Eustachian Tube Dysfunction and Sinusitis :(
Posted , 5 users are following.
hey there. Hoping you kind people can help a girl out 
So I've had ETD for the last year and am a Lupus sufferer for about 4 years now. I have also suffered from chronic sinusitis with post nasal drip for over ten years. ( I know, I know I am fit for the bin at this stage lol ). I also get staph infections in my nose on the right side which is also the side that is worst with the ETD. My symptoms include ear fullness, clicking/popping when I yawn or eat, headaches, ear pain and intermittent vertigo. The vertigo is at its worst when my ear feels very blocked. Sometimes I get pain shooting down my neck from my ear but not sure what that is! Anyway, I am basically at my wits end with this damn vertigo and ear fullness. I had a septoplasty 2 weeks ago, followed by another round of augmentin (I've been on antibiotics for about 3.5 weeks in total as I have a sinus infection before the op). The ear fullness/vertigo has been so much worse since then due to all the inflammation (or so I think). The only time I felt a bit better was whilst in the hospital because they were pumping me with steroids and antibiotics. Has anyone got any advice on how to manage this horrible condition before I actually lose my mind 
I have tried Avamys nasal spray but I think I'm immune now. Also, Sudaplus helps a little. I am back with the ENT tomorrow and I think I will end up sobbing his chair because I am so fed up. He did a CT of my sinuses but said on the phone there was nothing serious to report.
Thanks so much for your help
EmeraldLupie
0 likes, 20 replies
ashleysnyder EmeraldLupie
Posted
So sorry to hear your miserable. Just know your not alone 😢 As I to have had ETD for around 3 years now since my pregnancy. I get what I call "flare ups" when my ETD is unbearable. There is a lady on here banned Anne and she suggested prednisone and it seemed to help me. I had a flare up start a little over a month ago and my ear fullness was so bad at first. I had headaches and nausea. My ent put my on a water pill and 20 day prednisone. I still have my ear fullness but it's not as severe as it was. My ear clicks in and out all day long. I don't get tons of relief when it pops either. I feel best when laying down, or leaning forward. I'm just mentally exhausted. Normally a flare up would last me a week or less. Sometimes longer. But never this long. My ent also mentioned Ménière's disease, and thinks this may be a possibility for me. Are you in the US? Have you heard of Eustachian tube dialation? Sadly there's not a ton out there to help us. 😫 I'm. 34 with a 3 year old that I want to go and enjoy things with and I've been so miserable lately. I wish us sufferers could get the help we needed and a cure found 😢
I hope you feel better soon. ??
ashleysnyder EmeraldLupie
Posted
anne05078 EmeraldLupie
Posted
Hello, First of all which country are you in ? as different medications in different countries have different names.
Everything you've said is exactly like myself and many others on this Forum. Pity you can't look back at all my replies to other people, as I keep giving people the same advise for what works for me.
I'm so glad you have been protected with Augmentin, as that was the antibiotic I was prescribed for my Otitis Media many years ago. Until the bacteria crossed the blood/brain barrier and caused me to contract Bacterial.Meningitis, The mucky mucus had sat in my eustachia tubes so long it caused that dreadful illness, with it resulting me to losing the sight in my left eye, hearing down in my right ear and vertigo every time I lie on my right side, I also cannot lie flat...even the dentist has to bring the chair up higher as everything would whizz around. I have Tinnitus too.....shall we shoot ourselves now ha ha !!
I suffer chronic Rhinitis, Sinus, allergies, and post nasal drip too and the headaches that go with it, plus neck ache and Occipital bone pain. All I can recommend is what works for me. I bang on and on about people suffering the same on this Forum, to ask their doctor to prescribe a 20 reducing course of Steroid tablets. They will take a couple of days to kick in, maybe a little longer (hence the reason you felt well in the hospital) Once the tablets are finished, then ask for a 6 weeks course of Flixonase Nasules Drops (administered hanging your hear over the bed. Once these are finished, go onto Flixonase Aqueous Nasal Spray. I was on Prednisolone in April and my ENT consultant (whom I see twice yearly since my illness) recommended what I've just told you. Once all the inflammation has gone my smell and taste returns, ears clear and I feel brilliant. However, this could potentially be short lived, as I've been here before. In a few month the cycle will start all over again, smell and taste will go and I'll be absolutely miserable again. No one knows how bad this condition is unless they suffer from it. I also take a daily Citrizine Antihistamine, which work for me. Before you see him read my message and ask him what he thinks. We all need some relief from this rotten condition, just to save our sanity !! I've had sinus operations too, where they found polyps up both sides in the lining, they were snipped out and kept at bay with the steroid drops/spray. I really wish I was able to stay on the Nasule Drops, but sadly can't, as they can cause other issues from their side affects.
