Balloon dilation of eustachian tube blockage

Dear MommaKaren51,

thank you so much that you shared your experience with us. As it is quite a new surgery and not much people did it before.

If it surely can cure this dreadful disease, it will save many patient's life.

Could I ask you into more detail? What are the minor complications after surgery? How long did the swelling of eustachian tube gone after surgery? Do you still feel ear fullness now? Thank you!

Ok that was not a description of balloon dilation and it won't save lives. I haven't heard of a rash of death by Eustachian tubes.

You are right, that is not a description of balloon dilation.  I had the surgery 5 yrs ago and it was successful.  However, having ETD can be extremely painful, frustraing and depressing.  I know of many people who have become suicidal from this condition. So, yes, no one has died from ETD, but it can change the quality of your life. 

Diana!!

I will have had ETD for two years this March.

It stated during my last pregnancy and it has consumed almost my every thought since.

Every time I swallow I hear crackling and I have ok days and really bad days with this that leave me questioning if I continue my life like this.

I believe I saw you on the dr. Show as I was on YouTube.

I just wanted to hear your story of how this started and if you are still free from ETD......

I'm in Pennsylvania and don't think we have any doctors that preform this.

I have been checked for allergies and don't have any and have no other serious illness or problems.

Please help -missy

Where in Boston and who was doctor

Dr. Denis Poe Boston mass

Hi there,

My ETD is almost a year now this March, you're all it's hard to stay focus when you have ETD.

mine just started suddenly while watching tv when i felt that my right ear feels full. i went to my ENT doctors and says there nothing wrong with my ear. he first prescribe me with prednisone but it doesn't work. i tried sudafed, nasacort, afrin, etc. nothings work.

I hope ENT doctors find cure for ETD.

good luck for all of us.

Missy, i'm not sure if i answered this before, I'm sorry if I'm repeating myself.  I'm so sorry u are having this problem. I had, unsuccessful, sinus surgery for an infection yrs ago, and came out of the surgery with my ears plugged. I couldn't open them at all after that. I went on to have a 2nd sinus surgery from Dr. Weeks that was successful, but my e tubes were still closed.  I went on to have the e tube dilation surgery from him.  It has been over 5 yrs and my ears are functioning normally.  More and more drs are learning this surgery, hopefully you find a dr that can help you!! 

Search for Otolaryngologists that perform balloon dilation surgery rather than searching for ENTs. I couldn't find an ENT near me that does this procedure but when I changed my search to otolaryngologist I found two! One teaches the procedure to other physicians and also teaches at the University of Kentucky. I emailed him last night and was able to get an appointment for next Friday at his Louisville office.

Sally!!!! That is amazing!!!

Hope next week goes fast for you!

Can I ask what your symptoms are, how long you've had it & what you think brought it on.

In gonna google that now.

This nightmare started at Christmas.  I woke up with a pain in the back of my head that wouldn't go away.  I had a physical coming up in early Jan. so I didn't go to the doctor.  By NYE the pain in the back of my head had moved to the bone behind my right ear.  I woke up on New Year's day and my right ear was clogged and hurt.  I went to an NP at a walk in clinic and she performed a very painful ear wax removal procedure with cold water, a trigger sprayer and some type of plastic tool.  I nearly passed out, did throw up, got dizzy and my BP bottomed out.  She diagnosed an ear infection and gave me 10 days of Amoxicillin.  The ear wasn't improving.  A few days later my left ear also clogged up.  I went to my family doctor and he said my ears were fine but did have fluid.  Waited a few days with no improvement.  By now I was having full blown panic attacks.  Went back to the family doctor and was given Klonopin and prednisone to try and open the tubes.  Within a couple of days the ears opened a little but I had an awful wet and sloshing feeling.  Went to an ENT who said the fluid was gone and that I had allergies and once they were under control the ETD would go away.  Sent me to an allergist.  Meanwhile I got a 2nd ENT opinion... said the same thing.  It was allergies and give it time.  Went to the allergist and I am slightly allergic to dust mites and dogs.  We have dogs and our house is older and extremely dusty.  So I moved out and in with my mom 2 1/2 hours away to let the flonase work (said 14-21 days).  I tried to go home and was miserable.  Went to a hotel to see if I got better and stayed 4 days with improvement.  Went back to my mom's for a while and still no where near 100% but better than at home.  So I have removed myself from the allergens but still have ETD.  The allergist told me to go back to the ENT to discuss tubes.  The ENT told me to go back to the allergist to get allergy shots.   So I started looking for an ENT allergist and have an appointment mid March but last night I found a doctor that does the balloon dilation and made an appointment with him.  

Occasionally both ears clog but most of the time it's one or the other and they seem to alternate which is weird.  One day it's the left.  Next day it's the right.   My left ear feels like everything I hear is through a filter or like I am wearing ear muffs.  When I chew everything is amplified.  I have lost 30 lbs. since NYE due to not wanting to eat.  

I can usually get the clogged feeling to go away by yawning wide (doesn't always work), using a sinus wash or taking a hot steamy shower with a hot rag over my face.  

Sometimes when I swallow it feels like my ear drum is being sucked towards my face.  When I do get my tubes to pop it sounds like crunching glass.  I hear all kinds of noises when I swallow.  

When I am closed up in my car my right ear HURTS and it feels like my face is being sucked towards my ear.  I have to take ibuprofen for the pain it causes in my cheekbone.  

My ears also feel wet at times.  I swear I can feel fluid sloshing around and if I can get my tubes to pop I feel drainage running down my throat.  My ENT told me this isn't possible and I don't have fluid so I must be feeling air.  When I tilt my head back I get relief and feel something shift.  It sure feels like fluid!  

