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Eustation tube dilation

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Abra
Abra

Hi All, pls advise.. had eustation tube dilation/balloon sinuplasty in April due to retracted ear drums after bout of pharyngitis and no relief after 4 months of decongestant /antibiotic /steroid treatment...was told by 3 different ents i needed some form of surgery based on ct results. ..so I had this done...after June ears finally "opened up"..but I had autophony and worsening ear fullness along with hearing myself swallow loudly in ear with popping/clicking sounds...I have since discovered that eustation tube dilation is still being researched and quite controversial....I have been told of possibility of pet/worsening etd symtoms...all tympanograms are normal as per 3 other ents I've consulted and scsd has been ruled out..still im left with fullness,slight muffled hearing and hearing popping,thumping sounds Everytime I swallow...pls can anyone she'd some light?? Is this etd or pet..no one session to know where I'm from RGV Tx. and I'm reaching the end of my rope...I have never been really I'll and have no other preexisting diagnoses..

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • Olizzieo
    Olizzieo Abra

    Posted

    Are you still using decongestants, steroids and nasal sprays? They may be the cause of your autophony/ear fullness but your ENT is the best one to tell you what to do. If you feel your hearing is dull and your ear feels blocked up but not full, that is ETD (eustachian tube dysfunction.) If you are suffering with loud breathing/swallowing and speech with ear fullness, that is patulous eustachian tube (PET). If your tympanograms are normal then you can only be suffering with PET as any negative pressure associated with a eustachian tube that is blocking up, would show up on the tympanogram. Is it possible that one ear has PET and the other has ETD with popping and thumping sounds/muffled hearing?
    • Abra
      Abra Olizzieo

      Posted

      Thanks for replying...as to decongestant,anthistamines dymista...stopped all...my supposed ENT is ready to write me off he thinks it's still etd..when I question him about pet being a side effect of eustation tube dilation he continues to state that my allergies are pretty bad...I have fullness,clicking ,popping with every swallow and hearing seems dulls not quite as crisp as before I was ill...when I press on ears and release I can hear clearly for a few second..then I swallow and pop,thump..there it goes...My question....if this Is PET...caused by surgery..is it permanent. ..I no longer have autophony all the time just whem mmhm,nnhh sounds...so confused and these so called specialist seem to be playing a guessing game...

    • Abra
      Abra

      Posted

      Just want a definitive diagnosis so I know how to proceed....neurotologist says to try patulend and see if it helps and go back for more testing since scd was neg..the doc who did procedure says he doesn't know what's wrong with my ears and is giving me the you must be crazy look...meanwhile I'm slowly going insane attempting to self diagnose becuz no one else seems to give a flying kite..sorry for the rant..just want answers

    • Olizzieo
      Olizzieo Abra

      Posted

      I think it's possible you are experiencing both. If it is PET, the echoing and fullness will go when you put your head between your knees and speak. It also goes away when you lay down and speak. Not sure if that helps??

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