Eustachian Tube Dysfunction: tube is plugged

TUBES IN EARS AT 77 ? WOULD IT HELP ?

Hello I am sure all these have been discussed before but I seem to have all of them... lived with occasional tinnitus for years that I could live with (odd ting or chirp in either ear occasionally); mild hearing loss ... compensating by turning up tv etc for now; keep having to ask spouse to repeat what he says but can hear him putting kibble in dogs bowl in morning downstairs.. also our furnace and fridges coming on and off can wake me up; ears feel plugged at times and echo in ears when I talk sometimes.. but the pain is the worst thing. 2017 had really bad cold/throat and that's when first time pain in ear and its mostly right ar.
Then glaucoma diagnosis mid 2018 could not take steroids etc. and on and on it went. Had right side thyroid removed 2008. Have stringy mucus cosntantly now from right nasal cavity but least of my problems along with neuropathy etc. (and depression)
I have been waiting about 9 months for ent I saw Feb.2019 to be phoning me March 23 as cant travel out of town with ibs-d and fecal incontinenc and I am not sure what to mention first when doctor phones (as no office appointments re covid) I have pain from bowel issues but wont mention that as not under ENT.
. How he will diagnose over phone I am not sure, should I write him a letter in the meantime mentioning the above so we dont spend time talking about all this? The pain is my main concern as it lasts for several hours a few times a day and even noise hurts, although have some haring loss: I dont understand what is going on.... someone said maybe they will put tubes in my ears so I a worried, especially since if have to also have antibiotic.Anyone had this done please?

@lacy2 It sounds like you have a number of health problems and your ear issue has been neglected due to COVID-19. You have gone a long time with pain and inconvenience. You must feel relief to finally see a provider.

You asked if you should write the provider before your video visit so you don't waste time with background information. I'm wondering if members have any strategies that have worked for them and/or suggestions?

You will notice that I moved your question into a previous related discussion. I did this so you can connect with members like @redhead63 @stites @upartist @januaryjane @dorothynoz45 @chantellk20 @imallears that can answer your regarding eustachian tube in a central location. You may also wish to scroll through the previous comments.

Have you considered calling the provider's nurse before the video visit? The nurse should write a note after your call and the information when then be part of your medical record.

Like you, I used to think eustachian tubes were only for children but I've heard a lot of adults lately that have had the procedure done successfully. I'm wondering if any members have this particular experience or know someone that has?

Well, tubes in ears at our age is unusual, but not unheard-of. At one point in the 1980's our ENT was caring for my 2 daughters, me, a few nieces and nephews, my Dad & his brother. We ALL - ages 15 months to over 80 years - had eustachian tube dysfunction & chronic ear infections - and all had tubes inserted in our ear drums. He considered us an interesting multi-generational case study in "bad ears".
Insertion is a 5 minute, in-office procedure, but not the first effort to deal with "plugged ears" or pain.

You mentioned stringy mucus from your nasal cavity on the same side as the worst symptoms, so you may have a chronic low-level infection or inflammation in your sinus as part of the equation - be sure to share this info with your ENT - sometimes a mucus thinning medication can help. Do be sure he has your complete medical history as well, since things that seem unrelated to you and me can definitely influence each other in our bodies.

Good luck in solving your ear issues - even though it seems "small" it has a tremendous impact on quality of life.
Sue

@erikas thank you I have just read previous comments.... I feel as if my best bet it to put up with the pain, heating pad, crying etc. til the pain subsides..... this is so helpful reading what others have encountered first hand.... I am on no pain meds except maybe one Tylenol a week and tough it out.... many meds I have taken over the years I now read can affect hearing, cause ear problems etc, .... this ent's receptionist, has no nurse in office, is a bulldozer but with only ents in this town of 54,000 has to be I guess. I will present my "case" as best I can on March 23 and take it from there.... again having the above info is the good, the bad and the ugly.... and am going to make notes as I know he will only give me ten minutes,,,, its not even video its a PHONE CALL, UGH J.

