Is this eustachian tube dysfunction?
Posted , 3 users are following.
Hi, for nearly a year now I have had a crackly sound in my left ear. It is sometimes painful, particularly when lying on that side at night, when I might get a few sharps stabbing pains if I shift position. There is fluid below the ear at the side of the jaw and it is tender there, but not really painful, like a swollen gland. This has been permanent since the beginning of the year and I can't remember anything happening around that time such as a cold. I have tried blowing out whilst holding my mouth and nose shut - nothing gets cleared. What I don't have is hearing loss nor a feeling of fullness. I feel the crackling / fluid when moving my head or washing my face. Thanks for reading !
0 likes, 3 replies
laszlo14520 Jenny-66
Posted
Hi Jenny,
It's possible that you are suffering from acid reflux or possibly a version of it called silent reflux (LPR). You could visit your gastro doctor for some tests or see the ENT for a visual check of your larynx and vocal cord area. Silent Reflux is very common and a lot of people don't know they have it because you don't really get heartburn (hence the name: silent). Acid can reach your throat and all the way into your mouth at night - in severe cases can cause ear pain on the side you sleep on.
Another possibility is that you have TMJ - you could have this checked at your dentist.
A third possibility would be a viral infection, but those rarely last this long. Allergies are extremely common nowadays too, but you would probably have some other allergic symptoms too (watery eyes, sneezing, plugged nose/sinues etc)
Is there anything at all that causes it to flare up or get better? Weather, seasons, foods, time of the day, movements etc?
Jenny-66 laszlo14520
Posted
Thanks so much for your reply Laszlo. The silent reflux is interesting and not something I had come across. A few months after the ear symptoms I started having some gastric sensations (I suppose it was probably mild acid reflux) but nothing too bad. Then I had bouts of gallbladder pain and last week had my gallbladder removed. Perhaps it is all related?
Nothing seems to make any difference to it. It is there constantly but I don't have any other symptoms such as watery eyes, plugged nose etc. Sometimes my throat is a bit sore on that side but nothing major (such as today, and I have mild earache) . I'm in the UK so will need to go via my GP . The TMJ doesn't quite fit as I don't really have a lot of pain, eating doesn't affect it and I don't read anywhere about feelings of fluid below the ear / neck area with TMJ, but it's a possibility.
Thanks again for your detailed reply (apologies for my late response but I wasn't aware there was a reply until I logged in).
I think a trip to the GP to see what they think.
anne05078 Jenny-66
Posted
Hi Jenny,
You're so lucky that your ears aren't bocked (Eustachian Tube Dysfunction)
You may have some fluid in your tubes, hence the crackling noise. Try an
inhalation....bowl of hot water with towel over your head. You may find the
fluid will drain.
Many of us on the Forum have clogged ears, crackling and all sorts, so
you're very lucky at least your ears aren't clogged.
If you suffer sinus issues that can cause you to make a lot of mucus that
does seem to make it ways into the eustachian tubes. Or you may have
an allergy to something that also causes the same.
Hope it soon clears for you and wish that is all I suffered.
Anne