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

Clogged ear for 5 month - lots of exams that show nothing

Posted , 73 users are following.

ForMartha
ForMartha

Hi everyone, 

I must say that I thought about writing down a post here, but I didn't do it till now. 

It's been almost 5 month since my misery had started, meaning, the ear pressure, to be specific, it's only on the right ear. 

It all started one day, with lymph node that got swollen next to my tragus, at that day, I visited the ER since I was afraid it was something that might be dangerous. 

The ENT gave me some antibiotics and some nasal drops, he also mentioned that it will take some time until the swollen lymph node will decrease and vanish. 

Few days after this issue, my ear got clogged. only the right one.. 

To make a long story short, I visited almost 10 ENTs, Neurologist, Orthopedist, TMJ (Mouth and dental doctor), few Dentists and other alternative therapists - such as accupatre and chiropractor.

Took tons of medicines - including few types of antibiotics, nasal drops (steroids and other), pain killers, anti-inflammation medicines etc. 

Did a lot of exams - Head CT, Head MRI, tympanometry, audio test, ultrasound exam, X-Ray to my neck and spine, FOL (optical fiber) test and other tests that I can't remember. 

All of the exams didn't have any conclusion to what was the issue, all the exams came out fine! - meaning, I'm stuck with it. 

I must say, 

I'm 30 years old, vegetarian, eat healthy, working out, working in non-physical job and pretty much having no other issues. 

I'm reaching out for your assistance, 

Anyone had experienced it also? Can you assist me with finding what is the root cause of it? 

I feel like my life turned 180 degrees, from being a friendly guy and leaving happy life, I turned out to be grumpy, unhappy and most of all, exhausted of this situation. 

Hopefully I'll find an answer here, 

Thanks, 

FM.

4 likes, 259 replies

259 Replies

Prev
  • anne05078
    anne05078 ForMartha

    Posted

    Hello Martha, I too suffer, or rather suffered Eustachian Tube Dysfunction for many, many years. Back in August this year 2019 I woke with neck and shoulder pain.

    Self medicated for a number of weeks but finally had to see my doctor. I was sent for

    an X-ray that showed up that my C5-6 discs had worn. Wear and tear and age. I know I'm going off the point a bit but bear with me. I was prescribed Ibuprofen for

    several weeks to help with the inflammation. It's very weird as I've suffered a blocked left ear almost every day for so many years and ended up having to have

    the mucus microsuctioned out to give me some relief. Now, for whatever reason my

    ears aren't blocked anymore, so I'm wondering if inflammation could potentially be

    the cause of blocked ears that swell the tubes not allowing drainage. Anything is

    worth a try. You're young Martha so ibuprofen won't hurt you. In the elderly the use of Ibuprofen isn't recommended for too long.

    Unfortunately, my condition has worsened. I now have pain in my arms, legs and buttocks. It's extremely painful when getting out of a chair and bed in the mornings.

    I've had a blood test to check my inflammation markers (CRP) and really hoping that

    I won't get diagnosed with Polymyalgia Rheumatica. If so I will have to take the steroid tablets prednisone for approximately a year, this drug has it's own side affects.

    So back to the ETD, if by any chance it was the ibuprofen that has ceased my blocked

    ears give it a go as you've nothing to lose and everything to gain as ETD is one of the

    most horrible conditions to suffer with. I was thinking which is better to suffer, really

    bad Arthritis (whatever one is diagnosed) or ETD....not a lot to choose between either

    of them as both are nasty. Although ETD has no pain unless there is an infection present that causes an earache.

    Good luck and do let me know if you try them.

    Kind regards

    Anne

  • michael11955
    michael11955 ForMartha

    Posted

    Hi Martha,Sad to hear of your distress,but doubt you'll get anything here.Like yourself,I've been suffering in a very similar manner.Huge pressure (not pain) in my head & ears.Seen several specialists & had three MRI plus xray.None of which show anything. All the specialists say virtually the same thing."If nothing shows on the screen,then how can we treat what we can't see.It must be in your mind"

  • alfonso39830
    alfonso39830 ForMartha

    Edited

    5 months ago it started and I thought that were allergies, I went to the allergy doctor ans couldnt find any, Then I went to the Ear doctor and Im waiting for the Xray of my head, At night when when I lay down is not too bad, I the morning 15 minutes after I get up tha clogged starts, At the start was only the left ear and not both have the same problem.

