Clogged ear for 5 month - lots of exams that show nothing
Posted , 73 users are following.
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
marie65347 ForMartha
Posted
I'm suffering the same in my left ear. Totally blocked and nothing works to unblock it. Lying on my left side helps but as soon as I get up it totally blocks up. 8 weeks so far! Muffled hearing and my own voice sounds loud in my head. Tried antihistamine and steroid nasal spray but makes no difference. It is the most depressing debilitating thing I've ever suffered and don't think people understand this unless they've been through it themselves. Seeing specialist on Thursday but suspect he'll just say it might go away on its own as I've been told already! Logic tells me that the tube unblocks when I'm lying down and I can hear clearly but when I lift my head, assuming the little tube is then runnung vertically behind my ear, that it fills up with whatever fluid is behind the ear drum. If there's fluid that is! Sometimes I want to bang my head against a brick wall because the humming and pulsating noises are deafening. The whole head feels full like its going to burst. I hate it so if anyone discovers a cure please share it.
chelsea15874 marie65347
Posted
Marie, that is interesting that it feels better when you lie down on that side. Mine feels better when I lie on the opposite side. But you are exactly right. No one I am telling about this in my friends and family seem to understand just how awful it really is. I am a mother to a 2 year old and it's heartbreaking that I can't be my normal happy self. I am hoping and praying the doctor that I see this week will tell me what it is and how to fix it. I am sooo ok with surgery at this point. I just want it gone
you said you have humming? Did that start as soon as your ear congestion started or later? I am very grateful that so far I haven't developed any ringing- just very dizzy and clogged right ear 
marie65347 chelsea15874
Posted
The high pitched humming is only really noticeable when I'm doing nothing so I'm focusing on it. I've never had a problem with my ears before but had a chest infection over Christmas which caused a horrid cough which literally hurt my head so much that it felt like it was going to explode. My sinuses were all blocked up. This went away by mid January but about two weeks later my right ear was blocked for about 4-5 days, eventually clearing up after I held my nose and blew hard. It really hurt for a brief time but was clear. Then a week later she he left ear blocked up and that's the one still blocked up. No holding my nose and blowing or anything else has budged it this time.
chelsea15874 marie65347
Posted
Yep!! That's what kind of happened to me. Got back from a plane trip from Arizona and caught a bad cold but didn't notice my ears feeling clogged at all. Then a couple weeks after my cold was gone I realized my right ear felt like it needed to pop and wouldn't. Went to my general doc and she prescribed Flonase which did nothing. Went to ent doc and he prescribed prednisone which did nothing. Hearing and pressure test came back fine. CT scan is tomorrow but in the meantime I'm miserable with anxiety about this getting worse (or staying the same) and depression. I've never struggled with anxiety or depression in my life. I'm at the lowest point I've ever been and it's just awful. I have an appointment with KU med ENT doc April 20th but am going to call triage this week and tell them my anxiety about it is getting worse and I need my appointment moved up if that's possible.
marie65347 chelsea15874
Posted
I totally sympathise. I feel really depressed too. I'm supposed to be flying in 10 days time but don't know if I can. Am seeing ent consultant on Thursday but not holding out much hope that things will get better. I am sitting now with my head tilted to the left to relieve the fullness feeling but when I put my head upright again it's like a valve closes, whoosh, then totally blocked up. So frustrating. So glad you understand and really hope yours clears up soon.
chelsea15874 marie65347
Posted
This has got to be the worst. I can't tell if my ear is getting worse everyday or if it's my depression that is getting worse. Thank you so much for your sympathy and I will pray that yours gets healed! I would feel nervous about flying too.. have you tried the device called the "ear popped" or "eustachi"? I bought one and my left pops but my right never pops enough. It always pops just to what it was before. But that might bring you some relief for the flight.
marie65347 chelsea15874
Posted
Thanks for that info. I've never heard of those so I've ordered one from Amazon. Will give anything a try. Let you know how I get on. I'm getting desperate.
chelsea15874 marie65347
Posted
Absolutely!! I hope you get some relief from it. Wanted to check in and let you know I had the CT scan today and my ENT called letting me know there was fluid that he could not see just by looking in my ear! It showed on the CT scan though. He has prescribed me Levaquin for 10 days and I am thrilled that this might take care of it. I still have my ENT appointment at the teaching hospital and got it moved up to Thursday. I will let you know if this fixes my ear problem or not but as of right now I haven't been this hopeful in weeks!!
marie65347 chelsea15874
Posted
That's great news! Hopefully this finally clears it for you. Let me know how you get on with this treatment. So pleased for you.
chelsea15874 marie65347
Posted
betsy70690 marie65347
Posted
41/2 years for me. Nose sprays, prednisone, antibiotic, cat scans. Still nothing. I lay on a heating pad, take ibuprofen, put cotton in my ear. If my ears get full, my head reacts, vertigo and sluggish thinking begin. I keep thinking there's a structural problem. There has to be an instrument that can look further into my ear. I've been to 3-4 ENT's, I stopped about 6 mos ago. Do I keep pursuing this. I know the pain doesn't let up.
marie65347 chelsea15874
Posted
Hi how's things going with your ear? I ordered otrivent which arrived two days ago so I couldn't wait to try it. Amazing. Managed to pop my ear so got some relief with it. Saw the consultant today who said to keep on with using it as well as steroid nasal spray.The last two days have been so much better. I can hear better and my head doesn't feel like it's in a bucket any more. It isn't back to normal by any means but it feels better. and he said I should still fly but to be orepared for some pain on landing as there is negative pressure pushing against my ear drum. So all going in the right direction. Hope yours is too. Thanks so much for informing me of those popping tools. I had never heard of them and they've been a godsend. Thanks again.
chelsea15874 marie65347
Posted
I am so so glad you are getting relief!!!! That is so great!! Unfortunately for me the antibiotics are not helping yet and I just saw the teaching hospitals highest ranked ENT who thinks it might be Ménière's disease. I have never felt so helpless. I will have an ECOG test done 2 weeks from now to determine if I have it. I will definitely update. So so glad you are healing!!!
marie65347 chelsea15874
Posted
Thanks to you! Praying for your healing and good news for you too soon. My ear is weird today. Feels like fluid floating about, hearing coming and going but I'm going to keep going with the balloon and steroid spray. Dry strange but relieved it's not so noisy in my head. I think I'll be back to square one in Monday though, when I fly but I'll be armed with more information this time.
chelsea15874 marie65347
Posted
Oh yes, let me know how the flight goes. Can you take the ear popper with you on the flight? Also, I've heard of you take an antihistamine 30 min before take off that it will help ears a lot. Thank you for your prayers, I could use them ! Sending some your way too
tori98361 chelsea15874
Posted
I am just finding this thread and I have these exact issues. It's been 6-7 weeks now and I am going crazy!! I have seen many Drs, my dentist, etc. I have a fullness/pressure in my right ear. It is making me crazy. I keep thinking it's something bad that's going to kill me. The anxiety is taking over. How are you feeling now?
marie65347 chelsea15874
Posted
Well my flight was fine and I've had so much improvement since using the otovent. Such a simple little thing but it worked for me. Occasional ear popping but not deaf any more. Just amazing. Wishing you all the best and pray your ears are healed too soon. X
chelsea15874 marie65347
Posted
marie65347 chelsea15874
Posted
chelsea15874 marie65347
Posted