I never feel normal but sometimes it's not as bad as others.  Every time I need to swallow I wonder what is going to happen.  

 

Been down that road did the allergy testing, I've done it all including the night gaurd for TMJ

Just was at the orthodontist for that.

I'm hoping more ents will be on the list in the next couple months and if insurance would finally pick this procedure yo that would be even better. Please let me know how you make out next Friday.

Make sure you ask how many he's done and success rate of ETD

The crackling every time I swallow makes me crazy.

Sending positive thoughts your way

The allergist told me to have my dentist check for TMJ but I don't clench my jaw.  The ENT yesterday stuck her finger inside my mouth and pushed on something.  She asked if it hurt.  It wasn't comfortable but didn't hurt so she said I didn't have TMJ.  

Thomas S. Higgins, MD, MSPH is who I am seeing.  His website says he was the first physician in Kentucky trained to do the procedure and now he trains other doctors from all over the country.  I hope he's good since he's training others!  

I've had dymista for a week and I've just been looking at it.  The reviews and side effects are a bit scary.  I am unlucky in that I tend to get rare disorders (ETD and Graves disease) and even my side effects are sometimes backwards.  I gained weight with graves.  Most people lose.  I figure that if there's going to be a bad side effect then I am going to get it.  So this morning I finally used it in my right nostril only.  I figured if I only used a half dose the side effects would only be half as bad.  lol   My right ear has been nearly perfect all day.  I don't know if it's a coincidence or not.  My left has been annoying but better than usual.  I'm going to spray the left side tomorrow.  If I don't have any side effects the next day I will do both sides and if that goes Ok I will use it twice the next day.  

I have been using Flonose for a month.  Since Dymista is basically flonase with an added antimistamine I wonder if there is still a build up period or if it should start working immediately due to the Flonase use. 

I've tried dymista

That stuff was expensive. I had no side effects but it didn't work for me either.

Let me know how Friday goes.

I can't believe with all the amazing hospitals we have in Philadelphia that we don't have any ENT's doing this

Hi Diane I just had the procedure preformed today. How long until you saw results?

Hi Sam, i had my ears opened immediately.  I did have a lot of strange noises and had them close for a while, then open again for about 6 weeks after the procedure.  I never tried to pop them open when they closed.  I just let my body figure it out and when the inflammation eventually went away, they started openeing and closing normally.  Who did your surgery? And how long have you been having problems?  I am excited for you!  I hope you get a great result too!

Hey Sam!

Depends on what symptoms you're talking about?

Your ears should feel open after the procedure maybe not fully because the inflammation.

I'm not even three weeks out but still have popping and cracking.

Did your doctor tell you how long for recovery? I think everyone is different still hopeful that it will go away for me I go back in another few weeks.

Hi Diana

My last update......nine weeks out and symptoms are still there, Dr. Weeks was informed and didn't say much, I'm hoping to talk with him and see if there is a plan B? He's a busy guy so it makes it hard to reach him. I had such high hopes. You have been the only person I have found that was a success.

,

Kelly, do u have his e mail? He has always been available to me by e mail.  I can pm it to you, i am sure he wouldn't mind.  I'm sorry you are still having symptoms...it must be so frustrating. When i first met him, he did have a plan A B & C so don't give up just yet!

Dianathis site won't let me put my email address are you on Facebook I'm under Kelly Doyle Harper on Facebook you could message me and I can give you my email address

I tried to friend u. Hope it works.

 

Kelly i will e mail dr weeks and tell him u want to talk to him, i am sure he will want to talk to u....When u e mail him put your name in the subject...he gets so many e mails every day but he told me he always answers his patients...and he has for me.......and believe me....i was his biggest pain in the ass!!!  But also a great success story...but he answered me every time when i was a pain,thats how i know how lucky i was to find him. 

didn't get your Facebook friend request

Try friending me...diane baron taylor 

i am suffering from etd too. Where did u have the balloon dilation surgery

Where there any post surgery complications

I sent you a facebook request now

Sup12345, i am sorry you are suffering. I did not have any complications, and my Dr was Dr. Brian Weeks from San Diego.  I accepted your request.

I have the alternating sides too. I try yawning to pop them, which can help the ringing and muffled sound for awhile. I took a hearing test and was finally convinced my hearing isn't being permanently affected, which was a great relief. I'm going to try taking Sudafed and see if that helps. 

I am having the same experience as you! 

For two years now it's been torturous. Ican remember the exact day it started because my ears popped loudly and I felt a wave of vertigo through my whole body. 

Since then they have been clicking usually on the right side every time I swallow, and both sides will pop loudly at random as if a lightbulb is popping. 

It is also accompanied by tinnitus and vertigo occasionally. 

When I seem to get stressed out the disorder will get worse. 

I'm finally looking into going to a specialist and inquiring about surgery for this. 

I have tried everything because I am scared of surgery but at this point I'm feeling like enough is enough. 

I can't deal with the stress of this everyday. 

Hi Diana

I am a psychologist and have seen Some of the best in terms of ETs in the country.  I am fascinated by your story and have not seen Dr Weeks yet.  I have many patients and this condition is effecting myself and subsequently no doubt them.   Could you give me a way I might email Dr Weeks?    Thank you so much.  This condition seems to be so challenging.   Thank you so much in advance 

James, i don’t feel comfortable giving his e mail out on this site.  Is there a way u can pm me. Or get in touch w/me another way?

Hi Diana.   I am the psychologist who has connected with you earlier.   I am trying to figure this process out how to connect with you    I am trying to figure how I can connect with you to get Dr Weeks contact information.   You have been so much help to so many.    How can we confidentially connect so I might get Dr Weeks contact information.   I have seen the best so far but I trust your support and journey    Please help me figure this out.   Thank you much Earth angel