Ear Pressure, Dizziness/Woozy feeling and imbalance. ETD ?

Hi, yes the tympanogram results rule out eustachian tube dysfunction. Two things it could be with normal tympanograms are: patulous eustachien tube dysfunction - but the symptoms are hearing your voice and/or breathing loudly in your head OR semi cirular canal dehiscence(SCCD). Both of these are regularly missed by ENTs. Read up on both and see what you think. Did they so scans for SCCD?

Hi

I can so so empathise with you! I have identical symptoms and experiences! Mine have been going on for just over a year too.

I've now been fitted with a hearing aid as of yesterday which is supposed to help with the mild hearing loss which manifested when my ear pressure started. I was told this might help as straining to hear affects the small muscle inside the ear (I'm sorry I'm not a medical person but that's how I interpreted it! ) which in turn could be the reason for the fullness /pressure feeling in my ear.

It's also been suggested it could be migraine with vertigo! Or menniers disease! Who knows? !!

It's all very distressing and frustrating as I feel like I'm going round in circles and getting nowhere!

Regards Carmen

With SCCD, make sure they have performed the BEST imaging for SCDS (Semi circular dehiscence syndrome) is a high resolution 0.5 mm collimation or less CT of the temporal bones with images that are REFORMATTED to include cuts in the plane of (Poschel) and perpendicular (Stenver) to the superior canals.

If this is negative you could also look at teeth/TMJ, neck or back problems that could cause these symptoms.

Wait before you agree to anxiety and lord does it trigger anxiety. look up tmj. Bad tmj. Im trying to find help for it. Its so difficult to find unless you live inside a big city. I have a etd in one year not severe though. All my junk followed flu but i had tmj before just managed. It can do alot of stuff. All you mentioned as well. A maxillary surgeon does xrays and usually over time your face kind of look square. Not an actual square but hopefully you know what i mean. I sometimes get this ear twitch inside. It has a name unsure. But its frieughtening. Thats a instant anxiety attack. This is all very anxiety producing. Obviously if we had no emotions nothing would rattle any of us. Its being in a chronic condition, have an illness or a malfunction that triggers anxiety attacks and anxiety many times too. 

I dont think they really cover tmj in med school. Maybe in dental school they would. Or nueromuscular stuff. Basically stay with what they understand and can correct. The more obvious and standard.

look up tmj thouroughly and the organziations for the same,

Hi M992,

I think it is quite likely you have the same condition as me.  The symptoms you described are a good fit.  I can relate to the sounds of plates.  Clapping is also very annoying.

- Imbalance dizziness

- Aural Fulliness

- Hyperacusis

The condition is called Superior Canal Dehiscence or SSCD or SCDS.  It is often misdiagnosed.  Symptoms are caused by a small hole in the temporal bone covering the superior semicircular canal.  Diagnosis requires a special high resolution scan to look for this pin size hole.  VEMP tests are often used to confirm the image finding.

I am curious if you have Autophony.  Do you hear your own voice louder than normal when you talk.  Can you hear any internal body sounds, like blinking, eye movements?

Got to run but would be interested to discuss more later.

I had otitis externa (actually went to left ear after right ear was being treated, think I know how this happened but not relevant) for weeks (WEEKS) because my original ENT just did not do what he should have and the sub-specialist I first saw (at Albany Med Center) was arrogant and awful (never become that kind of Doctor!)  Then I was referred by someone who works there to another sub specialist who is fantastic.  He treated the problem, both ears needed debridement (very painful and scary) five times.  Right ear is now almost normal, left ear still has weeping skin but not anywhere near what it was (drops first Dr. prescribed, along with far too many antibiotics, caused yeast overgrowth and contact dermatitis).  Now about ETD: I have it.  I think it is the result of all the manipulation of my ear canals, the dry skin, and the fact that I was POPPING my ears desperately trying to hear normally for WEEKS (can't remember what this is called but NEVER DO IT).  Doctor said this is very common and some dizziness is associated with it along with heightened anxiety.  It will go away since I have never had this before, I just have to wait until this naturally occurs.  You've had all the tests required and nothing has been found?  Then your Eustachian tube "problem" can be normal for you (as it appears to be for many others) or it will eventually stop.  Are you anxious because of this?  OF COURSE YOU ARE, SO AM I, SO WOULD ANYONE BE!  But you have to put this into perspective: it will not kill you, it is not hurting you, it is annoying but your emotional reaction is what is doing the most harm (as is mine to me!)  Dizziness, light headed feeling, the perception that one ear is hearing differently from the other....I think these can be psychological.  STOP medicating yourself.  STOP taking/using all OTC medications, you might be making this much worse by irritating your Eustachian tubes (especially with nasal sprays).  Just leave it alone.  Set a date in the future, let's say June 1.  Until then, do your best to ignore this.  You may forget all about it by June 1.  As an aside, this is a wonderful lesson for a medical student.  Now you will be able to understand the high anxiety of some of your patients even after you tell them they are healthy.  <3

PS:  The person who suggested you have Superior Canal Dehiscence really is not doing you any favors.  Do you think not ONE of the specialists you consulted doesn't know about this condition? Really?  It also happens to be very rare.  Just saying.