I'm very fortunate and live in England where we have a wonderful National Health Service where everything is free, even surgery. Of course during my working years what is known as a National Health Stamp was taken out of my salary at source, which obviously is the same for everyone here in England.....that's how it's done. Once retired, nothing has to be paid for. Prescriptions all free too and dentist on the NHS are subsidised,so much and a lot cheaper than having to go privately.
I've had 5 perforations on my left eardrum already this year. If my appointment isn't due to see my ENT consultant I pay to see him quickly at my local private hospital, he then removes all the mucus sucked out through the tiny hole in the eardrum, that's called Microsuction. I think when I keep trying to popmy ears to open the tubes I end up perforating it, without that the perforation the mucus could potentially turn nasty. I think the post nasal drip goes into eustachian tubes while I'm sleeping, as more often than not when I wake up I find ears are blocked....something I haven't suffered since starting all the treatment.
I do hope I've been of some help and support for you.
Please let me know how you get on tomorrow.
Kind regards
Anne
dymaz anne05078
Posted
Hi,
What do you do to handle your tinnitus?
I have tinnitus and some many symptoms of ETD. I'm trying to figure out if my tinnitus is ETD related or noise induced.
Three ENTs say my tinnitus is noise induced. Three audiologists say my hearing is within normal hearing limits, two of them said they think my tinnitus will go away. One audiologist said she thinks my tinnitus is caused be hidden hearing loss.
Two of the ENTs said my ETD symptoms aren't serious enough to seek treatment for them, while one did, he prescribed azelastine, but he says ETD does not cause tinnitus.
Besides tinnitus, I get crackling sounds when I swallow, I feel sometimes that the left side of my throat is swollen (my tinnitus ear is the left), ears feel clogged sometimes (lately less now) and last year I would feel a lot of pressure on my left side, not so much anymore. I tested allergic to all weeds, trees, cats, dogs and many other things, but I've taken antihistamines in the past and they don't seem to help with my tinnitus.
I also have mild TMJ and my left wisdom tooth is close to impact but the TMJ doctor said not to touch unless it causes pain.
So could my tinnitus be:
noise induced
stress related
hiddin hearing loss related
ETD related
TMJ related
allergies related
wisdom tooth related
all of the above?
anne05078 dymaz
Posted
Oh my goodness dymaz, you do make me laugh. I'm no doctor, but I know definitely mine was brought on by stress. Workman get it when they use loud drills, youngsters get it from night clubs loud music. No one actually knows what really causes it.
Like you I suffer almost all of the above you've written, but not TMJ. Unless you do suffer jaw problems, personally I don't think tinnitis or eustachian tube dysfunction is to do with TMJ...but I'm no expert !!
Since I've taken the steroid tablets and at present using Flixonase Nasule Drops the tinnitus is much lower. Maybe it's caused by a damaged nerve....who knows !! I've learnt to live with mine and try not to let it get me down and don't think about it. Now I'm typing about it, I'm aware again. Worse time is when it's really quiet, like in bed. But you just have to learn to ignore it otherwise it could drive you crazy. My friend has recently told me that she has it now and hers is definitely down to stress related. I think a very high percentage of the population has got it to some degree, some worse than others.
I don't know how old you are and forget which country you're in. But as we all age our hearing, like our eyes deteriorate. Stop worrying and concentrate on getting your ETD sorted.
Anne
ann1013 dymaz
Posted
TMJ is notorious for causing tinnitus and ear fullness. What type of doctor diagnosed your TMJ? Neuromuscular dentists and orofacial pain dentists are the only ones fully trained in TMJ treatment. Have you tried any treatment? Wearing a bite splint at bedtime and getting a few PT adjustments will clear up your ears in most cases. I'm not one of the fortunate ones but my PT said most patients respond to the treatment.
dymaz ann1013
Posted
Hi Ann1013,
I had suspicions I had TMJ so I asked my dentist about it. He stuck both fingers inside my ears (with a glove of course) and asked me to open my mouth. He said my left side was a little off (my tinnitus is on my left side) but he said he didn't think it was enough to seek treatment.
I then went to see a TMJ expert, well his titles are D.D.S., M.S.D., A.B.O., not sure what that means. He did some tests and concluded I had mild TMJ and recommended a 6-8 month treatment, at $2,000. I have no pain at all, just clicking sometimes when I eat, sometimes I feel like I can't swallow my food, not sure if that's related.
