My ears have been blocked for 8 months!

Ears, nose and throat
1

Hello,

So basically this all started from an airplane landing 8 months ago, where my ears hurt like hell during the decent. My ears were clogged and i tried everything (blowing, yawning, nasal sprays, you name it). So i saw an ENT for a few months and he kept giving me remedies until he agreed to do a Eustachian Tube Balloon Dilation Surgery. So, I was so happy I thought all my problems would go away after the surgery. It’s been a month since the surgery now and I have seen zero results.

The uncomfort I feel on a day to day basis is unreal. I hear a clicking noise everyday whenever I swallow. Whenever I blow my nose the ears pop, but they can’t pop fully all the way and open my ears no matter how hard I try. 

Is there anything I can do? Somebody please help me I have tried everything and it’s driving me insane!

2

Sorry it didn’t work. Where did you have it done? Is it possible it’s too soon to expect results? I have a consultation in 2 weeks in Manhattan re the procedure. I’ve had etd for over 10 years.

3

I had the best luck when I stopped all meds, stopped, stressing, and considered I may be stuck with it. Next I would wait til the end of my work day and start drinking a ton of water, to where I was going to the restroom often.(my eustachian felt dry and tense) I only attempted to work on my ears while in steam, like a hot shower. Once I had success with my ears opening I would stop. You have to accept that this is not going to heal quickly.

Noisy ear could be better than alternatives, but we're all in our own Hell. My right ear would not budge for 4 months. One day I was finally able to pop my ear and then it stuck in that position. 3 times as bad as opposite.

I did see a slight improvement with a half dose of pseudoephedrine twice a day, preferably a half hour before taking a shower. Take it during the waking hours, don't take it near bed time. I'm not a huge fan of side effects of meds, though. I tried some steroid nasal sprays without luck. 

Odd event- I pressed around on the front lobe of my ear, called the Tragus. I pressed in on the tip of it, and heard 2 pops. The sensation in my ear changed(not better or worse) and my Eustachian start making all these squeaking noises when I would swallow or open my jaw. It did this for about 12 hours. 3 days later my ear started to open. May just be coincidence, proceed at your own risk.

For any others that are reading this, and have this problem after an illness, especially middle ear infection with fluid, just accept it will take 3 months to heal. Your life will be less stressful. 

If your ear is stuck closed, do not get it stuck open. Believe me.

Also we need to try to stick to or at least note the same type of ETD. It appears so far I've seen 4 varietys of the condition. 

Ear making noises

Ear won't pop

Ear won't unpop

Other hearing conditions

4

At times I get a fluttering sendation. Overall I can live with this ETD so far. My ears mostly close early morning. I do take Nasal spray. Get dizzy when I dont. I also have tinnitis. Since doing the holding nose and gently blowing my ears do unpop more often now.

5

I'm only speaking from personal experience and other info I've read. I'm not in the medical field. Sounds like we have different conditions. Based off your symptoms, you could research the tensor tympani muscle, fluid in the middle ear, maybe dust mite allergies and so on. (if you go on a cleaning kick, wear a mask) Is there a connection to the early morning thing? A trigger. Also, from what I understand there's several nasal sprays that have side effects and shouldn't be used for more than 5 days... ie: nasal spray bounce back. If you have sinus congestion cutting out major dairy consumption can be a game changer.

 

6

Dear Omar,I've done everything you've done with the exception of the Balloon Dilation which my doctor & specialists have denied me.The reason they give is that it's actually quite a dangerous procedure.If you read back on this site & look at my postings you'll  see all the comments I've made over the past two years. Sadly all negative.

Sorry not to be able to be helpful.It doesn't help you at all,but at least you know there are many like us who are in the same boat.The one thing that helps a little is to take every opportunity to go to your bedroom & lie down flat for a while very quietly.

I wish you well

7

You know, I have thought about the dairy. I take a generic for flonase nose spray. I was getting the dizzy spells b4 the flonase tho. As eell as buzzing in ears. T. Iv been to ENT 5X have had several scopes, had an ENG test done as well as a catscan due to a muscle enlarged in my neck. I also have lump like ridges on my skull. 3 drs claimed different things for those..I'm just a messed up mess. Iv got so many things going on in my body, diverticulitis, acid reflux, many more I can't remembr at moment but you get it. Wondering if something is going on causing all or if it's all just individual stuff..may never know..

