1. < Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT)

Ear tubes: What are my treatment options for chronic otitis?

Posted by upartist @upartist, Oct 8, 2016

Are there treatment options for ongoing ear tubes, placed to treat chronic otitis media secondary to eustachian tube scarring in the adult?

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Jamie Olson | @jamienolson | Oct 19, 2018
In reply to @beryl "Thank you for answering Jamie ....I have had this condition bought on by alegies for many..." + (show)
@beryl

Thank you for answering Jamie ....I have had this condition bought on by alegies for many years , have got meds to control this but some times my ears just seem to block up and I have trouble hearing .....At attitude they will pop open and I hear well again but I live at sea level more or less .....my husband thinks I am deaf and has trouble understanding this.....
Both my Grandsons had what we call grommets in the UK when they were young .....that wasn't available when I was young .....they both now have excellent hearing .....I wonder if it would be an option for me , I am 79......would be grateful for your input.....Beryl

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You should talk with your primary doctor and ask for a referral to an ENT. I think that as adults, tubes can be placed in the clinic office, if I'm correct. Something to look into and if it helps your hearing and your communication with your husband...sounds like a win to me. 🙂

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1 reply
beryl | @beryl | Oct 20, 2018
In reply to @jamienolson "You should talk with your primary doctor and ask for a referral to an ENT. I..." + (show)
@jamienolson

You should talk with your primary doctor and ask for a referral to an ENT. I think that as adults, tubes can be placed in the clinic office, if I'm correct. Something to look into and if it helps your hearing and your communication with your husband...sounds like a win to me. 🙂

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Thank you Jamie for your response , grateful for your input .....seems I should make an appointment and talk to the doc about this ....I had spoken with one Doctor a few years ago the he said he didn't want to do it but I suppose I shouldn't have stopped at that ....Beryl

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zaa | @zaa | Aug 1, 2021

Severe deafness in left ear 6 years ago so don’t bother wearing hearing aid but now right ear has patulous so sounds like a microphone comes on in my ear when I speak. Can hear myself breathing even which is all very annoying. For now, it goes back and forth so have a bit of reprieve but ENT warns me there’s pressure and wants to cut ear drum and put in tubes which can be done in office. I’m waiting to see if lowering my prednisone (arthritis related) plus trying to gain back weight may help the situation. I’m dealing with so many other issues right now but losing hearing is a biggie. I’ve done reading on this procedure and seems there’s a lot of negative results for this procedure and could make things worse. Anyone else with the eustasion tube “in open” position like mine and has had the tube procedure?

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2 replies
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Aug 3, 2021
In reply to @zaa "Severe deafness in left ear 6 years ago so don’t bother wearing hearing aid but now..." + (show)
@zaa

Severe deafness in left ear 6 years ago so don’t bother wearing hearing aid but now right ear has patulous so sounds like a microphone comes on in my ear when I speak. Can hear myself breathing even which is all very annoying. For now, it goes back and forth so have a bit of reprieve but ENT warns me there’s pressure and wants to cut ear drum and put in tubes which can be done in office. I’m waiting to see if lowering my prednisone (arthritis related) plus trying to gain back weight may help the situation. I’m dealing with so many other issues right now but losing hearing is a biggie. I’ve done reading on this procedure and seems there’s a lot of negative results for this procedure and could make things worse. Anyone else with the eustasion tube “in open” position like mine and has had the tube procedure?

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Hi Zaa, allow me to tag fellow members who might have some insight to share with respect to your questions about ear tubes, like @upartist @bearylynn @beryl @stites @coralbells1 @julieo4 and others.

Has lowering prednisone helped? Are you still considering ear tubes?

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zaa | @zaa | Aug 3, 2021

Thank you Colleen. Still pressure building up behind eustasion tube and causing autophony so I hear loud feedback from my own voice. This comes on and off throughout my day. It’s my thought that perhaps it may be prednisone and hoping that is it. ENT suggests cutting into eardrum and may insert the tubes. It isn’t clear to me if this is just a temporary fix but if I let it go, without relieving pressure there will be a lot of pain and eventually deafness. Had miserable sinus issues last winter and might have done damage blowing, coughing and trying to clear out phylum. Tried not to use all the over counter meds which can make it worse and let it heal itself.

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beryl | @beryl | Aug 4, 2021
In reply to @zaa "Severe deafness in left ear 6 years ago so don’t bother wearing hearing aid but now..." + (show)
@zaa

Severe deafness in left ear 6 years ago so don’t bother wearing hearing aid but now right ear has patulous so sounds like a microphone comes on in my ear when I speak. Can hear myself breathing even which is all very annoying. For now, it goes back and forth so have a bit of reprieve but ENT warns me there’s pressure and wants to cut ear drum and put in tubes which can be done in office. I’m waiting to see if lowering my prednisone (arthritis related) plus trying to gain back weight may help the situation. I’m dealing with so many other issues right now but losing hearing is a biggie. I’ve done reading on this procedure and seems there’s a lot of negative results for this procedure and could make things worse. Anyone else with the eustasion tube “in open” position like mine and has had the tube procedure?

Jump to this post

Hello this is Beryl I have been considering having ear tubes but as yet for lots of unrelated reasons not done it …..I am slowly lowering my prednisone so will let you know if my condition changes…..it is similar to your situation…..meanwhile still pondering on the tube business

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1 reply
Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Aug 4, 2021
In reply to @beryl "Hello this is Beryl I have been considering having ear tubes but as yet for lots..." + (show)
@beryl

Hello this is Beryl I have been considering having ear tubes but as yet for lots of unrelated reasons not done it …..I am slowly lowering my prednisone so will let you know if my condition changes…..it is similar to your situation…..meanwhile still pondering on the tube business

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Why are you so hesitant?
I can tell you that I had ear tubes a number of times in my adulthood, and the pain/pressure relief was wonderful. It has been 20 years since my last tubes, and so far no excessive scarring - they are worse from the infections I had earlier in life that lead to ruptured ear drums. My kids and my Dad all had them too, and experienced lass pain & fewer infections.
Sue

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1 reply
beryl | @beryl | Aug 4, 2021
In reply to @sueinmn "Why are you so hesitant? I can tell you that I had ear tubes a number..." + (show)
@sueinmn

Why are you so hesitant?
I can tell you that I had ear tubes a number of times in my adulthood, and the pain/pressure relief was wonderful. It has been 20 years since my last tubes, and so far no excessive scarring - they are worse from the infections I had earlier in life that lead to ruptured ear drums. My kids and my Dad all had them too, and experienced lass pain & fewer infections.
Sue

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Thank you Sue for your encouragement…..you are right it’s time for that appointment

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