Slowly going insane from ETD

Did you see the start of a discussion on andETD Support/Action group Marlene?  Steve has said 'potentially'.

Hi Jason ,no I'd not seen it ,ETD /support action group sounds good ,so many having it ,today my tinnitus is low ,so my balance becomes far worse ,I spend so much time now in doors ,

  we need a list made on what's been of help ,Good or Bad  most of us have tried over the counter stuff ,and Drs meds ,but to be honest nothing gets this resolved period .i think necks have some basis to this balance going on ,fair few I know have said there's began after a virus of sorts ,that then resulted in neck aches,and headaches ,then allergies .So is that part of a connection we all have .My thinking to it Jason  

  1- how many had Virus 

  2 how many has neck ache 

  3 how many have headaches 

  4 how many get ear infections 

  5 how many get ear fullness 

  6 how any get fuzzy eyes odd times 

  7 howany have tinnitus 

  8 how many have allergies 

  9 how many have eczema as allergy 

  When and what makes easier to cope with .? 

This is my list of what goes with Balance -    ETD .Got to get this sorted .

Any other symptoms bring it up on site as an add on ,plus any views on your thinking to the cause. See if any marry up in thinking .

Marlene this is great stuff.  Perhaps we could place it is some sort of grid format and  add members to the grid?  I think there are multifactoral causes, including just 'bad luck'.  Did you see the comments on baloon tuboplasty?  I have to say my personal view is that my ETD is either due to chronic sinusitis (possibly from extensive dental work, before the age of 16, fraudently I add.... and then subsequent restorations). Or a virus causing sinusitis. The focus for any action group for me is finding the right candidates for ballon tuboplasty which I see as my/our only hope.  However, I truly believe I have been devasted by dentistry causing sinusitis.  My proof is that my root canals have lead to apical peridontal disease which from my research is associated/correlated with sinus infections (I have had two teeth extracted due to this, because the infection was eating into by jaw bone etc). Then there is  the tiresome discourse on mercury/fillings causing membraneous changes and threatening our health status from bacteria infiltration via our teeth.

I have decided to write to and ENT guy about balloon tuboplasty.  I would be interested in meeting up in person if you wish.

Hi all in this together Paul ,it's certainly life changing ,hit the nail on the head there ,nobody gets this unless you get it period ,that's why were on here looking for the way back 

   Yes your confidence goes low without a doubt ,you no longer join in on things you enjoyed doing regardless to whatever your life was like prior .

   It's a mean ,spiteful condition without a shadow of a doubt .

  Come on and say whatever your feeling Paul  only what we've all said at some time either here ,or to family ,or Drs .

  Just don't let it win in your mind ,you keep battling away Paul ,carry on as best you know how .

Thanks for that Marlene. I only posted it because I was feeling so beaten down at the time and I did feel a bit embrassed (can't spell), about it afterwards but it was so nice to get your support, and yes, I will battle away and not let it get to me.

Take care. To you and everyone else this nasty little illness decides to pick on - chin up at all times!

Paul...did you see the discussion between Steve, Marlene and Myself?  Would you be up of a ETD Support/Action Group?

Do you think balloon tuboplasty might be the answer?, I am willing to canvass an ent specialist for performing the procedure if we meet the critieria (as a group) for this new approach - that is considered novel at the moment.

The Eustachian tube is a narrow tube which links the back of the nose and the middle ear. It is normally closed but opens when we swallow, yawn or chew. It has three main functions: it protects the middle ear from pathogens; it allows air to flow into the middle ear, which can help to keep the air pressure equal on either side of the ear drum, enabling the ear drum to work and vibrate properly; and it has a drainage function, clearing secretions away from the middle ear.

Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) in adults can occur when the Eustachian tube is swollen or cannot open properly. It can cause muffled hearing, pain, a feeling of fullness in the ear, tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the ear), or problems with balance. ETD typically happens after a cold, or a nose, sinus, ear or throat infection. Symptoms are often mild and generally do not last beyond a few days. Simple actions such as swallowing, yawning, chewing or blowing against a closed mouth and nose may stop the symptoms. However, symptoms sometimes last several weeks or more, in which case treatment may be considered. In the long-term, ETD has been linked with damage to the middle-ear and the eardrum and it may lead to infection of the middle ear, glue ear, or retraction of the eardrum. Currently there are no comprehensive guidelines for the treatment of ETD in adults and no up-to-date systematic reviews.The purpose of this project was to undertake a systematic review to assess the benefits and safety of different treatments options for ETD in adults.Findings

The project aimed to assess interventions for the treatment of Eustachian tube dysfunction in adults. However, insufficient data required a protocol amendment to allow the inclusion of controlled studies with mixed adult/child populations. 19 studies reporting data on the following types of interventions were found: pharmacological therapies, mechanical devices and surgery (including laser tuboplasty, balloon dilatation, myringotomy without grommets, transtubal steroids and laser coagulation). No evidence was found for several other therapies. Outcomes assessed included symptom improvement, middle ear function and hearing. 

All except two included studies had a high risk of bias. The single low risk of bias RCT showed no effect of nasal steroids. Other studies showed improvements in middle ear function for mechanical devices, antihistamine/ephedrine and nasal decongestant but they had significant methodological weaknesses including insufficient length of follow-up. None of the surgical studies were adequately controlled and many reported high levels of co-intervention. Therefore observed benefits for tuboplasty and balloon dilatation in symptoms, middle ear function or hearing could not be reliably attributed to the interventions assessed. 

Eustachian tube dysfunction is a poorly defined condition. This was reflected in variations in the patient populations of the included studies. Consensus on diagnostic criteria for Eustachian tube dysfunction is required to inform inclusion criteria of future trials. However, due to the limited and poor quality evidence it is inappropriate to make conclusions on the effectiveness of any intervention; the evidence base is insufficient to guide recommendations for a trial of any particular intervention.

I think from what everyone is saying it is a great idea. Who would be willing to try it out?

Did you have ringing in your ears ? 

I had a loud humming noise for 3 months, gone completely now for 5 days after using the Dymista and ear popper since last Thursday.

I was told that mine was sinus as well and was put on Azelastine nasal spray and the low humming noise is driving me crazy. Where did you get the electric ear popper? and did an ent dr. prescribe you the Dymista?