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Post tube insertion for Eustachian tube dysfunction
Hi all,
For the last few years I’ve been suffering from major ENT issues. Last year I had a septoplasty/turbinoplasty which greatly helped my breathing through the nose etc. however it didn’t help my constantly blocked ears. I could never get relief and had to try constantly unblock my ears by holding my nose and blowing, for them to never pop. I can’t even wear headphones as it feels like there’s wobbleboards in my ears.
So last week I underwent bilateral grommet (tube) insertion. Since that surgery, I can now feel and hear air coming out when I hold my nose and blow, but I still have the feeling that they need to pop, and they won’t. My own voice also now sounds muffled (everything else sounds fine) and there’s constant cracking in my ears with certain sounds (plates banging, cutlery etc), and also constant cracking while I’m talking and swallowing.
Is this normal and my tubes / ears are adjusting? I’ve read online it can take a month or so for adults for this to go away, but it’s driving my anxiety through the roof and hoping to hear stories like here a similar thing has happened and that it cleared up eventually!
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I also had tubes put in one month ago to help with the pain and discomfort I had with flying. I had had tubes 20 years ago. They lasted for 5 years and, though it was painful to have them put in, they worked well.
This time I should have asked more questions before having it done. The insertion was an easy in office procedure. When the surgeon was done he told me they would only last 6 to 18 months. The muffled hearing started immediately. He said it happened because the tubes were extra weight on my ear drums and I would get used to it. I have not. Now I have less difficulty when flying but one of my Eustachian tubes pops for hours after landing. The tinnitus is the same.
The surgeon said that the muffled hearing would stop when the tubes fall out. I hope he is right and it happens soon even if that means I need to avoid flying much in the future. Wish I knew what to do in between times.