Myringotomy or Eustachian Tube Balloon Dilation, that is the question.

Have tinnitus extreme ringing in ears, and pressure for last 2 months, ears won't pop.

Ear Doc gave me prednisone, nose spray, didn't help. Said I have pressure imbalance in right ear, and if I can live with it we do nothing, but if not either myringotomy, or Eustachian tube balloon dilation, though he doesn't usually recommend the latter.

I hear if ETBD goes bad and over dilation of Eustachian tube you end up worse off hearing echos, and your own voice really loud when talking. 

Any opinions?

T for me I believe is permanent. But able to deal with it lately. As far as the eustachian tube dysfunction I was on the spray as well but it took a couple of months before it really helped my ears. I certainly would not want to take the chance of them dilating my ears and it becoming worse than what it was. Look online for exercises you can do for the ears lots and lots of water and lay low on Dairy.

Oh boy,I really know what you're talking about.A little bit of tinnitus,but the pressure just builds & builds & the only way I can combat it is to lay down on my bed & chill out until it's gone.No medicines get anywhere near the problem & have now seen several ENT specialists & they just DON'T KNOW.My balance is now badly affected which affects my ever shortening temper with myself.

The first spray I tried was prescription Fluticasone 50 mcg per spray, and my 2nd opinion ENT doc put me on Flonase which I guess is same as Fluticasone, except small bottle doc gave me of Flonase is 27.5 mcg per spray. Do you know what strength nose spray it was that helped you?

I don't know if you've heard of American Tinnitus Association https://www.ata.org/managing-your-tinnitus/tinnitus-patient-navigator I first heard of ATA from William Shatner who has Tinnitus, on youtube.

Did any of your ENT docs recommend a myringotomy, where they put temporary grommet in your ear drum to equalize pressure, or Eustachian Tube Balloon Dilation? Balloon Dilation sounds kind of risky, but the myringotomy sounds interesting, and I was told has less risk.

 

The doctors in the U.K. only suggest that  balloon dilation isn't done with adults,only children.Also that my problem won't be cured by grommets.