Constant fullness and pressure in both ears

Posted by dazlin @dazlin, Oct 24 6:18am

I have significant hearing loss and I wear Phonak aides.
I sometimes experience fluid in both ears, not wax.
For several months now I'm so uncomfortable with pressure and a muffled hearing which is causing worse hearing loss, even with the aides. I went back to my audiologist for an adjustment but it's not helping. Speech clarity has become worse and sounds are more tinny. No fluid is detected when they look in.
My dr has prescribed medications and nasal spray...absolutely nothing is helping. I've tried many many others throughout the years when this has happened. This time, I'm getting very concerned because I can't afford to lose further hearing...im down to 83 % loss in clarity. The aides were helping somewhat, but since I feel stuffed, I'm having a harder time.
I think I'll have to see an ENT, and also I've been experiencing overwhelming fatigue, which I often have experienced without the ear problems, over the years. No infections, no wax build up.
I wonder if it's related to a type of chronic fatigue?
Only thing Mayo had detected is MGUS, very slight.
I also wonder if the aides caused the problem??
I will run this by my Dr at Mayo before my next blood test.
Any thoughts, please reach out to me...thank you. Linda

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Does the pressure and hearing fluctuate? Do you travel by airplane or scuba dive? Any balance issues or dizziness ? It could be a number of things, but cochlear hydrops comes to mind. I would start with an Otolaryngologist and see about getting a CT Scan that has the capabilities to do thin slicing with photon counting. There is a Facebook group for cochlear endolymphatic hydrops (Not Meniere’s) you could check out. A lot is people with similar symptoms. I’ve had some myself that was secondary to a penetrating ear injury. Also you can try to limit your sodium and caffeine intake to see if that makes any difference. Best of Luck!

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@tmragain

Does the pressure and hearing fluctuate? Do you travel by airplane or scuba dive? Any balance issues or dizziness ? It could be a number of things, but cochlear hydrops comes to mind. I would start with an Otolaryngologist and see about getting a CT Scan that has the capabilities to do thin slicing with photon counting. There is a Facebook group for cochlear endolymphatic hydrops (Not Meniere’s) you could check out. A lot is people with similar symptoms. I’ve had some myself that was secondary to a penetrating ear injury. Also you can try to limit your sodium and caffeine intake to see if that makes any difference. Best of Luck!

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@tmragain , appreciate your reply. I haven't been on a plane, and I don't actually get dizzy or experience vertigo.
I'm careful about my balance, especially if I have to use a ladder or step stool...then I feel like I'm very off.
I have had this pressure many times in past, especially if I'm sick...but this time I'm not sick and it has been going on for several months now. I dont take much caffeine. I do enjoy red wine, but it hasn't ever caused this before. I never heard of the hydrops, so I looked it up...sure could be my case. Ill call a Dr soon. Thank you so much!

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@dazlin

@tmragain , appreciate your reply. I haven't been on a plane, and I don't actually get dizzy or experience vertigo.
I'm careful about my balance, especially if I have to use a ladder or step stool...then I feel like I'm very off.
I have had this pressure many times in past, especially if I'm sick...but this time I'm not sick and it has been going on for several months now. I dont take much caffeine. I do enjoy red wine, but it hasn't ever caused this before. I never heard of the hydrops, so I looked it up...sure could be my case. Ill call a Dr soon. Thank you so much!

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Your welcome!! Right now I avoid caffeine & alcohol. I also try to limit my sodium, sugar and gluten. Good luck!

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Sounds like conductive hearing loss (vs. nerve derived hearing loss). If you find a solution, I would love to hear from you. In the meantime, I take an OTC allergy med and use a canned saline nasal spray solution, but these are only partially helpful. My hearing aids help a bit with hearing speech, but I usually forget to put them in at home because I don’t perceive any loss until I’m out with others trying to hear them speak.

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@bunnybear

Sounds like conductive hearing loss (vs. nerve derived hearing loss). If you find a solution, I would love to hear from you. In the meantime, I take an OTC allergy med and use a canned saline nasal spray solution, but these are only partially helpful. My hearing aids help a bit with hearing speech, but I usually forget to put them in at home because I don’t perceive any loss until I’m out with others trying to hear them speak.

