ETD- treatment success?

Wow really sorry to hear this Shev. Sounds like we both got ETD at around the same time. (Dec 23rd) Although mine was only in one ear at a time and I never suffered any serious pain. I've been fine going into my 2nd week, although I did suffer a little scare last night. As I've mentioned before, I think my ETD is brought on by heat and I left my fan heater on all night s it was freezing cold. I woke up with my inner ears feeling tight, but I was able to recover throughout the day. I think it might be time for you to see an ENT (Ear Nose and Throat) specialist.

Hi fellow sufferers. Just to update you now that I have been to see my ENT specialist. He scraped a lot of dried wax and other detritus out of my ear canal and eardrum (very painful). Strangely there was more in the 'good' ear than the one with ENT and it was attached to the ear drum, but there was quite a bit from each. He then measured the middle ear pressure of both and found the bad ear had 250 units (daPa I think and minus ....see this article re middle ear pressure)

riti04.cornwall.nhs.uk:7780/skills_health/AUD_1_08_02/AUD_1_08_02/AUD_Session/373/tab_529.html

compared with the 'good' one at 100. The pressure should be approx equal, at around normal atmospheric pressure if the Eustachian tube is operating normally, so this confirmed that mine is blocked or partially blocked. Like others have said the main treatment seems to be just allowing time. He told me the MNIMUM is six weeks (mine has been going on for 7-8 weeks now) and he is hopeful that it will be better in 4 weeks when I have another appointment to re measure the pressure. He also looked at the throat end of my tube by sticking an endoscope up my nose and it looked absolutely clear. He said that the problem would be inflammation of the lining of the tube. I feel it is getting better slowly and will post again in 4 weeks after my next visit.

Emis Moderator comment: you will need to copy/paste the whole link above into a broswer as it will not link correctly here due to the colon. This has been reported as a bug

Back at dr's today I feel like such a moan ! Another course of anibiotics a decongestant spray and a different steroid spray incase the decongestant doesn't work!!

Slight difference as it not constant now more one hour on one hour off!!!

Shev, have you tried going cold turkey, and stop taking medication for a week? Some studies say that medication can only help you short term and the ETD just come back more aggressive. When I had my second attack of ETD, I took meds with slight success, then just stopped completely and it got better the following week.

Hi Shev. Just to endorse eon's comments above. I have had it for 7/8 weeks now and I find the best treatment is DO NOTHING. Anything I take or do (e.gsudafeds or.steam inhalation) seems to make it worse. I think mine might be improving slowly. It is ups and downs on a daily basis but taking say a 3 day average in the week and comparing it to 3 days of the previous week I think there is improvement. Its frustrating but what can we do. As others have said its difficult to be objective about the drugs because we don't know how it would have been with/without them if you know what I meen.

One thing the ENT guy advised and I have found beneficial is to spray Olive oil in each ear 2 or 3 times a week which I have been doing (I suffer from build up of ear wax). I have found it reduces the volume of the 'clicking' , at least temporarily, and feels quite comfortable.

I actually think the do nothing approach is sounding good, I think i now know it just takes time ( a long time!)

But hearing (boom boom) from others on here has been such a help. Hopefuuly soon we'll all be posting IT'S GONE!!!

Urgh, no end in sight for me.

Have had an MRI, which came back negative so thats a massive plus. It doesn't however give me any more idea as to what is causing my ear trouble. The 'fullness' now plays second fiddle to bouts of deafening tinnitus. Have just been to a hearing therapist in order to cope with the ringing, but that is treating the symptom not the cause.

I really need some suggests as to what could be causing this 'fullness'/ringing.

Its not a growth on the brain/nerves

Its not congestion caused by a cold

It is not any allergice reaction or infection

What the hell is it? What is the next route? Have I damaged the inner ear bones somehow? I'm actually starting to lose all hope and just want the noise to end.

I have been told by my consultant that the tinnitus has nothing to do with the ETD. Have decided not to go down the grommit route as been told that there is only a 50% chance of it being useful.

I didn't have Tinnitus before the ETD and now it's awful. I can put up with the fullness and now mostly

ignore it, it's just this damn ringing/whistling that is getting me down.

Has anyone else had the same problem

Sorry to hear your stories guys. My ETD wasn't as bad. I only suffered from the fullness, and it only lasted 2 -3 weeks for each ear. I actually started to get used to, or just come to terms with the fullness. after nearly 2 months of suffering this it finally completely went. I used decongestant tablets, sudafed. I'm don''t think they helped to be honest. I just waited it out. Can't relate to the ringing. I would defiantly see a doctor/ENT about that.

Hello I wanted to reply to this post as I wanted to know I was not the only person having this kind of problem with my ears as it makes you feel so alone. I have the same thing and it is keeping me awake at night, no one else seems to understand my problem but me. I feel it is effecting my personal life as I can't sleep with it in the morning when I wake up my face feels swollen I am stressed a lot with it, I went to have a glasss of wine lastnight and I think that triggered the popping lastnight, It's like a tight feeling and pressure that won't go or is building up.

I got this after a flight from greace and I ended up going to the hopsital I have been told I might need a grommit. I have been told my right is bulging and still not sure what that means.

I have infections. I have tried steam inhalations that does not seem to work neither does nose spray like you said, I tried beconase and it did not help but I also use sudafed, I have been taken codein to help.

I have noticed having this that stress can trigger it off as well but I stress easy I worry about the slightest thing. It's horrible not knowing when this is going to go as It is bringing me down and I get upset a lot. I just wanted someone to talk to.

It feels like my ears are ripping or going to burst thats all I can describe it to the doctors.

I know this thread is a little old but if anyone new comes looking for information I wanted to add my 2 cents.

GO GET TUBES IN! Thankfully in Canada, like the UK, we have a health care to go and get this done. I lived in the fishbowl for about a year and my ENT suggested tubes, just like the ones he put into my kids. Stop filling your body with multiple courses of antibiotics when you can have tubes. 

Someone above mentioned 50% success rate. The better question to ask is what would the consequences be if you tried tubes and they didn't work? The answer is easy. Nothing. Your ENT should suggest a trial (mine even opted for only 1 ear for the trial) using a small tube that is intended to fall out on its own in about 3 months. The results are immediate. I have had the trial tube in my right ear for the last 4 years. When the trial tube fell out my ENT put tubes in both my ears with a longer lasting version.

 This is such a simple and easy solution to “cure” all your symptoms.  All it takes is a sensible patient to go seek the right care and a responsible ENT to address it.