Eustachian Tube Dysfunction :: Information, Symptoms And Treatment / Cure


Dec 28, 2014

As far as I know, there is not ETD cure, yet. I am interested in finding one. I am a Caucasian 34 year old man living in Santa Clara, CA. I have a BA in Psychology and work in a Neuroscience Lab. I was diagnosed with ETD a year ago. I have been suffering from it for 17 years. 13 years ago I had a bought of Bulimia that lasted for about a year. I had Anorexia Nervosa as an adolescent. I was given the maximum dose of testosterone to boost me through puberty since Anorexia was preventing it. Soon after I abused alcohol, marijuana, tobacco, and various other drugs until 2005. I believe all these factors have contributed to my ETD. I was diagnosed with OCD and Generalized Anxiety Disorder two years ago and have been taking Effexor (Venlafaxine) to cope. An Ear, Nose, Throat  doctor (currently called Head and Neck surgeon in US) prescribed me Flunisolide (corticosteroid) to reduce ETD inflammation. It seems to help a little, but it is certainly not a cure, even when used for a significant period of time (i.e. 3 weeks).

My ETD has been recently aggravated by my attempts to remove pimples and skin tags, which may be a symptom of OCD. Has anyone else experienced this situation? Numerous doctors say there is no connection between the skin abrasions and ETD, but they obviously don't have ETD.

Primarily, I am asking for information regarding ETD. I need to know the statistics of ETD so that I can develop a valid research proposal. Health organizations neglect to respond to my questions. It seems that most biological research is involved in diseases such as cancer and heart disease, which is great. But, as I am sure that anyone reading this knows, Eustachian Tube Dysfunction is a debilitating disease that hinders one's ability to live to their fullest potential. As I have recently graduated with a Bachelors degree. I am researching what my next step will be. I am strongly leaning towards statistics and data mining, since that is a much needed position in all research fields.

I am looking for information on the number of people with ETD worldwide and specific to certain regions. A timeline of ETD cases in these regions. Research groups, Academic and Professional, that are researching ETD. Research groups that are investigating ETD from the Neuroscience and/or Ear, Nose, Throat (Head and Neck surgery) perspective. Any other information is helpful as well, especially your own personal accounts of ETD. Please share your history, as much as you care to disclose, so that I can begin to develop an etiology of ETD.

I have read many of the other discussions on ETD and recognize that many of you are suffering and I certainly empathize with you all. I am still trying to decide if my anxiety disorders are the result of ETD, my ETD the result of my anxiety disorders, if they are mutually intertwined, and/or if something else is going on. I very much hope to hear from you so that we may begin to develop a cure for ETD so that we may not be hindered by this ruthless malfunction.

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ENT :: Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Or Something Else?

This started around late November 2013, I started getting my normal Winter allergies and then came down with what I now believe was a sinus infection. Non-stop mucus, post nasal drip, face hurting, head throbbing etc.. This lasted for about two weeks. During the end of this and soon after, my ears slowly became more and more congested. I attested it to these allergies/sickness and thought it would slowly go away.

It never did. Instead, it started getting worse. Towards mid-December, I began to get slight ringing and more fullness in my ears. Soon the tinnitus grew worse and worse. My tinnitus during this point was extremely loud high-pitched noises, sweeping in and out. Coupled with 24/7 hiss, like an air conditioner was on in my room. Can't hear high frequencies anymore. A loud tea kettle-esque whistle in my right ear if I hear something of a certain pitch or something too "loud."

I saw my primary care doctor on two separate occasions, who said he saw a little liquid in my ear but that my eardrums appeared fine. He gave me Prednisone. No help. I got recommended to the Head and Neck specialist.

The first specialist I see, he doesn't really care to listen to me to say the least. He does get me a hearing test within a few days though. The hearing test shows a curve that they say can be attested to sensorineural hearing loss that someone my age (23) shouldn't have, and that since my hearing dropped with the timeliness of my sickness, that it was odd.

I see a different specialist next trip. He attests it to allergies and says that my eustachian tubes seem to be blocked up. He looks in my ears, up my sinuses, etc.. He recommends I just use a sinus rinse and to not get my ears drained because that will probably make things a lot worse.

I began to do so for the next week or two, and my symptoms did not seem to change at all. I had already been taking flonase and allergy medication as well, to not much help for my ears.

Lastly, I saw another specialist about a week or two ago. He told me that my hearing test showed what he typically would cite as congenital hearing loss, and kept implying that I had been born with bad hearing (That's definitely not the case, this has been a HUGE shift!) He had me do bloodwork for environmental allergies and other tests and a CT scan. I also asked for antibiotics just to rule things out- those have been used up now.

To say the least, I had to call back a few times as a follow-up. They didn't even bother to get in touch for my results, and all I learned was that I did have mild allergies (something I've known my whole life) and that the CT scan was "fine." I ordered those results to be sent to me to see for myself, but either way I guess he hasn't much interest in seeing me again. Do I see ANOTHER specialist now?

