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Retracted ear drum, 18 months of pain

Posted , 4 users are following.

Alhf94
Alhf94

Hi

It's difficult to write this because of the pain.

18 months ago I was on a flight, when the flight was descending I had the most excruciating pain in both my ears for around 10 minutes. After the flight my ears didn't feel right but there wasn't any lasting pain.

3 weeks passed and I had a clogged pressure sensation build up in my ears. I went to an ENT Doctor and he looked in my ears and said they were severely retracted. After a few months the ENT doctor said the ear drums looked normal.

The pain in my ears has not changed. It feels like a dull/pressure/ clogged type of pain. Since the flight I have been unable to fully yawn which I believe is related. Every month or so I can taste a small amount of pus drain down the back of my throat. The pain is truly unbearable, I would rate it a 9 out of 10, and I don't know what to do.

Any advice or help would be really appreciated

Thank you

0 likes, 11 replies

11 Replies

  • anne05078
    anne05078 Alhf94

    Posted

    Hello, you're now suffering from Eustachian Tube Dysfunction.  It's one of the worse things to suffer as it's so hard to clear mucus from our tubes.

    Did you have a cold before your flight, or do you suffer from sinusitis ?

    You need to get rid of all the inflammation that has made your tubes swell, preventing drainage.

    I have suffered ETD for more years than I care to remember.  I see an ENT consultant twice yearly

    to check on me.  I've had sinus surgery and polyps removed from my nose too.

    So, I would recommend you see your doctor again and get prescribed a course of Prednisolone

    steroid tablets....a long enough course to sort you out (one weeks course won't be enough in my

    experience when ears are really clogged)  They're are also Steroid based nasal sprays that could

    potentially help you too.  But these can take weeks and weeks to feel any benefit.  For a quick fix

    Prenisolone is the answer.

    I haven't taken a holiday abroad from England in 5 yrs due to the ETD.  I've experienced six

    perforations in my left eardrum over the past two years. The hole has been so tiny that the

    fluid (mucus) wasn't able to drain properly.  My ENT consultant had to use micrsuction to

    suck it all out....feels wonderful when it's done !!

    Everyone one this Forum suffers so badly from ETD.  Ithis day and age where implants

    are used to enable people to hear again, it seems so weird that blocked ears seems to

    baffle doctors for a permanent cure to be had.

    My problem is Allergies and Sinusitis.  Loss of Smell and Taste, Headaches, Post Nasal Drip

    all adds up to ETD.

    Go see your doctor and ask and see what he says'

    Good Luck

     

    • Alhf94
      Alhf94 anne05078

      Posted

      Thanks for your response.

      I had a cold two weeks before the flight. Ive had sinusitis once or twice but not for at least a year before the flight.

      The pain feels like it's behind the ear drum and close to it. It feels worse on the left ear, it hurts so much i couldn't say how much the right ear hurts until the left is fixed.

      The ENT doctors have looked at the ear drum and they say it looks healthy.

      The prednisolone sound like something to try.

      Thank you

  • anne05078
    anne05078 Alhf94

    Posted

    No worries, always here to help where I can.

    Good idea about the Pred.  Just make sure because of the length

    of time you've been suffering that it's a long enough course.

    Someone on the Forum was given a week and they didn't work,

    so a complete waste of time.

    Really hope they will be prescribed for you.  I can feel your pain !!

    Kid regards

    Anne

    • anne05078
      anne05078

      Posted

      Sorry kind regards ha ha
    • Alhf94
      Alhf94 anne05078

      Posted

      Thank you so much for your kind words and advice smile
    • Alhf94
      Alhf94 anne05078

      Posted

      Hi Anne,

      I really appreciate your responses. I've been taking prednisolone for 10 days now. After about 6 days I felt some changes. I've felt pressure on my forehead above my eyes and between my cheek and nose. I've felt some drainage down the back of my throat too. Pain wise there has been a bit of a reduction.

      I would like to ask you what you make of the following symptom. When I do the valsalva maneuver there is a difference in both my ears. In the right ear there is a 'pssst' sound and in the left ear it is like blowing up a balloon. The left ear drum gets stuck outwards after the valsalva maneuver and I have to wiggle my jaw for it to return back in place. The plan has been worse in the left ear than the right.

      Thank you very much for your help

    • terry_76821
      terry_76821 anne05078

      Posted

       First time member, so may be a bit long. Dr. Wanted to fix DS with surgery but BP too high that was 2 years ago.  Now sinus infection led me to sinus pressure/ear stuffiness. I broke the rules and used decongestants. I know I am bad but I can work my way out once blockage is corrected?  So my contribution: Cotton in my ears seems to mitigate the dysfunction, and have used reflexology with a bit of success. I have tried many things from the blog . For this ear problem is maddening at times, so I use camomile tea and calming herbs,

      halls triple action for dryness.

      This nasal spray bromide you folk talk about work ?

  • anne05078
    anne05078 Alhf94

    Posted

    Hello again,  Yes, my left ear is worse than the right.  Don't worry all the noises we hear are

    normal after pinching nostrils together and blowing.  The pain in cheeks and your nose is also 

    normal and I get that too.  Hopefully, by the time you've finished the course you will feel better.

    How many were you given ?

    Always here to listen if you're concerned.

    Anne

    • anne05078
      anne05078

      Posted

      Forgot to say the pain you're experiencing may be sinus issues...happens to me a lot.

      Anne

    • Alhf94
      Alhf94 anne05078

      Posted

      I think you are right. I will continue with the prednisolone. I want this resolved as soon as possible, if the prednisolone doesn't completely clear things up ill try the balloon surgery.

      Thanks for your help, it's nice to know I'm not the only one going through this

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