Eustachian Tube Dysfunction/Disorder treatment in the UK?

Hello, I live in England too near Maidstone.  I'm really surprised you weren't offered grommets as a child

as many children suffer Glue Ear, which is what you're still suffering from.

I've suffered same for 35 years.  It first started when we took our touring caravan down to the South coast.

I awoke one morning finding both my ears completely blocked.  I think it was due to the pollen, as we were

sighted amongst trees.  We had to cut the break short and come home as it made me feel quite ill and totally

deaf too.  I was put on antibiotics at the time.  Ever since then I've obviously become very sensitive to a number

of things and have taken a daily antihistamine ever since.  I also suffer Sinusitis and Allergic Rhinitis and Tinnitus too (ringing in the ears).

I feel extremely sorry for you that you've suffered Eustachian Tube Dysfunction for so long.  Fortunately, because you're in England you'll be able to ask for a prescription that has greatly helped me.  I'm loathe to repeat myself over and over again, as the other day I received a message from someone called Megan asking me if I was a distributor of this particular medication as it's all I talk about on here. Not a nice thing to say !!

I repeat my story for new people on the Forum, because if they don't scroll down and read mine and other peoples posts they won't know what to ask for.  You've written that you've already been prescribed nose drops, may

I ask, were they the Flixonase Nasule Drops where you administer them by hanging your head over the bed for one minute dividing the Nasule equally with each nostril.  If you have used these, or Betnesol and they haven't worked then it sounds as

though you'll need a 20 day reducing course of Prednisolone Steroid Tablets.  I had to use these after a perforated left eardrum back in April, even regaining my sense of smell and taste, which I haven't had in donkeys years.  Once I'd finished the Prednisolone, I used the Flixonase Drops for the maximum of 6 weeks.  I should then have reverted back to the Flixonase Nasal Spray, however, this no longer works for me and I've noticed when I've it in this in the past I've lost my smell and taste again.  So now what I do is only use the Nasules when my ears block, which is approx every 5/6 days.  I put them up, give a gently pop and the tubes remain good for another 5/6 days.   So I'm hoping I've cracked my problem.  I'll be seeing my ENT consultant in February for my twice yearly appointment ever since this wretched problem caused me to contract Bacterial Meningitis.  The bacteria from my Eustachian Tubes sat there for too long, it eventually crossed the blood/brain barrier and caused meningitis.  This is a very rare occurrence, so don't worry.  Prior to it happening I had the most awful earache.  Never had an earache since with my blocked ears.  I've received microsuction to rid me of all the nasty mucus when I get a perforated eardrum, that blocks mainly my left ear and once it's been done it feels wonderful for a while, then the cycle starts all over again.

Speak to your GP to see if he will prescribe you a course of Prednisolone.  It will have to be longer than a weeks supply though, that I find really help when ears are really blocked.  Not good to take these tablets too often, but to give you relief while you try and get on top of it, as I have, may help you too.  No doubt you have tried pretty much everything else e.g. Steam Inhalations and then try popping your ears.  I buy Olbas Oil from Boots the chemist and put a few drops of that on a tissues and breath in....sometimes helps, then pop them.

This ETD is such a miserable condition to suffer.  If all else fails why don't your suggests you have an operation to insert Tubes or maybe the Balloon Dilation.  If you go back and read other posts these procedures seem to have helped some.  Sadly, my ENT consultant won't do these operations....maybe due to my history.

I do hope you will find my post of some help and apologies to others, that also will see I keep repeating myself with the same information.  But if I manage to help one person, that's good enough for me.  I have made a close friend with a lady who used to be on this Forum who lives in Wolverhampton. We chat a lot privately, she happily found relief with what I've used.  It's all the inflammation that causes our tubes to swell making them impossible to drain, that's where the Prednisolone works for me.  We all need to alleviate this awful condition and try and get some relief.

Good luck and let me know how you get on.

Kind regards

Anne