Right now, my tinnitus is not as bad as it was then (I could barely sleep then) but still extremely irritating. The tinnitus is still like that of an air conditioner, and there is still a constant ring that goes on, although it is a bit quieter than before. My hearing is still congested and full, and I can hardly hear someone talk a few feet away from me, I'm afraid my hearing may be permanently damaged or getting worse. I can no longer hear certain frequencies. Sometimes I feel like there is liquid in my ear, but maybe not. Wouldn't the CT scan or other ear examinations show that? Is this actually ETD?

I've done all the advice shown around (Proper Flonase spray to the tubes, Sudafed, (extremely careful) Afrin use, etc. I feel like I'm not getting better. My passion is music and I'm afraid I'll never be able to hear things "right" again.

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Eustachian Tube Dysfunction For 2 Years!

I am a teenager,aged 15. I have been suffering from problems with my eustachian tube for 2 years now. I felt thumping,buzzing,vibrations come from within my ear-but at the same time I felt the symptoms to DEEPER into my ear. It has created some headaches and I have to pause between conversations to attempt to unblock my ear.

However,nowadays I cannot unblock my ear properly. The 'stuffed-up' feeling I get has gone even DEEPER. I got an okay in many audiometry tests (PTA tests) and I got a weird thing that sucked out all the mucus in my throat a good 2 TIMES.

The doctor says it will go within time. I've had for 2 YEARS already, It would be terrible to go on like this without being able to swallows properly! Yes,one of my symptoms is the inability to swallow properly without the pressure building up where my tube is at-it makes me go light-headed and faint sometimes.I've tried taking nasal sprays,but they were hell as the steroids made my adenoids act up and swell (but my adenoids are okay now).One point to add,I have only got a deficiency in Vitamin D and I have no thyroid deficiency.

A few questions:

1: Does any UK hospital or the NHS have a cure/treatment to this?

2: Is it normal for teenagers to have ETD for a long period of time such as 2 years?

3: Do home remedies work,like the Candle Ear treatment? I've tried steam treatment but it doesn't work.

Please give some suggestions, It's truly uncomfortable getting out into the cold or out into the hot with such a feeling of 'stuffiness'.

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Chronic Eustachian Tube Dysfunction?

I have been reading the boards about ETD and all the other potential causes of my ear problems for the last 6 months and am still without a clue what is causing my particular issue.

The story is long and like so many others on these boards also very frustrating. In March I was diagnosed with and inner ear virus as I was dizzy, foggy headed and had a slight sensation of fullness in my left ear (all occurred less than 24 hours after a 3 hour flight). This lasted for 3 weeks at the end of the three weeks all symptoms subsided except for the constant need to "pop" my ears. This lasted 4 days and was gone.

For 3 weeks I was symptom free, I had to take another flight which went off without any problems. For days after the flight I had spells of dizziness and on day 7 after the flight hear came the ear fullness and need to "pop" my ears.

Went back to the ENT and was told I have ETD and will resolve....6 months, 4 ENT's and an Allergist later my ears still feel pressurized. I have mad improvement over the months and instead of having to "pop" my ear 1 million times a day I am down to maybe a half a dozen.

My major concerns are:

While driving my ears bother me the most I feel increased pressure instantly no matter if the windows are open or closed.

Also I have post nasal drip MD diagnosed with non allergic rhinitis, never had that prior to the dizziness and ear issues.

ENT and others say it will go away it just takes time, I have not read of anyone's ETD going away on this board and feel like I can not live with this forever!

What are your opinions: will it resolve over time are we stuck with this forever?

I have been on oral and nasal steroid no significant improvement, I am doing acupuncture and seeing a chiropractor. I am negative for any allergies and my MRI came back negative.

The next step is tubes which they say can help in 50% of case and may make it worse in the other 50%, as much as I want this to go away I can not even take the chance of making it worse.

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Eustachian Tube Dysfunction :: Tinnitus And Excess Mucus

This started a week ago at night I started getting ringing sensation in both my ears which persisted that night and wouldn't let me sleep went to the Ent department and got diagnosed as eustachian tube blockage as I had popping of ears and had to constantly swallow so that the ears feel better had a Pure tone audiometry done which should no hearing loss then had a tympanometry which showed a bit increase in the middle ear pressure got prescribed with antihistamine and antibiotics any idea when the tinnitus goes it has decreased to an extent it doesn't disturb but if I close my ears I can hear it anyone experienced the same?

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Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Cause Vertigo That Lasts A Couple Of Hours?

I have recently been diagnosed with Meniere's disease because I had a few vertigo attacks, hearing loss, tinnitus, and ear fullness.