8

I relied on dairy for calorie and protein intake, and it had always just been part of life. I mainly consumed milk for cereal twice a day and a quality yogurt once or twice. After my middle ear infection, I wanted to prevent mucus build up/congestion... also the meds I was on to clear up fluid and infection required me to be dairy free. I thought I'd stop for 4 weeks. I started noticing in general I felt better. Didn't have to constantly clear my throat, digestion issues resolved, less inflammation, improvements in asthma, more energy, etc. I've been off the cow for 3 months and don't see a need to go back. I still have cheese on sandwiches, and am not afraid to eat pizza with light cheese from time to time. I don't hunt for labels that say dairy free... I was already tall and thin, so I'm still working out my diet to consume enough calories to maintain weight... unfortunately I've lost 15 lbs in 3 months.

I asked my Dr. if I should get a CT scan done. He said lets hold off because often times they see other things in there, unrelated, that cause concern... Meaning they make a concern about things that shouldn't be. I'm sure if they scanned every one of us that they would see something different... i.e. lump like ridges. I haven't ruled out getting a scan done, but for now its on hold.

In my opinion, we should all be milk free, considering 75% of the world population is lactose intolerant. Noting milk free and dairy free are not the same thing. If anything, everyone should go without for 4 weeks and make a decision... from what I understand 3 months is when you see max benefit.

9

Hello, unless you live in England, sadly, there is nothing I can suggest you

use...medication is so different.  However, I'd have thought that there would

have been an alternative to what I'm using and has certainly helped me.

I consider myself extremely experienced with ears as I've suffered Eustachian

Tube Dysfunction for more years than I care remember, with suffering allergies

and sinusitis.

I do wish people were able to read my past post on this Forum advising

people to try what's helped me.  Others on the Forum must get so fed up

of reading the same old thing I continually write about ETD.

So I'll repeat myself again.  If you've tried everything (my ENT consultant

wouldn't use tubes (grommets or do the Balloon dilation on me...he knew 

it wouldn't work)

So last year in April I had a particularly bad episode with ETD, even 

experiencing several perforated eardrum (left one)  So I was again

prescribed by my specialist a 20 days reducing course of steroid

Prednisolone tablets.  He then gave me a box of Flixonase Nasule

Nose Drops, which are used mornings and evenings for 6 weeks.

After those were finished I'd usually revert back onto the Flixonase

Nasal Spray....however, when I've done this in the past, within 3 weeks

my ears are blocked again, smell and taste goes and I'm back to square

one.  So once I'd got on top of the problem, getting rid of all the

inflammation that prevents our ears from draining, I decided to just use

the nasule drops when I needed them.  They are quite strong, much

stronger than spray (like you've said they haven't worked for you either)

I only now have to use them when my ears block, which is approx every

five to six days.  Bad day yesterday, popped nasule up and today ears

are completely clear again. 

I haven't flown on holiday from England in 5 yrs this year due to suffering

ETD...too frightened !!

Please ask your doctor for Prednisolone and ask if there is a stronger

nasal drops, not spray that you can try.  Because your ears have now

been blocked for a long time, it's no good him/her prescribing only a

weeks course of the steroid tablets, won't be long enough to clear all

the inflammation that's preventing drainage.  You'll need what I took

the 20 day reducing course.

While you're waiting for the prescription (hopefully you'll be prescribed),

try hot water in a bowl with towel over your head and breath it in for a

good 20 minutes...then try popping your ears.  Pinch nostrils together,

stick your finger in the opposite ear while doing this, then do the same

for the other ear.  This sometimes works for me.  I know what you are 

saying, when you've said they are not opening fully and still feel blocked.

The very best of luck with whatever it is you try.  Would be nice to recieve

a reply to let me know how you get on.  I know hat a miserable condition

ETD is, so I sympathise with you and everyone else on this Forum.

Regards

Anne

10

So true. I may do that myself, get off dairy for awhile. I don't drink milk..hate it, but love cheese, tho not an everyday thing. Very rare yogurt and milk on cereal. Guess cheese the most. As far as milk, I can always go almond for cereal when I want it occassionally..the cows are Fed such crap now, and that all goes in the milk. Milk is a main culprit of throat mucus for sure. Your right about catscans. Not 2 mention the day aftr having one was when I developed T. Wondered if cause from the dye Tha inject, again, who knows. I'm just moving on and trying to enjoy life and stop allowing myself ro get so caught up with symptoms that it is giving me fear which leads to stress. .Goin to use common sense, start with diet and stress less and see what happens..