    I thought about terminating my life as Im 77 years because the anxieties and the depression are real bad. Some times I thing that the plants that my wife have in the house are the reason. I live in Colorado and I just dont know what to do. The additional issues is that my mouth is dry as hell and have to have a bottle of water with me all the time. Im willing to listen to anything that may help, Thanks

    • haroon47113
      haroon47113 alfonso39830

      Posted

      mine also started with the left ear back in feb 2020 and some dumb ent told me its tmj . every dentist i spoke to said i dont have tmj . monday i got a tmj MRI and shows that i dont have TMJ . but then again all the tests the ent did show i dont have ear pressure or clogging either.

      so im back to square 1. im heard about this balloom dillation procedure that im inquiring about...

  • ashish77787
    ashish77787 ForMartha

    Posted

    hi everyone, sorry I think I posted one yesterday but if it didn't show up then writing again.

    I have same issue with ear completely blocked I had Tinnitus and light-headedness and anxiety .. my heart also start beating very fast. I went to doc he gave me Prednoslon (pardon spelling).. but another said that in Covid times, it's not safe to take that steriod as it weekens immunity.

    After struggling for over a week , I was completely helpless took heaps of antihistamine and pain killers and anti depressants, steam, gargels nasal rinse, antibiotics but nothing worked..... but finally I found "Bhramari Pranayaam" .. oh my God, it worked like a charm. 1st day I did I felt my Eustachian tube open from inside throat and sensation of my humming travelling up to ear drums... and second day I did ,it popped my ear and haven't felt better in last 8 days !!!

    please google how it's done.. and do it it's safe and simple!!!! just close your ears with thumb and cover your eyes with fingers all the way closer to where eyes meet at nose. (keep nose open).. and the take deep long breath and then humm loudly through your nose and slowly breathing out.. you can feeling humming is opening up brain and vibrations starting to travel through eustachian tube to ears. (depends how blocked you ear is !.. for mine I did 10 rounds and with every round I can feel vibrations travelling further up to my ear drum)..

    good luck everyone. hope this works for you.

  • haroon47113
    haroon47113 ForMartha

    Posted

    Hi just checking if anyone is still looking at this thread?

    I've been having this same issue for 2 years now. Many different ENTs have not been able to figure this out. I've talked to ents at columbia presbetarian hospital (top in the nation). none of the tests are showing anythng including CT scan, MRI of eustacian tube and MRI of TMJ, ear pressure tests, etc.

    this is very debilitating. I just came back home from a hearing test and pressure test where they have me drink water.

    i can say that taking prednisone for 1 week helped but I stopped yesterday and the pressure is coming back.

    I cant understand why if something is wrong, it's not showing up in their tests. My ears feel so clogged as i sit here and write this however the pressure test i just took an hour ago at columbia hospital didnt show anything abnormal. I'm baffled...

  • sarah73523
    sarah73523 ForMartha

    Posted

    Have you had any luck? Ive spent thousands and thousands over the past 10 years looking for answers and all my scans come back negative. Even tried grommets which no success. Wondering if the cause is stress but i tried diazepam and no help. Only thing thats ever helped me is a jaw physio working on my neck C1 and C2, i had 2 months relief then all came back again

  • celine44678
    celine44678 ForMartha

    Posted

    Hi ForMarta, I wanted to ask how you are getting on with your clogged ears? I have the same issue. my ears have been blocked for more than 6 months after taking a flight with the flu. Nothing is working at the moment and tests are not giving concluding results. Would love to know how you are managing it at the moment and what you have done to reduce the ear pressure.

  • jordanna46425
    jordanna46425 ForMartha

    Posted

    good evening

    i know this post is from 5 years ago but i was wondering if someone can help me. i had my little girl in April 2021 and in march 2022 developed a feeling of fullness in my ear and was really dizzy i went to my GP who advised it was ETD and referres me to the ent i didnt get seen to until august 2022 and have moderate hearing loss sound is very muffled and when i put my finger inside my ear i cannot hear it like i can in my other ear. does anyone who has ETD have moderate hearing loss? i am 24 years old and i dont know what is going on bloods are fine and j am awaiting a MRI scan

Back to top
Prev

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.