1. Community
  2. Ears, nose, throat and mouth
  3. Eustachian Tube Dysfunction

Ear popping,fullness, (sometimes) light-headed (June 2016-present)

Posted , 6 users are following.

seanmu25
seanmu25

In June, I drove up to my father's house in the mountains.  I'm usually fine with change of altitudes; I normally would yawn within a few minutes of feeling fullness in the ears, and it would go away.  This time, I didn't yawn, and my ears just popped on their own.  However, the popping sound was mildly painful, and that was that.  For the rest of the day, I didn't run into any problems.  The next day, was where the nightmare began.

The next day, I woke up, and felt like my ears were full.  I thought I was still adjusting to the change.  I yawned to pop my ears.  They popped, great, success.  I swallowed, and it felt like the air was sucked right back in.  I yawned to pop, great, another success.  I swallowed, and the air goes right back.  The nightmare has begun.  

This became a process, until I went into my primary doctor in August.  They saw a lot of wax build-up, and cleaned it up.  Later that afternoon, POP, swallow, POP, swallow.  The nightmare continues.

September, I go back in.  I inform the doctor that I'm still having ear troubles.  He looks in the nose, and ears.  He says that I have a lot of fluid retention, and it is leaking through the ears.  He prescribed 10mg Loratadine.  Yes, I admit, I have allergies to dust, and other things.  However, my ears feel nothing like an allergic reaction to me.  I go with the doctor, because you know, he is a doctor.  He is treating me well for my other problems, and I'm quite happy with his performance.  The doctor told me it should clear up in time.

The nightmare continues.  I don't want this to continue.  I am tired of it.  I'll do whatever it takes to stop the process of POP, swallow, POP, swallow, hold nose, blow, POP, swallow.  The process is never ending, and damnit, frustrating to hell!

Any suggestions, tips or anything else would be wonderful!  (I cannot decribe the light headed feeling) I dont know if it is dizzyness or light headed.  I just know that it is annoying!

2 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • lisalisa67
    lisalisa67 seanmu25

    Posted

    Do you vibrations sensations with all this? I have a few sinus colds this year and it ruined me.hopefully this will all pass one day..soon. But twice now i got upset and its like my ear..head vibrates. I already have optic nerve pallor in one and they are watching the inner angles and now this? Its sending me off the edge. Im trying  to be calm because im recovering now from another very bad cold/flu and in my heart i know when the fluid leaves it will feel better my eustatian tubes retracted with a prior sinus issue. This is very hard on the psyche and my husband is no longer very supportive i guess he is tired of it. Which is cruel because it would have nicer if he got me to a specialist which seem to all be far away. Instead we are going on a vacation.? Im trying with everything in me to forge thru and have faith the body knows how to heal. A part of me wants to just die and be done with all this already. Im unable to take many meds because of my eye issues so i feel trapped in this ear mess now. so funny how this world pretends to care and no one should want to die yet they cant help you many times when you are sick so its a catch 22. frustrating. theres no way not to get anxious its freaky whats going on. It was finally healing before this now mess of a respiratory virus came. Th popping thing was clearing it took three months and was calming down but now allover again.its the bibration thing that is pushing me to the edge. I dont know. I was curious you didnt mention that.
    • seanmu25
      seanmu25 lisalisa67

      Posted

      I do not get any vibration sensations, so I have no idea how that would feel.  I haven't had the flu or a cold at all this year.  The biggest thing I have in line with sinus or allergy is post-nasal into my throat, as little as it is.  

      The only problem I can really confirm is being forced to pop my ears all day long.  Other than that, I feel completely fine.  I have schedule an appointment with my primary for Dec. 30th, and will ask for a referral to an ENT.  I just hope they don't give me more medications, because I want answers, not pills.  

    • Olizzieo
      Olizzieo lisalisa67

      Posted

      Hi Lisa, you are obviously having such a terrible time!!! You need to see an ENT (ear nose and throat specialist) who specialises in eustachian tube dysfunction. There are two main disorders that affect the eustachain tubes. One is where they block up and your ears pop to open them. The popping and blocking tells you that this is what you are suffering. The other is patulous eustachian tube and that is where your voice and/or breathing echoes loudly in your head/ears. I wonder if that is what the vibrations are? Can you explain in detail what you experience when you have the vibrations. Is it when you talk and breath or is it vibrations from walking, loud sound or a change in pressure like going up in a lift (which can be semi circular canal dehiscence.) None of them are any type of threat to your life but all are very uncomfortable.

      It is very normal to be affected by anxiety at this time. What is worrying you the most? Is it that you think these symptoms are due to a life threatening cause or is it because you feel dizzy and out of it? An anti anxiety medication can be a great help in dulling these awful feelings. It is scary taking them initially because you don't know what to expect and emotionally can feel like you have failed because you rely on medication, but if you experience less anxiety it is worth it. It only needs to be temporary until your ears are sorted out and like any health problem, you take medication if it works. It is NOT a sign of weakness or inability to cope with normal daily life!!! 

      The dizziness may be because you are breathing more air in to frequently pop your ears. Over breathing can make you feel light headed. When your ears are blocked such as when you have a cold or virus, it is not unsual to also experience a distrubance to your vestibular system - which is close to your middle ear/eustachian tube. Your vestibular system is one of the things that can make you feel unbalanced and dizzy. When the virus/blocked ears are gone, it will return to normal. Experiencing dizziness can increase anxiety so you can see, you have good reason to be concerned, but none of this is a sign that there is something major wrong. If there was something, your doctor would have picked it up.

      The main thing you need to do now is ask your doctor for a referral to an ENT and get there ASAP. You may need an ENT who performs balloon dilation of the eustachian tube so before you go to 2-3 ENT's, find out who  does that and see them first. I am sure they will put you on nasal sprays etc which may be all you need, but if not then they will be able to help you straight away. Most ENTs don't perform balloon dilation but no doubt in the future they will. Please let us know how you are going. smile xx

  • ayzzie19624
    ayzzie19624 seanmu25

    Posted

    Do you hear a click sound in yor ear everytime you swallow? I too feel same way if i swallow my ear constant popping, i feel a little off balance constant. Do you have any progress to it? Please let me know.
  • paul90265
    paul90265 seanmu25

    Posted

    I think I have the same thing in my Left ear, it started about a month ago, already did Prednisone didnt work, now Im on Augmentin in hopes that its an Infection, but I really doubt it is.. I'm going to a new ENT next week, this is very Frustrating. Im sleeping with ear plugs because all electric appliacne noises get caught in my ear, and they dont stop, like the fan that my wife has to have on... Is this maybe Tinnitus?

  • M992
    M992 seanmu25

    Posted

    Could you please describe the lightheaded feeling you mentioned ?

    I think im having the same thing, its been going on for a year now and its driving me crazy.

Back to top

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.