1. < Hearing Loss

Eustachian tube dysfunction and balloon dilation

Posted by jcj123 @jcj123, Oct 2, 2024

I lost my hearing to SNHL on left side 9 months ago. I tried everything possible including hyperbaric oxygen therapy. This therapy messed up both my ears and my eustachian tubes did not open after treatment. So I am totally deaf in left ear but my right ear I can hear everyone else clearly but my own voice is muffled. Five days ago I had balloon dilation surgery to open my eustachian tubes in both ears. Here are my questions:
1. Why is my own voice muffled? ( I can't seem to get an answer to this)
2. It's only been 6 days since the surgery but I feel absolutely no better nor any improvement. Will this surgery work?
3. What would the next step be for me? I can't live with closed eustachian tubes, can I (I don't want to because I'm uncomfortable 24/7)
4. I can't seem to get any answers, it's like I'm the only one in the world that this is happening to. I do have appt with surgeon tom for follow up so I'll ask her but she was against tubes because she said I only had one good ear and she didn't want to risk anything happening to it and losing my hearing in that ear too. So what would the next step be?
Every place I ask on line, I get no response. So thank you if you can help.

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dloos | @dloos | Jan 27 11:32am
In reply to @gerrieme "Bone conduction hearing aids are available I know the bone conduction head sets for music work..." + (show)
@gerrieme

Bone conduction hearing aids are available
I know the bone conduction head sets for music work great.
I have had an ear drum replacement that had failed and eustachian tube dysfunction.
The bone conduction ear phones work so clear for me for music.
I am hopeful to find out if they can help my hearing loss .

Jump to this post

Please let us know how this goes.
I have never had a definitive explanation as to what caused my sensorial hearing loss. Probably Covid. It has turned my life upside down for three years. I have had differing diagnosis for my problems from eight different ENTs. I wear traditional hearing aids but they don’t really work for me. I am wondering if this might help me.

REPLY
1 reply
gerrieme | @gerrieme | Jan 27 12:29pm
In reply to @dloos "Please let us know how this goes. I have never had a definitive explanation as to..." + (show)
@dloos

Please let us know how this goes.
I have never had a definitive explanation as to what caused my sensorial hearing loss. Probably Covid. It has turned my life upside down for three years. I have had differing diagnosis for my problems from eight different ENTs. I wear traditional hearing aids but they don’t really work for me. I am wondering if this might help me.

Jump to this post

I'm sorry I know it's hard not to be able to join in when you can't make
out what people are saying.
And some people think screaming at you works..
Yikes..
It's going to take an ear specialist to say what will work for you.
I know the bone conduction bypasses the ear drum and canal
But don't know if it requires the ear hairs to be in adequate condition.
It works with my smartphone.
So it'll be weeks before I talk to my ENT.
I'll let you know what he tells me.

REPLY
1 reply
dloos | @dloos | Jan 27 4:12pm
In reply to @gerrieme "I'm sorry I know it's hard not to be able to join in when you can't..." + (show)
@gerrieme

I'm sorry I know it's hard not to be able to join in when you can't make
out what people are saying.
And some people think screaming at you works..
Yikes..
It's going to take an ear specialist to say what will work for you.
I know the bone conduction bypasses the ear drum and canal
But don't know if it requires the ear hairs to be in adequate condition.
It works with my smartphone.
So it'll be weeks before I talk to my ENT.
I'll let you know what he tells me.

Jump to this post

I’ve seen so many “ear specialists” I’ve given up on them. Audiologists as well have proved completely worthless for me. I suppose there are some good ones. I just haven’t found any (and not for lack of trying)
I have spent thousands on state of the art traditional hearing aids, so spending a few hundred to try bone conductive ones doesn’t seem like an outrageous thing to try.
Anyway, if you have luck it would be good to hear.
Thanks.