I'm hesitant on paying $2,000 for mild TMJ, not sure if it's better to wait until it gets a bit worse. If I knew for a fact that TMJ was causing my tinnitus, then no doubt I'd pay it.
anne05078 dymaz
Posted
Good morning dymaz, I'm a different Anne from the message you have sent.
Reading your message I would be so surprised if your tinnitus is caused by TMJ.....there are millions who suffer tinnitus who don't suffer TMJ....me being one of them. Fluid in your ears/ear usually is ETD. Think twice before you pay out all that money, as a lot of people get clicking in their jaws from time to time, which I have never thought was TMJ. I did suffer TMJ many years ago when my dentist was over jealous in fitting a crown. The pain after the numbness wore off was awful, but eventually went and never returned. It is really surprising me that many people on this Forum are putting ETD down to TMJ. You need to get the fluid from yours ears sorted first, that will certainly help relieve the louder noise of tinnitus. When mine are clear, by taking Prednisolone steroid tablets my tinnitus is definitely not as loud. Tinnitus isn't actually coming from our ears, but our auditory part of our brains, and how it identifies noises. Google: The Tinnitus Clinic where you'll understand Tinnitus much better.
Good luck
Anne
ann1013 dymaz
Posted
Google: [color=#092b49]TMJ and its Relationship to Ear Problems and Sinus Symptoms by Dr. Tannenbaum.
The article has some good information.
If the tinnitus/ringing changes with jaw movement then treatment might help. If it doesn't change then it's probably not related.
The TMJ treatment can really help with ear fullness though.
The doctors have decided my ETD is caused by allergies and TMJ caused by tight muscles due to anxiety.
I don't have allergy symptoms and I don't have jaw pain but I didn't go to Johns Hopkins so I am going to hope he's correct!
I don't have allergy symptoms but I tested positive to about 80% of what I was tested for. They can see inflammation in my sinuses so they think allergies are part of the ear issues.
I don't have jaw pain so I had a hard time believing TMJ could be related to my ears but I do have referred pain from the TMJ. I was having neck stiffness, muscle pain, muscle spasms in all around my head and even at the front of my neck. That muscle tension causes the TMJ and the TMJ narrows the eustachian tube and causes ear symptoms. I had no idea that was from TMJ.
If you want to try treating the TMJ tell them you want to start with a more conservative approach like an occlusal bite splint. You wear it at night to keep from clenching and part time during the day to prevent muscle fatigue in the jaw. My splint was just over $400 and insurance paid 70%. My doctor also ordered physiotherapy with a muscle and TMJ specialist. I go twice a week to get the knots worked out of my back, shoulders, neck and head. She uses needling to break up the knots if she can't get to them manually. My insurance covers the PT 100%.
Someone mentioned azelastine not helping. I was given azelastine and was told to use flonase too. One right after the other twice a day with one spray each nostril or once a day with two sprays. It was helping but not as much as I would have liked. My new allergist prescribed singular to add to the sprays. What a difference! I'm still pretty far from normal but closer than I've been in months. I just purchased quercetin with bromelain to add to my daily routine. It's an herbal supplement recommended for allergies. I will be starting allergy shots soon. [/color]
anne05078 ann1013
Posted
From one Ann to another Anne, Thanks a very informative post Ann and I will speak with my ENT consultant at my next Appointment to ask if there is any connection with TMJ and my ETD.....even
wearing a mouth splint would be worth a try.
A friend of mine recommended Bromelain and the she said it's good for inflammation. I'll be buying some too.
I live in England and have suffered ETD for forty years now and I know mine is allergy and sinus related.
Thanks again
Anne
ann1013 anne05078
Posted
It's worth checking. Nothing has fixed me but everything has made a small difference. Singulair seems to be helping quite a bit.
Two ENT's poked in the back of my mouth at the TM joint and since it didn't hurt they said I didn't have it. The ENT that specializes in ear disorders said everything I told him sounded like classic TMJ and sent me to the neuromuscular dentist. He spent over 3 hours poking and prodding and measuring. There were tender spots on the top of my head that were related to TMJ!
When I stick my thumb in my mouth and my first finger on the outside I feel around my cheek while massaging and I can usually find a knot. When I work that out the masseter muscle relaxes. The masseter muscle was the cause of the pulling feeling I had in my right ear. Working out the knots and sticking in the bite guard usually relaxes it Enough that my ear stops pulling.