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@bunnybear , it's said I have extensive nerve damage. Started as a child with severe, chronic ear infections...my ear drums were bursted. Also eustachian tube disfunction. I do try OTC allergy meds, or sinus meds. Recently my Dr prescribed Singulair, and the list goes on and on. Nothing is helping.
I called my Dr Friday and im waiting to hear back with an appointment at a ENT.
Won't be the 1st time with ENT's either...I gave up, but ill try again. This time I feel different, almost like a constant head cold and loud crackling in my ears when I swallow.
Yes, the hearing aides help some, but like I said, somethings off with them too. I'm so fed up. I have had to ask for help with important phone calls or I literally freak out and hang up...embarrassing to keep asking to repeat themselves. Ill surely post back once I see another dr...thank you for your reply.

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@dazlin

@bunnybear , it's said I have extensive nerve damage. Started as a child with severe, chronic ear infections...my ear drums were bursted. Also eustachian tube disfunction. I do try OTC allergy meds, or sinus meds. Recently my Dr prescribed Singulair, and the list goes on and on. Nothing is helping.
I called my Dr Friday and im waiting to hear back with an appointment at a ENT.
Won't be the 1st time with ENT's either...I gave up, but ill try again. This time I feel different, almost like a constant head cold and loud crackling in my ears when I swallow.
Yes, the hearing aides help some, but like I said, somethings off with them too. I'm so fed up. I have had to ask for help with important phone calls or I literally freak out and hang up...embarrassing to keep asking to repeat themselves. Ill surely post back once I see another dr...thank you for your reply.

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I’m almost three years into this and after seeing eight ENTs, and having balloon inflation on my Eustachian tubes, I guess I give up on help from ENTs. I believe my issue is related to having Covid, but nobody really knows.
I have also taken allergy meds which did not help, but made me even drier, which is already a problem.
I’m now seeing an upper cervical chiropractor to see if perhaps I have a compressed nerve. I have just started treatment, so don’t know if this is just another dead-end. After this much time it is hard to stay positive.

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@dloos

I’m almost three years into this and after seeing eight ENTs, and having balloon inflation on my Eustachian tubes, I guess I give up on help from ENTs. I believe my issue is related to having Covid, but nobody really knows.
I have also taken allergy meds which did not help, but made me even drier, which is already a problem.
I’m now seeing an upper cervical chiropractor to see if perhaps I have a compressed nerve. I have just started treatment, so don’t know if this is just another dead-end. After this much time it is hard to stay positive.

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@dloos ...I can only relate how discouraging and frustrating this can be. I haven't been back to an ent for many years. Gave up. My audiologist s can't help with fluid or pressure either.
I'm only going to see another ent again because I'm uncomfortable and it's causing further hearing problems. I'll listen to her suggestions and I'll go from there...may or may not follow through with treatments...all depends. I hope you get some relief.

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@dazlin

@dloos ...I can only relate how discouraging and frustrating this can be. I haven't been back to an ent for many years. Gave up. My audiologist s can't help with fluid or pressure either.
I'm only going to see another ent again because I'm uncomfortable and it's causing further hearing problems. I'll listen to her suggestions and I'll go from there...may or may not follow through with treatments...all depends. I hope you get some relief.

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Good luck to you as well❤️

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@dloos , I just received a call from ENT...they won't see me unless I take another hearing test. I told them I just had one a few months ago and I have copies of results for them. She said dr won't treat me unless I do another test, not even see/consult with me. So I declined and canceled.
I just pray this passes.
I'll have a follow-up at mayo for another condition...so ill mention it to my Dr there...although has nothing to do with ENT.
I'm sad 😔

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@dazlin

@dloos , I just received a call from ENT...they won't see me unless I take another hearing test. I told them I just had one a few months ago and I have copies of results for them. She said dr won't treat me unless I do another test, not even see/consult with me. So I declined and canceled.
I just pray this passes.
I'll have a follow-up at mayo for another condition...so ill mention it to my Dr there...although has nothing to do with ENT.
I'm sad 😔

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Yeah, I haven’t had much luck with ENTs. Too bad since their specialty is our problem!
I have had many hearing tests because they all require new ones.
I don’t have any tips except to say you are not alone in your frustration.

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