REPLY
popcornb | @popcornb | Feb 20 9:05pm
In reply to @dloos "I replied to you on another thread, but no you are not alone. I also had..." + (show)
@dloos

I replied to you on another thread, but no you are not alone. I also had balloon dilation and it gave me no relief. My procedure was about six months ago so I don’t expect anything. My condition just gets worse. I have the most discomfort on the left side, but both ears are impaired.
I also had hyperbaric oxygen suggested, but after your experience I will not go forward with that.
You are right, doctors don’t understand and don’t have a treatment for this.
But, you are not the only one suffering with this. My Audiologist told me that since Covid she has many people with similar complaints.
I don’t remember if you said you had Covid. Mine started a few weeks after feeling recovered from Covid.

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I honestly think it’s some physical issue with a compressed nerve or muscle-skeleton issue that gets exacerbated with poor posture spending time in bed and//or inflammation. Mine is completely cured when I take muscle relaxers and steroids

Ents don’t know about muscle/head structural issues so they usually just tell everyone it can’t be cured and to move on w the problem

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1 reply
Joanne Narna | @mothermary1 | Feb 21 7:01am

Hi, I’ve had the procedure twice in my left ear. I heard my heartbeat all day everyday in my ear and my muffled voice. Was driving me crazy because I also have bilateral tinnitus. I woke from first procedure and it was gone. It lasted about 3 months and it came back. I tried it again with tubes in the ear like kids get from many ear infections. It’s been 8 months and it’s good.
Your ENT can do certain tests right in the office that actually watch it open and close and tine testing around your head.
I also tries taping the eardrum but it didn’t work. My ENT tried that right in the office. The tube can be placed in the office. It might be something you want to discuss. Best of luck, it’s so annoying.

REPLY
1 reply
jasonl1012 | @jasonl1012 | Feb 21 8:08am
In reply to @mothermary1 "Hi, I’ve had the procedure twice in my left ear. I heard my heartbeat all day..." + (show)
@mothermary1

Hi, I’ve had the procedure twice in my left ear. I heard my heartbeat all day everyday in my ear and my muffled voice. Was driving me crazy because I also have bilateral tinnitus. I woke from first procedure and it was gone. It lasted about 3 months and it came back. I tried it again with tubes in the ear like kids get from many ear infections. It’s been 8 months and it’s good.
Your ENT can do certain tests right in the office that actually watch it open and close and tine testing around your head.
I also tries taping the eardrum but it didn’t work. My ENT tried that right in the office. The tube can be placed in the office. It might be something you want to discuss. Best of luck, it’s so annoying.

Jump to this post

Tubes are the only thing that I’ve found helpful, but some ENTs are hesitant to do them and others just won’t. I’ve had to talk them into it, and then I get relief until they fall out again.

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Joanne Narna | @mothermary1 | Feb 21 9:28am

I see an ENT at Emory in Atlanta. Prior I went to Mass General Eye&Ear in Boston. They did a head scan to be sure no tumors near the ear. I get a hearing test hearing now. I’m bordering aids. It is awful in a room full of people trying to get what is being said or you say something that doesn’t pertain to the conversation. I just lay it on the table from the start. Im HOH with tinnitus so I won’t hear everything and honestly you just have to get past it.
I have a neurologist too just to be sure I get her prospective as well.
I have many health issues far worse than this so I just deal.
I’m my own advocate so I’m extremely pushy to get stuff done. I just constantly make appointments or leave portal messages till they are so sick of me they order it. They work for me. I pay my insurance. I know me better than anyone.

REPLY
delweb98 | @delweb98 | 6 days ago
In reply to @popcornb "I honestly think it’s some physical issue with a compressed nerve or muscle-skeleton issue that gets..." + (show)
@popcornb

I honestly think it’s some physical issue with a compressed nerve or muscle-skeleton issue that gets exacerbated with poor posture spending time in bed and//or inflammation. Mine is completely cured when I take muscle relaxers and steroids

Ents don’t know about muscle/head structural issues so they usually just tell everyone it can’t be cured and to move on w the problem

Jump to this post

Which muscle relaxer and steroids. Were they prescribed or over the counter

REPLY
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