Bad ETD - what works?
Posted , 10 users are following.
I've had ETD for the last few weeks- pressure build up and mucus possibly due to not blowing my nose for three months after having a myringoplasty. I've had to be super careful! The perforated ear drum has now heeled but this ETD is horrible!!
Just wondered if anyone else has had this and what works? Does anything get rid of the mucus and relieve the pain? I feel like I've tried everything! Sudafed seems to help a bit!
Thanks!
0 likes, 35 replies
SallyA1013 jo27820
Posted
I take allegra and flonase. That seems to help with the drainage. The new ENT I saw said he recommends azelastine antihistamine nasal spray but it's prescription only. I picked it up yesterday but can't take it until after Friday since I have to be antihistamine free for skin allergy testing. He said it's worked for some of his ETD patients.
Have you used a sinus rinse? They got rid of the pressure/clog but I was getting a "wet" feeling in my ear that was caused by the rinse. I stopped using it and the wet feeling mostly went away.
Can you pop your ears by yawning? When mine get the fullness popping them helps and when they do pop I can feel the drainage down my throat. I am lucky that I can pop mine about 60-70% of the time.
Be careful taking too much sudafed. I was taking the max dose daily and started to develope some neurological issues. They don't know if it's related but told me to stop taking it to see if I got better. So far I have.
There are some you tube videos for eustachian tube massage for drainage. There are also some sinus pressure points. Does it help? Maybe? maybe it's mental? but it does seem to help a little.
My sister has ear issues and when hers clog up she swears by getting on the bed on her side and hanging her head off the side of the bed with the "bad" ear down for 4 minutes. Roll slowly to your back for a minute or two and then slowly roll to your other side and hang the other ear off the bed. She swears this works great for her but I haven't had much luck with it. The blood just runs to my head and I get lightheaded.
Hot showers with the vent turned off so there is a lot of steam. While in there put a hot rag over your face. I've used a microwaved rag wrapped in a plastic bag and towel and held it on my ear. I've also used a heating pad.
Nothing seems to help for very long. I felt the best the week before last when it was warm out and I could go outside and walk. Then we had a 40 degree temperature drop and I went back to being miserable.
Have you tried a round of steroids? That sometimes provides some temporary relief by reducing the swelling in the tubes. both of mine were completely clogged and after 2 days of steroids they unclogged and were full of fluid. That took another 2 days to clear up. They still clog but nothing they did at first. I just started my 2nd round of steroids so I could come off allergy meds for the test. After the first big dose on Friday my ears were mostly ok for almost 30 hours. Yesterday wasn't too bad. Today was miserable but I was in a car all day and the pressure/pulling gets worse.
What did your ENT say?
SallyA1013 jo27820
Posted
anne05078 jo27820
Posted
Hello, there are so many of us suffering Eustachian Tube Dysfunction and I think it's one of the hardest problems to solve. I've suffered for over 30 years with this problem. I also suffer severe sinus and allergy issues, which I think plays a big part of ETD. I use Flixonase Steroid Nasal Spray and take Citrizine antihistamins too. I too get perforations in eardrums and when it drains it feels so good. Sometimes the perforations are small, so I have to see my ENT Consultant for microsuction to clear out the musus. I'm sure this complaint is just grin and bear it. Unlike a blocked nose, blocked ears are so very hard to clear.
Good luck
jo27820 anne05078
Posted
Thank you for your comments! I think my problem got particularly worse after I had a cold that never really ran after an op to have a perforated ear drum close. The pain!!! Argghh basically because the gunk was/is trapped on my new solid ear drum that's rock hard with new cartridge and skin. But. . . I don't want to speak too soon but I'm really hoping and praying that it's easing. Firstly I've been using a steroid spray for the last two weeks which initially didn't seem to be doing anything, then secondly the good old steam treatment but after extensive googling I was able to locate my pressure points by my ear and massaging my neck and ear I think may well have helped them start to drain! I also rubbed ibruprofen gel behind my ear and on my neck. Try it! Nothing to lose. And it's more natural than having to resort to the medication as if you're like me you're sick of taking them! Good luck!
anne05078 jo27820
Posted
Hi Jo, where are the points with the ear and nack massage ? I've tried absolutely everything out there and would love to come off the steroid medication that I've now been using for years and years....wondering if that's the reason why my hair has started to thin quite badly. I'm in touch with the Drug Company GlasSmithKlne who supply it to try and find out if it could be connected, probably not though !! I use the NeilMed Nasal Rinse too, which helps flush out allergens and mucus. Continue with your nasal spray as it can take a while before they work. Sadly, mine is an ongoing problem, Rhinitis and allergies so it's unlikely I'll be able to come of meds, it would get much worse. Wish there was a herbal remedy that would help me. I contract Pneumacoccal Meningitis because bacteria was stuck in my eustachian tubes too long and it turned nasty....don't want that happening again, so first sign of earache I take antibiotics, another drug that shouldn't be over used....but what can one do !!
Good luck and hoe you get sorted soon.
Regards Anne
jo27820 anne05078
Posted
Thank you Anne. I sympathise with you!
I have found that if you massage to the side of your ear up and down in like a wave motion pressing relatively firmly for 50 times, then move slightly further down to just below your ear lobe closer to where your jaw starts and do the same. Within about half an hour I start to feel my ear draining to my throat and have a bit of a coughing fit! It's worth a go I thought. Now my ear is a lot less painful but now a bit ticklish?! I'm guessing it's from the ear still draining. I go back to the ENT surgeon in a few weeks so will ask but thankfully the pain has eased for now at least! I'm praying it doesn't come back as it's horrendous.