I was anxious to try the quercetin with bromelain but just read that I could have an allergic reaction to the bromelain since I am allergic to wheat. I might wait to take the first dose while I am at my allergist appointment. I carry an Epi pen but I would feel safer where they are equipped to deal with allergic reactions.
dymaz anne05078
Posted
Hello Anne05078,
Thank you for your response. Do you think it's possible that my ETD is causing my tinnitus?
My negative pressure is greater than -400, which is the number my ENTs would need my negative pressure to be to consider it ETD. My drum they said is working fine, yet, I still get the crackling and stretching sounds I've read people with ETD experience. My tinnitus is practically 24/7 but very low at moments and very noticeable at others even if I'm not experiencing the typical ETD symptoms at that moment. My tinnitus sounds more like a seashell sound most of the time.
I started getting fleeting tinnitus as well pretty often last year and I still do, but the fleeting tinnitus is getting quieter and quieter, while my permanent tinnitus seems to be less in volume as well, but more consistent then before. Before, it would be louder but I would have longer periods of close to no noise.
dymaz anne05078
Posted
40 years with ETD? Wow... have you had tinnitus all those years? How do you cope with it? Would you say you have lived a normal life? Have you habituated to it? Do you use white noise to block it out? How do you sleep?
dymaz ann1013
Posted
Hello ann1013,
"If the tinnitus/ringing changes with jaw movement then treatment might help. If it doesn't change then it's probably not related."
When I bite down hard enough, I can hear my tinnitus change tones. You think that means there's a chance it's jaw related or can it be noise induced and still hear those changes when clenching my jaw?
ann1013 dymaz
Posted
I don't know but it's worth checking if you are noticing a change!
anne05078 dymaz
Posted
Yes, hd tinnitus ll those years. some days it's louder than others. I think my brain has adjusted and I try and ignore it. when it's spoken about, I then notice it. I haven't tried any potential cures. But for anyone that does, Google The Tinnitus Clinic. It's the Auditory part of the brain. Also Acoustic CR Neuromodulation can be tried.
Anne
Ver. dymaz
Posted
Hi demaz, not sure if you ruled down the cause to your tinnitus yet. From experience, I noticed a common pattern, that ENTs/Neuros./Otoneuros. do NOT ask their patients, but so far Audiologists have. "What does your tinnitus sound like?". This would greatly help narrow down the possibilities! Usually noise-induced, presbycusis type of loss creates a high-pitched, ringing- screech, musical etc type. The couple of ones you described... consistent low based echoey "seashell sound"-ocean type? "crackling"...are typical sounds from what sounds atypical to be a cross between ETD and PET= Dynamic stage.
Could you provide a more thorough description of the tinnitus?. You're fortunate that it seems to be fleeting and possibly resolving... which means your ET muscles may be getting back to normal. You definitely do not want to get stuck at the PET stage which is the most chronic and difficult to treat and usually follows after long-term ETD or injury. The cause? Not sure as you're your own best advocate. Your hearing does not seem to be effected but only when you have this. If your TMJ is very mild, I doubt it's from that. (Some people are able to make specific sounds doing facial/muscle movements, as it adjusts the ET muscles).
Have you considered of silent reflux disease, do you snore or have sleep apnea? -V.
dymaz Ver.
Posted
Hi Ver.,
Sorry for taking so long to respond.
You’re right, my ENT never asked me how my tinnitus sounded like. He saw my audiogram, which according to him, I had minor hearing loss. I was exactly at the 25 db at 500 hz. He says he has tinnitus too.
My tinnitus, for the most part, sounds like a pipe leaking air or sea shellish for the most part. There are some days it does sound tonal. Using an app I matched it at about 3,500 hz.
I do snore and I have sleep apnea, which I am using a CPAP machine nightly. Not sure what silent reflux disease is or how it could cause/affect tinnitus.
I do have a wisdom tooth on my left side that close to impacting my other teeth.
When I clench my teeth, the tone of my tinnitus changes.
A couple weeks ago I was diagnosed with early pneumonia and they gave me cortisone shot. For the next 4 days, my tinnitus was very quiet. Eventually it’s gotten back to it’s usual noise.
I saw my ENT today and I told him this. He said he didn’t know how a steroid would quiet my tinnitus since steroids don’t affect the auditory nerve.
Would you have an idea of why cortisone quieted my tinnitus for a few days? I read that steroids can cause mania, you think it just made me feel better and as a result, was able to ignore my tinnitus?
My ear pressure was positive today on both ears but right now I'm having the crackling sounds again, again, mostly on my left side, my tinnitus side. My ENT is firm that my tinnitus is noise induced.
TY,
Dymaz.