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ETD- treatment success?

Posted , 20 users are following.

Pokumon
Pokumon

As frustrating as ETD is, i'm relieved to hear i'm not alone.

I've had it for 18 months, which started after I lost my balance on a water ride, which resulted with a large amount of water pressure hitting my right ear.

Since then, i have constrantly tried to un\"pop\" my right ear. I hear a cracking/ popping sound when i open and close my mouth, get headaches, or feel a heavy weight on the right side of my face. I struggle to get the balance right in my ear on the underground or on planes, which results in me having to hold my nose and blow, to get some ease.

I was referred to an ENT specialist, who recommended a series of nasal sprays. I saw an improvement with Flixonase nasal spray but a cold brought all symptoms back, and no nasal spray has helped since.

My ENT doc has given me three options:

1. Insert a grommit

2. Remove adenoids

3. Leave as is.

Neither options 1 and 2 are guaranteed to solve my problem!

Is anyone willing to share their treatment experience? Has anyone had a grommet inserted or removed their adenoids and what was the outcome?

Thanks

0 likes, 55 replies

55 Replies

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  • ron05062
    ron05062 Pokumon

    Posted

    Have you tried NasalCrom over-the-counter nasal spray?  I've found it is the most effective nasal spray at opening the eustachians.  Worth a shot, has always helped me.
    • jason_03617
      jason_03617 ron05062

      Posted

      Findings

      The project aimed to assess interventions for the treatment of Eustachian tube dysfunction in adults. However, insufficient data required a protocol amendment to allow the inclusion of controlled studies with mixed adult/child populations. 19 studies reporting data on the following types of interventions were found: pharmacological therapies, mechanical devices and surgery (including laser tuboplasty, balloon dilatation, myringotomy without grommets, transtubal steroids and laser coagulation). No evidence was found for several other therapies. Outcomes assessed included symptom improvement, middle ear function and hearing. 

      All except two included studies had a high risk of bias. The single low risk of bias RCT showed no effect of nasal steroids. Other studies showed improvements in middle ear function for mechanical devices, antihistamine/ephedrine and nasal decongestant but they had significant methodological weaknesses including insufficient length of follow-up. None of the surgical studies were adequately controlled and many reported high levels of co-intervention. Therefore observed benefits for tuboplasty and balloon dilatation in symptoms, middle ear function or hearing could not be reliably attributed to the interventions assessed. 

      Eustachian tube dysfunction is a poorly defined condition. This was reflected in variations in the patient populations of the included studies. Consensus on diagnostic criteria for Eustachian tube dysfunction is required to inform inclusion criteria of future trials. However, due to the limited and poor quality evidence it is inappropriate to make conclusions on the effectiveness of any intervention; the evidence base is insufficient to guide recommendations for a trial of any particular intervention.

  • eyesonfire
    eyesonfire Pokumon

    Posted

    Hi. I am new to this. I live in Canada. June 2014, a year ago, when my ear started popping out of the blue. It was my left ear only. I saw my GP who suggested allergy medication and nasal spray. I tried both and it did not work. I had 2 more nasal sprays and again, did not work. I went back to my GP and referred me to an ENT. I had to wait 5 months ... Month 5, I was still suffering from ear popping and my hearing started to seem muffled and lots of ear pressure and fullness in both ears. I saw an ENT who had nothing to say or helped at all. He said I have ETD and good luck. Only suggested an ear popper device. I bought an ear popper which costed me almost $200. It works ... but only for a few minutes because my ears will feel pressure and full again. It is like I have to use this device 24/7. Month 12, It is now June 2015 .. I am still suffering. I had a hearing test done 4 months ago and found out that I lost 10d in my left ear. I wanted to cry. Why? Because I am already hearing impaired. I wear hearing aids in both ears. I now have anxiety and will probably have a breakdown soon because no one will help me. Two weeks ago, I am hearing humming in my right ear. It is very upsetting and annoying. It won't go away either. The popping in my left ear only happens when I am laying down, sleeping. It goes away when I get up. All day, everyday, I have fullness, pressure in both ears and now I have a humming nose in my right ear. I went back to my GP who referred me to a second ENT. I have no idea how long I will be waiting .... I am only 24 years old, female. I have no idea what to do anymore.
  • lozhuni
    lozhuni Pokumon

    Posted

    hi everyone its me again...5 yrs later and still have same problem. still not been on a flight and grommit has been out a while now. getting married next yr and looking at honeymoons (poor hubby to be is desperate for a hol abroad but i am very anxious!) want to go but so worried. anyone been on plane with etd recently? what did u do before/during flight?? 
  • jbbell
    jbbell Pokumon

    Posted

    Well. Since my last post I have had ear infection for weeks. Then I got meningitis!! I have been out about 6 months ago now. Recovering well. To fly in aeroplanes, I found nasal spray helps before and after take off.!!
  • hellolouisa
    hellolouisa Pokumon

    Posted

    Hi all, I've had ETD in my right ear since November and it is driving me crazy. My gp has said both of my ears are perfect, no infections or wax or anything, but my eustachian tube is completely blocked and he can see my eardrum being pulled in. I've got asthma and severe perennial rhinitis which has had me on Nasonex spray for the last 8 years. I also take antihistamines every day, plus fostair, salbutamol and montelukast for my asthma. So all in all I have a lousy respiratory system!!! He put me on a 7 day course of 30mg prednisolone (which ive had many times befor for my asthma) and he said if they don't work, then I'm looking at grommets. Not too thrilled about the prospect, but if they are going to help then I'm willing to give them a try.

    • eon001
      eon001 hellolouisa

      Posted

      Sorry to hear this. I used some over the counter decongestion tabs called Sudafed. I had one ear blocked for one month. That cleared, then it seemed to instantly move over to the other ear. I would normally just say wait it out, but if you've had it since November then maybe you shoud look into other medication. 

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