If your ears pop everytime you swallow does this mean you don't have ETD

Hi anne thank you for your reply! So sorry to hear about your case of meningitis. As for me, I recently went to an audiologist and found that my hearing was perfect and there was no sign of an infection or fluid in the ears. This has me puzzled as to why i continue to have pressure around the ears and ears popping. They told me it could be due to the inner ear, most likely inflammation of the vestibular apparatus as i am having balance problems or it might even be chronic sinisitus although i don't meet all of the criteria as of yet as i have been having these symptoms for only a month. Sometimes the pain radiates to my neck and cheecks but its mostly around my ears. It is the most dreadful experiance of my life!

This is a strange one.  I suffer no pain from ears, my balance when lying on my right side in bed (dizziness) is from the meningitis.  Wonder why ear pressure should suddeny change....only get that when flying and then we can usually pop them.  If it is inflammation, there will be something to help you with that.  It' all trial and error with this problem.  Happy to say this morning I'm still good and on 7th day of Prednisolone, they seem to be doing the trick....still waiting for taste and smell to return though !!

Are you in the US ?  I'm England

Anne

Hi anne, yes I am in the US. Im glad to hear that the prednisone is working for you. I have not tried the prednisone myself or antibiotics. The pressure in my ears is making me worried. It is better in the morning but gets worse during the day. I will be flying next month on vacation, i pray this misery will be over then. If you dont mind my asking, what were your symptoms leading up to your meningitis?

Morning,

I suffered blocked ears for years before meningitis took hold.  Maybe my immune system was compromised.  The mucus turned bacterial and mangaged to cross the blood brain barrier and went to my brian.....absolutely horrific !!  I can't believe to this day I'm still suffering with the same, ETD.  Although my easr are feeling better due to the prednisolone, my left nostril is still very blocked and afraid I've had to over-use a nasal decongested, that I fear now I've got a rebound affect.  I'll have to try and just put up witha blocked one side until it subsides...maybe due to swollen blood vessels that's causing the blockness.  This is such a miserable condition to have to live with.  Smell and taste still haven't returned, that usually happens after being on the pred. for a week.  I think I've had a particularly bad episode this time since Dec 2016.  People would soon know  if something wasn't right regarding contracting meningitis from this complaint.  (1) dreadful earache, which I nevered suffered from, so bacterial infection was present. (2) headache was unbearable and when it got really bad I started hallucinating..  I can't remember having a stiff neck, or being light sensitive, however, I was so ill I probably wouldn't have noticed.  The vomiting came much later on.  I was originally prescribed antibiotics for my ears and sinus issues, but a young doctor took me off the antibiotics thinking I was having an adverse affect to them.  I think the Augamentin antibiotic (broad spetrum) was just keeping the illness at bay, but once the doctor stopped them everything went from bad to worse.  I'd always advise anyone with an earache to get themselves antibiotics.

Sorry to say that if your ear problem doesn't improve I don't think flying will help.  I no longer take holidays abroad due to this....no point in a holiday when you're are feeling rotten with ears.  Also I have a perforation, which certainly wouldn't be recommended to fly with.

You say your ears are better in the morning, mine are much worse then after lying on ears all night when congestion creeps into eustachian tubes.  I just done my morning nasal rinse, not too sure if that is helping or not.

I hope everything turns out good for you and you do end up going away and having a lovely time.

Ask for Flixonasr Aqueous Nasal Spray and use before you board the plane, that should open your tubes.

Good Luck

Anne

Hi Anne, thank you so much for your reply! I am so sorry to hear that you have been suffering from this miserable condition for so many years with only temporary relief. You mentioned that you lost your hearing and sight on one side, how have you managed to live with this? As for me, I have recently seen a good doctor who looked in my ears and found no ear infection or inflammation of the eardrum. He used an instrument and told me that I had fluid behind the eardrums. The fluid is not draining because of the inflammation of the tube.  So far it has been 1 and a half months suffering from ringing in both ears, pressure around the ears that seems to be worse when tilting the head forward, and balance problems. My balance is so bad it feels like I am drunk all the time. My ears are popping every time I swallow or yawn. The doctor recommended I don’t fly with my ears so I am canceling my flight and losing my miles. I am trying to keep everything healthy with eating and vitamins hopeful my ears will heal and the fluid does not become infected. Inhaling steam seems to help but makes me dizzy sometimes.

Hiya 26,

Sorry to keep harping on about people asking for Prednisolone, but they do work and will rid you of the inflammation that is keeping Eustachian stuck together and dry up all the mucky mucus in them.  I know doctors are loathe to prescribe them, but sometimes just to get relief, I think they are essential.  I've just finished my 20 reducing course (must be enough of the tablets or they won't work) and I feel brilliant.  Ears cleared, Sinus headaches have gone and my smell and taste have returned.  Hoping too that they've shrunk the polyps that are up both of my nostrils.  Now back using the Flixnonase Aqueous Nasal Spray.  I know this problem will return but to just get a few weeks, possibly months is wonderful....especially ears being clear !!!  I've done everything possible to try and help myself without keep bothering my doctor.  Paid out for expensive Air Purifers for bedroom and lounge.  £100EarPopper, that's useless.  I;ve tried Reflexology and Accupuncture....all to no avail.  I've had in total 7 perforations in my left eardrum.  When this happening it's so bad I have to go and get my ENT consultant to microsuction all the muck out...which also feels brilliant once it's done.  Maybe we should all walk aroud with masks over our faces so allergens can't get in, as I'm sure this is the culprit.  Sad you had to cancel your flight, but I too no longer fly because of the problem....no point in going away for a holiday to find we are suffering big time with our ears while away.  I hate flying anyway, so doesn't really bother me.

Good luck

Anne

I just google microsuction and if the anti-biotics does not work, I will definitely ask my ENT about it.  BTW this is the first time that I have fluids behind my ear drum and same thing as you, it pops and crakles everytime I swallow or yawn.

Hi Dorothy,  you can only have Microsuction if there is a perforation on the eardrm present.  I've had this procedure done now about 7 times....each time having a perforated eardrum on the left side.  When the fluid builds up so bad and the pressure is bad, sometimes it pops the eardrum and runs out.  If it's really thick mucus it can't run out.  Obviously you do have fluid (mucus) behind your eadrum and thats the noise you can hear.  Are your ears blocked though ??

Anne