems all my life, 5 ear tube surgeries as a child and then 3 ear tube surgeries as an adult. I have also had 2 sinus surgeries, both to scrap and clean out the sinus. I currently suffer from Eustachian Tube Dysfunction and chronic sinusitis. I have seen an ENT in Des Moines, Iowa for the past 10 years and have been frustrated at getting no relieve. I’m now at a new ENT in West Des Moines, IA that has recommended the balloon dilation and placement of an ear tube at same time. I have 80% ear loss in my right ear when I don’t have a tube in it, however, the 3-5 year tubes have only been staying in for about a year and they fall out (right ear only). I have been reading these posts to see what everyone has experienced and will let everyone know how my outcome will be after the balloon and tube placement. I have United Health Care and trying get approval for them to pay for it. Not sure if anyone else had Insurance issues for payment of this procedure?
Thanks!
I had it done twice and neither time the insurance covered it. The first time, I paid only half as negotiated with my doctor. The second time I had it done with a different doctor and she never asked me to pay for it despite the denial by the insurance. Both times I had it done with an adenoidectomy.