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Undiagnosed EDt and flying soon

Posted , 5 users are following.

Moonwitch1
Moonwitch1

Have had a problem with my left ear for almost 3 years now, GP said glue ear,will get better,it didn't,referred too audiologist,said it was EDT was sent to ENT specialist,Nope,it's my teeth,dentist..nope it's my jaw.Saw max fac ?? Nope it's your ear,back to audioligist,nope it's ETD,ENT says need CT sinus scan..nope not that,back to audioligist,it's EDT,back to ENT no it's not,now back to Oral surgeons. HELP please am in misery here with an ear that feels like it's full,can pop it with holding my nose but feeling doesn't last . Affects my jaw too,am at my wits end with this 

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • Moonwitch1
    Moonwitch1

    Posted

    Oh and after my rant forgot to say I'm flying next week,is this going to affect my ear? Sorry ETD not EDT 

     

  • laurag228
    laurag228 Moonwitch1

    Posted

    Sorry for all your troubles! I have ETD in both ears for 2.5 years now. When flying my ENT suggested earplanes ear plugs and they are amazing. They’re sold at cvs/Walgreens etc.  I will never fly without them again. I also take a 12 hour sudafed pill an hour before take off and use afrin spray minutes before take off and landing. Hope this helps. 
    • laurag228
      laurag228

      Posted

      The earplanes prevent your ears from popping. I flew with no pain from my ETD. The only time have had pain flying with the earplanes was when I had a cold landing with congestion and ETD is extrmely painful. 
  • anne05078
    anne05078 Moonwitch1

    Posted

    Morning, join the club of Eustachian Tube Dysfunction.  I've suffered this condition

    for 40 yrs accompanied by Tinnitus too.

    I suffer Sinusitis, Rhinitis and Allergies that I know causes my left ear and sometimes

    right ear to block.  I've suffered several perforations over the years too.  Once a tiny hole

    appears my ENT consultant manages to use microsuction and clears all the horrible

    mucus that's sticking the tubes together.  Sadly, due to my problems I may only

    experience a few weeks of relief before it all starts up again.

    Back in April this year I was prescribed a 20 day reducing course of Prednisolone

    Steroid Tablets, which did the trick and rid me of all the inflammation, my smell and

    taste has returned too and Tinnitus is so much quieter.  I then started a 6 weeks

    course of Flixonase Nasule Drops (if you're in the US I don't think you're able to get

    these) but you can get the Flixonase Aqueous Nasal Spray......I'm in England.

    So far so good and almost 7 months of relief from this wretched problem that drags

    us all down so much.  I recommend everyone on this Forum to try what has helped

    me.  Sadly, Flixonase spray no longer works for me, hence I now use the Drops, but

    only when I need them. I can usually go without using them for about 3/4 days, then 

    left ear will block for the day.  I immediately put up drops and a gently pop and they

    remain open for another 3/4 days.

    With all the specialists you've seen I'm so surprised this medication hasn't been

    prescribed for you to try.  Many doctors don't like going down the steroid root,

    but if it's a one off course, no harm !!  Many people have to take these for years

    and years due to inflammation, particularly if they suffer Rheumatoid Arthritis.

    It's all the inflammation that causes our tubes to block due to the swelling of the

    Eustachian Tubes.

    Hope you find this message of help and do let us all know how you get on.

    Anne

    • Moonwitch1
      Moonwitch1 anne05078

      Posted

      Thank you Anne.Sorry I've not replied before now but had somehow managed to lock myself out of my patient access. Well the flight was surprisingly ok,took some valium beforehand as I don't like flying and my ear was absolutey fine. Since I wrote my last post have been back to the oral surgeon again and he sent me for x rays of my jaw. Said all looks ok but he thinks that my jaw is going into spasm which in turn causes the ear problem and then the jaw. Told me to rub ibuprofen gel on my jaw and use a heat pad. Well surprise,surprise.... none of that has worked.It's my ear, I know it is,the audiologists have said it's ETD but the ENT's won't have it. I can feel the mucus in my nose and sinuses move over into my ear. Really fed up of this merry go round,not fun

    • anne05078
      anne05078 Moonwitch1

      Posted

      Hello again,

      No worries, I just thought all was ok with you.

      All I can suggest to you is what I've written above.

      My left ear has been good since last April and now

      only using the Flix Nasules approx every 4/5 days.

      I'll be seeing my ENT consultant in February and

      see what he thinks how I'm using it....I guess if

      it's doing the job I'm lucky.

      Blocked ears is so awful and to have had 7 months

      of relief is the best thing ever.  Hope I'm not talking

      too soon, as it's the longest I've ever gone.  Even

      being able to smell and taste again after years and

      years of not being able to.

      Just trying so hard not to catch a Winter cold....if that

      happens I'll probably be back to square one.  Sinus

      infection that goes on for months and months with

      the mucus getting into the Eustachian tubes.

      Regards

      Anne

  • Esterberry3
    Esterberry3 Moonwitch1

    Posted

    Wow people! Thanks for all the information!

    I’m supposed to go back and get another consult after my tympanoplasty with tissue graft that did not work at a major teaching hospital, as hoped! As I stated earlier, now the lower half of newly grafted ear drum is adhearing to middle ear and they are thinking of doing a “cartilage” eardrum graft!!

    I’m thinking maybe NOT! Maybe I’ll just live with limited hearing and try earplanes, drops, steroids etc and go the less invasive route and PRAY these work for awhile or till better proof of cures are established! 

    I don’t have pain now- and am just feeling the approach of “less is more” until I have worse symptoms! I can live with preventing water from entering my one ear as well as the loss of hearing in it too!

    Different strokes for different folks! And you all have given me so much to try before going the  more drastic routes of “surgery” again!😉

    Kindly

    Mary

  • michael11955
    michael11955 Moonwitch1

    Posted

    I could have written your script myself Moonwitch.I've had done to  me exactly the same thing as you have had done to you.Passed from pillar to post,try this,try that & so on---ad infinitum.Take a look back at a few of my postings & you'll get my drift.

    Iwish you much good luck.

    • Moonwitch1
      Moonwitch1 michael11955

      Posted

      Thank you Michael,have been offline for a while and not seen any of  your posts
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