However, after much thought I am beginning to doubt that diagnosis. My ETD had been blocked for exactly the same time my symptoms appeared, I know that easily through the valsalva maneuver, my good ear is clear and bad one is blocked. Also, my bad ear does not pop properly after a flight. And my most severe symptoms happen within a few days after flying, which happened twice. I was vertigo free for 6 weeks in between the 2 flights. Another weird thing is I only get vertigo attacks in the morning right after I wake up, as if my horizontal sleeping position had something to do with it.

My questions:

1) Is it possible with ETD to get vertigo (room spinning) or severe dizziness attacks lasting up to a couple of hours?

2) Do any of you ETD sufferers sense that you get more dizzy after you get up from bed?

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Please, if anyone has any info on Hedge apple use for cancer treatment, especially breast cancer treatment, share.

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Hemorrhoids :: Accidental Cure And Treatment

Ok, so I recently turned 30 and just had my very first hemorrhoid trouble ever. First it was just internal bathroom bleeding, then I got this weird "skin tag" near by butthole, then the external pillow of doom appeared and all the horrible itching began. That was about 2 weeks ago. I don't have insurance so couldn't see a doctor, just researched online a lot and got some prep h suppositories. I used those butt bullets for a couple days but on day 2, I started to feel super nauseous after insertion. Don't know if it was the prep h or something else, I was sick that week so might have been unrelated but either way, had to use the bathroom right after insertion and lost it anyway.

Rather than trying to put another one in there, I decided to just clean myself with baby wipes as I'd gotten used to doing and instead grabbed some castor oil (that I'd been using to hopefully clear up some old acne scars on my face - it's the organic health food store oil, not the constipation drugstore oil). I added a squirt of sesame oil (that I'd bought to try that oil pulling thing before switching to coconut oil, recently started getting pretty holistic with the healthy stuff). Anyway, so I smeared that stuff all over my inner bum, figured it'd at least keep things from chafing and maybe cool down the discomfort. I reapplied once more before bed and the next day the hemorrhoid was about half as big as the day before. I was completely shocked! So I continued to apply after cleaning the area, did it maybe 3 times that next day and by that night it was even smaller. This is my 4th day using castor and sesame oil and the pillow is still there but just barely - it's not hanging out of my butt anymore, just sort of lining the hole-rim.. so now when I apply, I dip my finger inside just a tiny bit to make sure I'm still smothering the thing all over (I know, I'm graphic AND long winded, but if this helps anyone else it'll be worth it). I have zero discomfort, can't even tell it's there when I'm not applying the oil. There's a chance it could just be a coincidence and it would have gone down on it's own by now anyway, but I know I'll be reaching right for the oil again if it ever flares back up. If this really is what's curing it, I gotta spread the word and I hope you do too!

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Tinnitus :: Symptoms, Sufferings And Treatment ?

Since last three month I am suffering from Tinnitus – sound like pressure cooker whistling/ summer insect sound coming out constantly and loudly from my Right ear. I have no idea of actual reason of my present symptom of Tinnitus

2. Location of symptom - In right ear

3. What first started it off - May be after a cold and cough infection

4. When it's worse = in evening and night.

5. When it feels better = in day time.

6. My sleep pattern and details of any recurring dreams – Before suffering from Tinnitus I have silent sleep without any disturbance. As about dreams some time I saw flood water dream otherwise no issues.

7. What I am sensitive to – Heat, I don’t like summer temperature.

8. My state of mind – I am not an angry man, normal behavior can work in cold mind and can handle a situation by my brain without confusing (fears, anxieties, attitudes, moods, etc)

9. Any desires or aversions for particular foods, - like sweet items.

10. Details of any major diseases suffered in past – In fact I have normal body and health. I have not suffered any diseases. Oh yea, in 1994 I have small pox.

11. Details of any reactions to other medicines taken.- I have taken some homeopathic medicines of 200c power without guidance’s of a doctor, the medicines were published in a local news paper for acidity. I have a doubt that after taking those medicines without proper advice, tinnitus has attacked me. I consulted ENT specialist, took antibiotic and medicines, but no result.

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My stomach is huge and I feel so depressed and tired and have done for  a long time. I'm going to go to GP and have it all explained. Trouble is I get married in November and my wedding dress is too tight because if the big tummy . I really need to go back to work tomorrow but I have no energy. Glad I'm not going through this alone as at the moment I feel like a freak!

And I have the other joys of needing tena pads and laxatives!

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What else can help the itching?

When LS is under control do symptoms stay away for a day, a week, or a month?

I was diagnosed in Oct 2015 and have issues almost everyday since when I have a day when I feel 'normal'. I could sing, fly jump with joy for the relief 

Does clob help the itch?

Does LS spread more if it's not treated?

if it is treated will it stay more in one area.

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Is anyone able to give us any advice? We are pretty desperate and my dad is just so depressed as he thought he finally got rid of the virus (he got infected while on an operation in a public hospital) and now it is back...

Are there any specialists that you are aware of I could possibly get in contact with?

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