Good luck!
mikescape jo27820
Posted
I hope this may help you if you think your symptoms are similar.
SallyA1013 mikescape
Posted
I know anxiety definitely makes mine worse. I have wondered if it is all in my head because every doctor I go to says I have allergies. If I get the allergies under control, my ears will be fine. I have moved out of my home that has dogs and cats because I am allergic to them. I am living in a house that we have scrubbed but I am still having problems. I have the same ear issues you mentioned but I also have a ridiculous amount of drainage. I can feel it drain inside my head like a faucet. When it starts draining my ears act up. I don't have the typical allergy symptoms. I don't have a runny nose, stuffy nose, itchy eyes, itchy throat, itchy ears etc. My only allergy symptom is the drainage and my eustachian tubes. When I tried to go back to my house I feel like I can't breathe and my ears clogged up and pulled so tight that it's painful. I have always had anxiety but since my ear issues started around Christmas it has been off the charts. I've also started having panic attacks from the claustrophobic feeling.
anne05078 mikescape
Posted
A very interesting read and wow if it's worked. I'll be seeing my ENT consultant in April and tell him about this. Stress and Anxiety causes all sorts of problems.
As I've said before, I've suffered this horrible comlaint since the early 1980's. Constantly having to take steroid based medications isn't good. I do know know though, that when I've perforated my eardrum by constantly pinching nostrils together and blowing, my ENT doctor has managed to get so much nasty mucus out via microsuction. I also think because I do suffer sinus issues and some allergies, that makes a lot of mucus, so if this particular muscle is going into spasms making the eustachian close, this must be where the trouble lie.
Thank you so much for the information Mike
Anne
England
manda.panda mikescape
Posted
anne05078 manda.panda
Posted
Good morning Manda,
Send me your symptoms and I'll let you know what has helped
me. Also the country you live in, as some are unable to get
the medication that I can in England
Anne
mikescape manda.panda
Posted
I rarely check but saw the notice from you. Would be glad to discuss anything that might help. ETD type symptoms are horrible and luckily I improved a lot and life is no longer miserable. I just needed the correct diagnosis and not be brushed off as ETD with no cause.
Let me know how I can help
Mike
mikescape
Posted
anne05078 mikescape
Posted
Hi Mike, what was found to cause your ETD ?
Although I've been pretty good for the past 14 months from using the Flixonase Nasule Drops, I have had a bad episode this week and thought I'd got another perforation in my left eardrum, but evidently not according to the surgery nurse. However, because left ear was so blocked she gave me a course of antibiotics, they hopefully will dry up the post nasal drip. Mucus constantly dripping down the back of my throat on the left side only. All the mucus I'm making is due to allergies, high pollen at the moment and sinus issues....an ongoing problem !!
Anne
anne05078
Posted
Anne
manda.panda mikescape
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anne05078 manda.panda
Posted
Hi Manda, you can get me on email if you'd like...sometimes it's hard to find me on f/b, but I am on it.
Happy to chat with you
Anne
Moderator comment: I have removed the email address as we do not publish these in the forums. If users wish to exchange contact details please use the Private Message service.
anne05078 manda.panda
Posted
why they do that. I@d sent you my email address.
Anne
anne05078
Posted
I've sent you email address again and being moderated again. Maybe we can't give email address out on here.
See if you can find me on f/b Anne Westover
mikescape manda.panda
Posted
Mike
mikescape anne05078
Posted
My ETD was caused by spasms in the tensor tympani muscle which controls the eustachian tube and protects your ear from loud sound by shutting off the eustachian tube. It is called Tonic Tensor Tympani Syndrome (TTTS).
anne05078 mikescape
Posted
So how is that condition rectified and are you now completely
free from ETD ?
Anne
mikescape anne05078
Posted
99% of the time I don't notice. The 1% it doesn't close off completely but I get a lot of crackling, I get hoarse, my ears start to feel full. It happens under stress, when I am tired, when I have been talking in a discussion type setting for an hour. Things that have helped are intra- oral massage, regular facial massage, acupuncture, anxiety medicine and must relaxing. Over time, my muscle in my ear has less spasms. I tried zoloft and ssri type anti depressants but no help. The massages you can do yourself to some extent for relaxation and drainage but professional message is far more effective.
mikescape anne05078
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mikescape
Posted
FlaGal mikescape
Posted
Hi Mike, I have no eustatican tube issues but I'm going round and round again with the tensor tympani syndrome. I'm rarely bothered with it & when I am it's pretty mild but the past few days I have it on and off all day. I'll get a crackle here and there then a nonstop sound like someone crushing endless rice krispies or maybe cicadas? I am also getting vertigo when the noises sound. My ET does not feel clogged at all, my hearing is not muffled but when I hold my nose & blow, it can stop the noise.
I tried a Xanax the other day, didn't help at all. Can you private mssg me or post links to some of the helpful websites? Its driving me crazy.
juliet1979 mikescape
Posted
can you help me i have severe ear blockage ans fullness feels like air in my ear and head and it gets worse when it rains when i shower when i cry or with any moisture. sometimes if i even try to walk. it has literally been unbearable to the point i cant sleep at night or function period. i take sudafed it helps slightly none of the sprays or steam or anything seems to help i saw an ent who said he doesnt know how to help me and i was considering paying for balloon eustation tube surgery bc i cant live this way. i have anxiety and when reading what you wrote k wondered if xanax or muscle relaxers mighthelp me. they have been a bit unblocked today but im afraid to shower or anythung bc im afraid they will block again. my ears click all day like rice crispies they blockfukk of sir and the pressure gegs so bad it gives me headachss. so hapoy to have found this page im at my witts end. any muscle relaxers might work?