1. Community
  2. Gut, bowel and stomach
  3. Reflux Oesophagitis

Acid reflux. Ear problems

Posted , 9 users are following.

fireblue
fireblue

15 months ago, one of my ears started to make popping and bubbling sounds when I was sleeping. It has not stopped ever since. This only happens when I am laying down or sleeping, same thing. Doctors are giving me guesses but no proper diagnoses. One of them was acid reflux. I am wondering if it is. I am already on prevacid and have been the last seven years. When I lie down, between 10 and 15 minutes later, I can hear a bubbling, popping sound in my one ear. If I adjust my head, it does stop for awhile but will start again. It will continue to make sounds until I get up and awake for the day. I never hear it. Only when I am sleeping. Has anyone else experienced this or something similar? Could it be acid reflux? or something else. Please help. Thank you

2 likes, 22 replies

22 Replies

Next
  • AcidTrees
    AcidTrees fireblue

    Posted

    Hi fireblue - i dont know the answer to your question but it made me wonder if you sleep on your right hand side? If so, since the entrance to the stomach is slightly down on the right hand side, acid etc could leak out more easily.

    Acid can reach your ears and can get there more easily when you are prone as gravity is less. You could try sleeping on your left hand side on a wedge pillow, or try raising the head of your bed about 6 inches, and see if this stops the problem.

  • JFWski
    JFWski fireblue

    Posted

    I use a wedge pillow but my dr also gave the suggestion of putting a 3-4 inch block of wood under the each side of the headboard to achieve the same results.
    • fireblue
      fireblue JFWski

      Posted

      Do you also have ear problems? Where do you find a wedge pillow
    • JFWski
      JFWski fireblue

      Posted

      I'm in the USA. I bought mine at Bed Bath and Beyond. But I'm sure you can get them via a catalog.
  • 1diamond_owl
    1diamond_owl fireblue

    Posted

    Hiya,

    As a Reflux sufferer myself I asked my GP why do I hear popping sounds or pebbles striking each other.I can't really tell whether when I'm in a relaxed mode or chewing or yawning. It is known as Eustachian Tube Dysfunction.There is no pain  or swelling for me nor it affects my hearing. I still wonder if the acid could affect or reach that part.

    You can try to take a breath in. Then try to breathe out gently wuth your mouth closed and pinching your nose.

    It works for me and helps me ease out the problem whenever I have it like now.

    Hope this helps.

    • fireblue
      fireblue 1diamond_owl

      Posted

      My doctor thinks it might be ETD but .. it only happens when I am sleeping. When I wake up to use the washroom or whatever, I am hearing the popping, bubbling sounds. I ignore then go back to sleep. It obviously continues while I am sleeping and it does not stop until I get up for the day. So pinching my nose and breathing out won't really help since this happens when I am sleeping. Thank you though
    • Barretts
      Barretts fireblue

      Posted

      But probably caused by LPR.

      I've had ear problems from reflux all my life including the symptoms you describe. As a boy I had to have my ears syringed weekly (without effect) and then had my tonsils and adenoids removed as they thought that would help. (It didn't.)

      As an adult, various doctors have sent me to ENT who test my hearing and say it's below par due to the scarring they can see from all that syringing 50 or 60 years ago.

    • Barretts
      Barretts

      Posted

      A recent paediatric study into glue ear (otitis media) found inflating a balloon by blowing through your nose, opens the eustachian tube. They used special balloons but I find blowing a balloon normally opens my eustacian tubes (and can be a bit painful sometimes).
    • fireblue
      fireblue Barretts

      Posted

      What are your symptoms?

      When I move my jaw, my ears pop.

  • Barretts
    Barretts fireblue

    Posted

    Ear problems are a common symptom of extra-oesophageal reflux (often known as "LPR" ) . Reflux (which doesn't need to be acidic) traversing the full column of the oesophagus and breacjing the upper oesophageal sphincter can aspirate into the respiratory system.

    From the back of the throat it can pass up the eustacian tube and affect the ear - most usually the right ear as reflux occurs easier when lying on the right side.

    In a survey last year looking at symptoms associated with LPR, 30% reported ear problems.

    A paper published at the end of June from a study conducted in Lithuania "demonstrated statistically significant association between peripheral vertigo and GERD".

    The mechanism of Extra-Oesophageal Reflux may be found in a new book and website, "Down With Acid" (all one word with a org uk ending if you want to find it).

    (The moderators of this site don't mind me posting links to it but this will save them time.)

    • fireblue
      fireblue Barretts

      Posted

      Thank you. I will check the links later. Is there anyway to fix this though?
    • Barretts
      Barretts fireblue

      Posted

      The page describing Extra-Oesophageal Reflux and reporting the 2014 survey may be found here: https://sites.google.com/site/downwithacid/home/reflux/reflux-reduction/lpr

      There's no easy way to stop reflux.

      Avoid over-filling your stomach; eat little and often.

      Avoid tight clothing.

      Lose weight if necessay.

      Avoid exercise that compresses or tilts the stomach after food.

      Leave at least 3 hours between last meal and going to bed.

      Raise the head of the bed by 6 to 8 inches.

      Sleep on your left side.

    • 1diamond_owl
      1diamond_owl Barretts

      Posted

      Thanks for this info as I think I might have that peripheral vertigo . Went to my GP and she prescribed anti dizziness medications but I felt a lot dizzier. she even taught me some exercises to combat it.
  • john74304
    john74304 fireblue

    Posted

    I have just had my ears syringed and strangly enough my acid reflux return at the same time. Spooky!
Back to top
Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.