Eustachian Tube Dysfunction: tube is plugged

I've had tinnitus since I was in my 40's and started hearing "crickets" that weren't really there. In time it became ringing and humming, and a few years ago I occasionally had crazy scary nightmares and at one point woke up at 2 am thinking someone was outside the window with a buzz saw! I thought maybe I was going bonkers, and my primary doc suggested psychiatry, but I didn't want prescription antidepressants. I saw an MSW with expertise in battlefield trauma and nightmares instead, and she explained that this could be an ear/ brain isssue. The brain is alert and looking for sound, and can panic a bit at night when it hears silence, worrying that something bad is coming and creating nightmares. She suggested an all night sound machine with something that's soothing. For me it's continual light rain, or crickets, For 20 bucks on Amazon I got one with light rain and for 30, one with crickets. It worked for me.I wish you the best of luck in unraveling your own needs and solutions.

I was born deaf in my right ear. About two years ago I noticed my ears felt plugged up and I couldn't seem to get them to pop. I also noticed distortion in hearing in my ( somewhat good) left ear. Went to doctor and was prescribed antibiotic and decongestant. Didn't help. The I went to ENT where I got my hearing aid- they had no idea- prescribed nasal steroids. No help. Made an appointment with a specialist in ENT clinic. He said there was nothing wrong with my ears that he could see. Suggested my teeth were the problem. Went to yet another ENT 3 hours away from me. She did tests. Had no idea why I was still having distortion in my hearing. I used to be able to listen to music. Now I can't. It all sounds distorted or off key. This is very depressing. I have absolutely no idea what to do about this. I'd give anything to be able to hear music the way I used to.

I made these comments some months ago.
I’m now on my 7th ENT. He is suggesting balloon dilation of my Eustachian tubes. I know it doesn't work for everybody.
He does this for pilots and flight attendants with good success. Since my issues started with a long plane flight, I’m hopeful I might get some relief. Waiting now for the procedure to be scheduled.
Hoping he is lucky number 7 ENT!

It may help. At least you had an ENT that was willing to consider doing something to alleviate your symptoms. Fingers crossed for you.

Thanks. I suppose it’s a long shot, but I will give it a try. Waiting now to get scheduled. Everything is such a wait!

Welcome to Connect @wills3. What a frustrating problem. I have bilateral hearing issues form and Acoustic Neuroma on one side and then cancer on the other with surgery that removed my ear canal on the other. I wear a BTE hearing aid on one side and have a Bone Anchored Hearing Aid on the other. Since all of this, music is never the same. But if I stream it into my BAHA via bluetooth or a mini mic connection, it is somewhat better. I am told that it would improve with a Cochlear Implant also. I have seen an assortment of Audiologists and have a fairly good one locally, but the Audiology team at Mayo Clinic always does more testing and works hand in hand with my surgeon as needed. We drive 10 hours (and have for 12 years) to continue using Mayo Clinic MN for my cancer followups. I think maybe you need to continue your search for a great ENT and/or Audiologist. Do you have a large teaching hospital or referral center close enough to consider using?

I've had a similar problem, diagnosed as Eustachian tube dysfunction. There was inflammation and mucous in my ear canals causing the weirdest distortion in sound, plus hearing loss. I've had roughly 50 medical appointments since this occurred last July. The things that have helped so far are: Ear Tubes, steroid ear drops through the tubes, acupuncture, Chinese herbs, cranial sacral massage, chiropractic treatments, and ear molds from my audiologist, that block all extraneous noise on my hearing aids. I am a pianist, and for 6 months I experienced the distortion you are describing. I could not play the piano or work as a musician. A dog barking and a neighbor hammering sounded about the same. My beautiful grand piano sounded like a child's out of tune xylophone. I'm not done with the process of clearing my ears yet, but now I can enjoy music again. Hang in there and keep searching for answers.

Please add me to this thread as I have bad etc due to a surgical complication
Thank u

I posted awhile back about having balloon inflation procedure. It did not work for me and my ears continue to worsen. It is a very frustrating condition.
I have seen so many ENTs and audiologists that I don’t know what else to do.
It really turns your life upside down to have such disturbed hearing,
I continue to look for answers.