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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

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  • lisalisa67
    lisalisa67 ForMartha

    Posted

    Has anyone fixed this yet? I have been told mildy retracted ear drum? Have washing machine like sound along with sound sensitivity at times and weird buzz at times. Im in the usa. Had two sets of grommets ten years back for flying and a sinus inf. Was good until last year. Have seen ent four times 3 different ones and a tmj soecialist and a traditional chinese medical dr.they are doing acupuncture now. The ear at times inner soasm. I feel they are leaving me to die from this slowly. I have one with optic nerve pallor and no one seems to care as yet. I feel like i get caveman exams as no scans to date. I used to hold ents in such hugh regard. Used too. I feel this destroyed my life now. Cant use many meds because of the optic nerve pallor. Tmj got worse from all the stress and discomfort, both ears are effected but left way different then the right. My family thinks im over dramatic as they feel ent would have figured it out. I dont understand much anymore. My ent said insurance companies are very difficuot to get scans now. Since jan 2017 tight up. Unsure if true. All they do are scans everywhere else for bones and bellies. My ears popwhen i swallow. Tinnitus all kinds. Sounds are altered at times. Just all so odd. The weirdest tis the sonogram washing sound. And if thats my artery the rest doesnt still make sense. I did have a dopller as is fine with that. My own go wanted to be sure the artery wasn't blocked.I read something called superior canal  semicircular dehscience thing but no one ever mentioned it . cholestoma thing no one scanned me,  im a complaining machine on here as i cant figure this out or how to get tests runs to seriously check all these things i read. There is clearly something awry but i dont know where to turn. The tcm md scared me and noted it could be some kind of nuerological damage but i have notseen a nuero yet, it began with a sinus infection then followed with the flu. It just confuses me why these doctors are called ent if they dont do much with any of this, its ruining my quality of life. I ended up seeing a therapist by the way .to deal as it is so odd and he ended up yelling at me im not aggressive enough in seeking my care. As i gave up. Maybe he was right but i dont know where to go anymore. I didnt go back to the therapist haha. No point. He felt i should not stop trying to find a dr to at least peoperly test me. Only im in the usa and it gets very costly even with insurance.You know the ents making me feel nuts. Im not. Just by the dumb looks they give or stares. And i know they have heard this before. Just not common i guess. Im a typical person living a typical life..how can something so uncommon really even occur. Hearing test was fine. Anyway, I am going to go back to my ent practice yet again and ask them. I surely cant be the only one. But they make me feel i am. Its so strange all the technology out there and i cant seem to even get a scan. They can do much today..the heart has tons  of tests and such i have to believe there are tests to figure this out. My stomach cant bear any more antibiotics and enough with nasal sorays i have to be careful with my optic nerves. Ugh. 

    They can out a man on the moon, clone a sheep, transplant organs and this is so complex? Makes no sense.

    • chelsea15874
      chelsea15874 lisalisa67

      Posted

      Lisa, i know how frustrating this can be. I went through the exact same thing as you and felt very let down by every doctor I saw. I felt like my life was being taken from me.

      I finally went to see the teaching hospital in my area. The best docs are usually there as they are doctors and professors. He diagnosed me with semi circular canal dehiscence!! It sounds like you could have this too. For me, it began on a return flight with a cold.

      My best advice is to not give up and see a higher ranked doctor in your area that can at least diagnose you. If it is scds, there is a surgery to fix it!!

      Good luck Lisa!

    • michael11955
      michael11955 chelsea15874

      Posted

      The very first ENT specialist I saw 2 years ago told me the following

      "THERE IS NO TREATMENT & NO CURE"

      I didn't believe him,Having seen several others since,some NHS & some privately.

      I NOW BELIEVE HIM

    • tori98361
      tori98361 lisalisa67

      Posted

      I feel when I read your story, I am reading mine! This has been 4 months for me. I am convinced that it has something to do with my upper right molar on my right side. All of my pain and discomfort is on that side. Also, that too tooth has had a root Xmas and I know that those can go bad eventually. I have taken 2 diff antibiotics and I'm with you, no more!!

      I saw my dentist and took an X-ray and said there was no infection. I saw an ent and she said tmj, so did my dentist and PCP. I'm just not convinced. Well, I'm getting that tooth pulled next week. We will see!

