I hope at least 1 person has the time to read my entire post. Could this have caused my ETD?
Posted , 2 users are following.
Hey everyone! My name is Nikos. I'm 28 years old and I've never had ear problems before being diagnosed with ETD two months ago. Here's my story. In September I had a severe cold that lasted about 10 days. On the 10th day, I flew to Jamaica for my anniversary and then back home one week later. I came back home and had two episodes of vertigo since, constant tight pressure in my ears, and it feels like something is always stuck in there. My left ear drum was diagnosed as retracted, and I was also diagnosed with ETD. I also have minor tinnitus in only my right ear. Now my ears keep producing a ton of earwax, even after I clean them with one of those Debrox kits, the wax comes back. I do smoke cigarettes and I was smoking while I had the cold in September.
Now I've cut my cigarettes in half, I've done nasal sprays, allergy meds, steroids (Prednisone) twice, earwax cleaning kits, and I even tried that device that opens your Eustachian Tubes. All of these things have caused only temporary relief. It's been almost 3 months now and I still have the ear pressure, stuffiness in my nose and ears so I can't even sleep at night because of the pressure. (I'm writing this at almost 5 am because I can't sleep) Could having the severe cold, smoking a pack a day, and then flying out of the country and back caused this whole situation? Like I said, I've never had ear problems before. At least I didn't think I did. Like everyone else, it triggers my anxiety, I'm severely depressed, I barely sleep, and I feel bad for putting my wife and my family through this.
It's gotten a little better since September or I'm just getting used to it, but the pressure and feeling that there's something in my ears is depressing. I feel like I'm not myself anymore. Does anyone have any tips or advice? Maybe a timeline until things might get better? I'm not sure if 2-3 months is long enough to fully heal so maybe this is normal. And does the fact that I still smoke disrupt the healing process? Any information would be great. I apologize for this lengthy post. Thanks everyone.
0 likes, 3 replies
anne05078 nikosklimentos
Posted
Sorry to read you're suffering like many more of us on this Forum.
It seems you've tried pretty much everything. Predinsolone has to be longer than
a weeks course, is that what you were prescribed ? I was on a 20 day reducing
course back in April this year.
I've suffered Eustachian Tube Dysfunction for many years, sadly no know cure
that works on a permanent basis.
However, if yours was due to having a cold, that's probably why your ears are
still blocked. I get sinus infections after a cold and they can take months to
clear up.
Find my previous posts to other people and see if there is anything I do that
may help you.
Anne
nikosklimentos anne05078
Posted
Hello Anne and thank you for the response. I was on Prednisone for one week, and then I did a 9-10 day course. I also did antibiotics a month ago too. I'm guessing that having a severe cold is what caused this since I never had issues before the cold. I've read online that traveling with a cold could have made it worse. The strangest part is now two months later, I'm having all of this ear wax constantly build up. I clean it with OTC Debrox kits, and it comes back a day later. I was hoping maybe that's all the stuff that was stuck back there from flying and being sick. Who knows though. Time will tell.
nikosklimentos anne05078
Posted
Also I wanted to mention one more thing Anne. My friend is a chiropractor who lives far away from me, but he recommended I go see one right away. He told me he deals with people who have ETD all of the time and has great results treating them. I told him all the symptoms we all talk about on this website and this is what he said about ETD to me.
"Here's what is causing your ETD problems. It's mostly one of these three things or a mixture of both."
1. Excess wax build up that needs to be cleared with one of those kits with the drops and bulb syringe.
2. Misalignment of one or more of the 3 little bones in the inner ear. They can be “popped” back in place.
3. A misalignment if the upper 1-2 bones of the neck. C2 controls elimination parts of the body so ears, nose lungs kidneys colon bladder and skin. Can be a combination of any of those 3 too.
Wax is like hormones and glands. Nerves control all bodily function and if the nerves are irritated, that can that cause over or under production of fluids, mucus and ear wax.
Bones of inner ear control balance, ear pressure, and hearing so if those are out of whack that will cause mild dizziness, vertigo and other balance and coordination problems if severe enough.