Eustachian tube dysfunction... What's your story & what helped you?

Had a similar experience which went on for months and would come and go - turned out that it was silent acid reflux. But I had to tell the doctors that. They kept saying it was just happening for no apparent reason. Which did not explain it at all. I knew it could not be allergies as the symptoms didnt fit that. When you tell people you have such problems they tend to think it is trivial compared to their arthritis or rheumatism or whatever, but to me it is far worse.

What helped?  The myringotomy surgery?  Please advise. THank you.

Hi similar symptoms here and what I have done that has worked wonders for me...I lay on my bed face down up to my waist and very close to the edge...then carefully bring my head down to the floor and hold it there and feel the pressure of the weight on my ears...for a minute or so...then come back and equalize...after several days of doing it my ears popped and relief came to be...tinnitus quiet down and the pressure stop...

Been a martyr to ETD since childhood (Otitis Media), sinus drip, allergies. Dread getting viral infections/flu. Quite a few family members suffer too.  Bit concerned about valsalva method as heard some contraindications about it.  Tried steamer, netti pot, massage etc which provides some relief.  Recent viral infection left me deaf and blocked, that horrible 'vacuum' and pressure effect for ages so this worked for me:  Read Oxymetazoline is good for short term use only for sinus problems to help unblock ET,s but it must be administered with your face facing  the floor to open ET's up not with head tilted back.  Did consider buying ear popper but found drinking warm water in this way popped my ears which was such a relief:  Fill mouth as much as poss with warm water, pinch nose really hard and swallow.  Keep repeating then swallow without water or nose pinching. They may reblock again so repeat as required. Now got fluid draining out and can hear at last!  All the best and hope this helps some fellow sufferers

Hi. I have suffered with ETD since I was 3, I am now 37. As a child I had Grommets 4 times and my adenoids removed. Sadly I have not 'grown out' of the blasted condition. I wonder if anyone else experiences the same sympoms as mine. I swallow, my ear drum retracts and everyong sounds echoey and  can heae my pulse, I then sniff hard and things return to normal??  I have been referred to ent many times as an adult. They seem reluctant to out tubes in as they say once they come out I will suffer the same next time I get a cold. For me it is exhasperates my head colds. For most a cold last a week or two and they are well, for me the trouble starts after the cold has gone with the ear trouble. I got so fed up with it I became quite depressed a couple of years ago. It is hard explaining to people as unless people have suffered from it they can't understand why you can't pop a pill and it will get better. I have Nasonex nasal spray and steam 3-4 times a day when they are really bad. Sometimes I feel so alone, like no-one has any idea how debilitated I feel. A constant cycle of swallow sniff all day every day for months at a time. People sometimes say 'wear a hat to keep them warm' or 'can't they syringe them'. So hear I am, with a terrible cold already dreading the coming months.