  • Tbone1
    Tbone1 ForMartha

    Posted

    Hello,

    I'm curious if you ever got your ear problem figured out? I have a very similar issue, but it's on the left side with ringing. The ringing is the torture!

    • michael11955
      michael11955 Tbone1

      Posted

      The ringing is likely to be tinnitus.I get it sometimes & I put a finger in my ear & shake it.It helps a bit.See the note above for my answer to your query Tbone

    • Rafidah7210
      Rafidah7210 Tbone1

      Posted

      Do get it checked. A naso endoscopy will put you at ease.
  • Rafidah7210
    Rafidah7210 ForMartha

    Posted

    Hi, how have you been. I noticed you haven't been replying or updating your status. I have the same symptoms as you. But no tinnitus just ear blocked on the right for 1.5 years. I'm seeing a new ENT this week. The previous one told me to go get a balloon work done but the costs couldn't be covered by an Insurance so I'm heading to the Govt hospital next.

  • ForMartha
    ForMartha

    Posted

    Hi, came back to update you all (since I know how awful it is to be in a situation that you need answers).

    Firsts thing first - No change! Same issue, it's almost a year since I had developed it.

    During the last 4 month, I took a month off work and did some trip with my wife (Mexico - USA), Found out that I'm going to have a little baby girl!!! (15th of November is her planned birth date).

    I found out that the more relaxed I am, the less it hurts.

    I'm going to find some time this week to visit a Reflexologist that may assist me.

    Keep calm and trust in god - this is the only way you'll be able to fix everything!

    • Sharonam
      Sharonam ForMartha

      Posted

      I was having the same issues and finally told my ENT I could not take it anymore. He got his nurse and in his office put a tube in. It was immediate relief and I felt like a new person after months of suffering from the clogged ear and trying everything from antibiotics, steroids, nasal sprays, essential oils, chiropractic treatment , laser therapy, to name a few! I am so thankful that it is so easy and painless to put a tube in and they can do it in their office, no surgery.
    • michael11955
      michael11955 Sharonam

      Posted

      Glad to know of your success Sharonam.It would seem to me that your medical advisors need censuring.If your cure was so simple a process,then the question to them is---Why didn't you do this earlier ?"

      My own problem has become even more complex.After being told that I have ETD for the last 2 years ,I'm now told that I haven't got  ETD & that all the tests they've subjected me to are incorrect.Worst of all is that they don't know what I have got.

    • Sharonam
      Sharonam michael11955

      Posted

      I think my doc was hoping all of the other methods would work but they didn't. I also don't think he knew how clogged and miserable I was because when he made the incision to put the tube in I immediately told him it felt better and he was sort of shocked that I felt instant relief. I think the docs they and suggest everything before doing the tube but my gut told me it was the only solution after trying so many other things and it was right on! I hope that you can find some relief too. It stinks that you have had to go through all of that testing to no avail. Good luck!!!

    • michael11955
      michael11955 Sharonam

      Posted

      Dear Sharonam,Sadly I've come to the same conclusion.Two weeks ago when I spoke with my GP he actually admitted that he was baffled & had no idea what to suggest.Having seen 3 specialist ENT doctors,all of whom disagreed with each,I saw a senior audiologist who told me after very extensive tests,a CT scan,an MRI scan that I definitely don't have ETD.But what I do have ------he has no idea.

      Hope this finds you reasonably well

      Michael

    • Rafidah7210
      Rafidah7210 ForMartha

      Posted

      3 months after the visit to the new ENT and I am finally cured! She told me to put on weight ( I tried my best to put on 2-3KG$ as she said I'm suffering from Patulous Eustashian Tube - that is always open and never closed on the right. I have been suffering for about 2 years and I'm feeling amazing. 

    • anne05078
      anne05078 Rafidah7210

      Posted

      How on earth does putting on weight cure you of Patulous.

      My weight is normal and apart from suffering Eustachian Tube

      dysfunction, I also do experience Patulous too.  Fortunately

      for me it only last a few minutes.

      I really can't see weight having anything to do with it....probably

      a fluke that you're now better....which can only be a good thing

      and very pleased for you.

      Are they saying that every skinny person that suffers with Patulous

      is due to their weight....find that so hard to believe.

      Anne

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