Eustachian tube - how long does it take to drain?

Morning, certainly sounds as though you have fluid (mucus) in your Eustachian tubes.  Because many of us have suffered Eustachian Tube Dysfunction for so long (me over 30 years) it will take more than Sudafed to unblock them.  The light headed feeling is due to your ears and I find it worse when lying down too.

To find out more about this condition and what others are posting, scroll down on the Forum.

Unless you're one of the lucky ones I don't think your ea/ears will be clear in a month, and that's far too long

anyway to suffer this miserable condition.  If you can find my posts, I've had relief with the meds I'm using since April this year.

Good Luck and Happy New Year

Anne

Thank you for replying Anne. When I went to see the doctor she said the my ears looked 'dull' i researched what exactly that meant and that's when discovered it was related to fluid. What meds helped you? Did you find it hard to function at times? 

What country do you live in Sam ?

You're suffering from Eustachian Tube Dysfunction and there

certainly is medication that should help with it.

If you've suffered with blocked ears for a year now, it's time

a doctor helped you out.

Ask for a reducing method of Prednisolone Steroid Tablets.

You'll have a lot of inflammation going on that made your

Eustachian tube swell and unable to drain properly.  Mucus

from a cold is very thick and sticky and needs to be got

rid of.  Ask for them and see what your doctor says.

One weeks supply of these tablets won't be enough 

to clear the inflammation.  I had a 20 day reducing

course back in April last year and they worked for me.

Good Luck

Anne

Hi I live in England. And ive been trying for over 2 days to get doctors appointment but they dnt have. Any

Hello Sam,

Ring up your surgery first thing in the morning to enable either a same

day appt.or one for later in the week.  Don't stop keeping trying and if

necessary actually go to your surgery and ask there and then for an

appointment.

We all know how bad the NHS are pushed, however, ETD is such an

awful condition, so must get treated.

Not sure if we've messaged each other before, but do you in fact suffer

Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (blocked ears) ??

Anne

Hey I get pain in both ears. Or the left will hurt or sometimes the right 1 would hurt but sometimes both

Hi Anne, Any suggestions for ETD meds that are not steriods? I can't use them due to an allergy. Just wondering if anything else worked for you. Thanks!

Hello Cindy,

What a pity you're allergic to Steroid treatment.  It's the only thing that would potentially

clear up all the inflammation we all get with Eustachian Tube Dysfunction.

What medication have you tried ?  You could buy a Nasal Rinse and use twice daily.  It

will keep any allergens at bay that could be causing your problem.  Also hot water inhalations.

Towel over head and breath in hot water for 20 minutes.

Sadly, nothing else works for me except the steroid Nasal sprays and one of those is no

longer strong enough for me and currently using quite a lot stronger one, but only using 

it now when my ears block up, approx. every 6/7 days....so I can cope with that.  I'm just

hoping long term use of these Nasules won't have any long term affect....that's why I'm

now only using it when necessary.....seeing my ENT consultant on 6 Feb....hope he doesn't

say I've got to stop using it.  Getting rid of all the inflammation associated with ETD I lose

my sense of smell and taste, with staying on the Nasules, albeit only once a week I've now

had it back for 10 months and it's just wonderful, having been without it for years and years.

Sorry there is nothing else I can suggest for you Cindy.  How long and why do you think

it started ?

Anne

Thanks for your reply Anne. I've tried antihistamines, and Eltor (pseudoephedrine hydrochloride). Sudafed contains lactose so I can't use it...I believe Eltor is the same. I only used it for 2 days (1 pill a day, but it's only good for 12 hours...didn't want to take another at night because it's hard to sleep afterwards). I'm doing a low salt diet, because salt can increase fluid in the middle ear - I don't know how long you need to do it for but have tried no salt for 3 days, which I know is not good since we need salt so now am just doing the RDA for salt. We consume way too much salt anyway. I'm taking NAC and started glutathione as well this morning. Also have been taking Mucostop but again only been on it a few days so may take longer. I'm not eating refined sugar but am eating fruit. I'm also wondering about Silent Reflux because it can cause ear issues so going easy on acidic foods. I was using topical steroids for an eczema issue and had to stop cold turkey. Took me several years to recover from the damage...most agonizing period of my life. Since then, because I was addicted, if I even use a tiny amount I go into full withdrawal. Wish I could try them to sort out the inflammation. Trying to drink lots of water and dandelion, hibiscus, oatstraw & horsetail tea (both for mag/calcium because I'm anaphylactic to dairy and eggs - all a result of the topical steroids)...teas good for reducing fluid in the body. Trying to do the steam inhalation but have never felt relief from it...maybe have to do it several times a day for a couple of weeks?? Eating parsley, greens etc. I'm seeing a doctor in June who does the balloon treatment for ETD, and still considering a tube but want to see if I can heal this on my own first. Also doing allergy shots for dustmites, mould and trees/grasses. Just at the maintenance dose now, so should see results in 6 more months or so. Doing lots of things! Whether they will help or not I don't know but at least I feel as though I'm doing something...hard to wait around and do nothing. All the best!

Well done you Cindy for trying everything to rid this awful condition.  Keep us up dated.

Anne

Hi Anne. I went 2 my local boots chemist and i spoke to the chemist person and got some advice from her bout ears. She says it dnt sound like blocked tubes. It sounds like something more and told me 2 go back 2 my doctors. And ask 4 some strong painkillers.

Sam, if your ears feel blocked you are definitely suffering from Eustachian Tube Dysfunction.  Just messaged someone called Tylee on the Forum who has just been prescribed some Prednisolone Steroid tablets to get rid of all the inflammation that swells the tubes so they are unable to drain.

Maybe you need to ask your doctor for same.  Or Flixonase Nasule Drops that I'm currently using.

The NeilMed Nasal Rinse is just a back up to try and keep allergies at bay by rinsing out your sinuses.

Without scrolling back to find your other messages I can't remember your problem.

I think the Forum were going to make finding individual people on the Forum easier.  It's hard when messaging to many people remembering their problem.

At least being in England you're able to be prescribed or buy remedies that can help.

Anne

Morning Anne. My tubes r blocked. Im not gunna give up wiv doctors ive had enough of it

Don't blame you Sam, you keep on their backs until you get sorted.

Tell you doctor about this Forum and the amount of people suffering

this awful condition is huge.

Anne

I just. Wanna say a big thankyou 4 all ur help and advice. Hope i get it sorted soon

Good Luck Sam....keep us informed

Anne