THANKS everyone for sharing your story/information... I have just thanked erikas too, wish me luck as I try to explain OVER THE PHONE to the ent next month J.

@sueinmn Thankyou It's almost embarrassing when we have so many overlapping medical issues and have to go on and on abut them....especially not life-threatening necessarily but life-altering. I have a dry left nasal passage but the mucus in right side, for many years, could not blow out but sort of sniffed to back of throat... but for a year this very thing long clear "threat" of mucus started right side.... honestly I cant find anything on internet... and it is so bizarre.. I even took photos as thought no one would believe me, it has been for almost a year... although now can "blow it out" but its the same...on string at a time!... like a human baby icicle producing plant but its mucus instead of ice! And so thin and if I sneeze, multiple strings. I would like to know from which tube its coming from, sinus or the tube from eye to back of nose and throat, as use many eye drops... once I talk to ent if he comes up with an answer, which is probably, its "just" mucus, will put on here. But main reason the phone appointment is the pain (prob. eustachian tube).... a commenter here I must check back as she said has had 40 tubes put in ears and my spouse said, if they dont work, why keep putting in.... so I would like to ask that question. However, compared with the "urgent" cases our two ENT's here deal with, must be frustrating for them to hear our less urgent issues... but it seems many "less urgent" problems often are the ones that seem to have no "fix." J.

Eustachian Tube Dysfunction?

I am a 23/f, in December 2019/January 2020 I experienced a terrible cold/ sinus infection, I ended up getting a round of antibiotics prescribed from a walk in and was fully better within a couple weeks. Later in summer 2020 I noticed a certain like clicking and popping noise in my ears when I spoke, school began in the fall and I put it off until in November/December 2020 it became so unbearable the persistent noise began to trigger headaches and become a distraction. Working from home often in a quiet room on zoom calls I found myself experiencing worse symptoms, if I were to speak too much the plugging and unplugging noise (like you hear when you yawn) would give me such bad headaches. I finally contacted my primary physician after I had 2-3 bouts of intense dizziness and spatial disorientation and googling to find it might be related to my ears. She tentatively diagnosed me with Eustachian tube dysfunction after confirming there were no visible wax blockages. The ENT she referred me to listened to my symptoms and conducted a hearing and pressure test, both coming back normal. He (very rudely) told me “to go to a dentist for TMJ concerns because the clicking is my jaw” even when I tried to show him it only happens when I’m speaking and not just from moving my jaw, the clicking so loud you can hear it in my speech. I can’t afford to go see a dentist right now so I’m looking for some other insight as to whether the ENT I was referred to could have been wrong and I should pursue a second opinion or just take myself to a dentist in some time as it could be my jaw. Also over the last two days I’ve developed persistent ringing in my ears that seems to get louder when I bend over, and I have to do some jaw/throat/ear clearings to diminish; occasionally I also feel like there is liquid/runny wax coming out of my ears. Any insight is greatly appreciated!

@dkro Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.

I'm sorry to hear about your symptoms and that your ENT (from the sounds of it) didn't listen to your concerns in full.

You'll notice that I moved your question to as existing discussion.

You are unable to afford the dentist but you are able to go to the doctor, right? I assume you have medical but not dental coverage, right? I cannot give you medical advice but it sounds like you have valid reasons to seek a second ENT opinion.
I'd like to invite members @lacy2 @sueinmn @redhead63 @imallears @chantellk20 @stites @upartist @januaryjane @dorothynoz45 to the discussion. They may be able to offer experience and support.

May I ask if you have access to another ENT nearby?

I’m still suffering with tinnitus after many doctors and having tubes put in both ears. Still praying for answers just as many are. Denise S.

Hello all. Well have lost my comment about what happened when ent phoned me March 23... ten minutes of yelling at me (I put on speaker phone half way through so husband could hear)... that he had more serious patients, cancer, operaitons, 18 people begging to see him and son's friend.... when I went to speak he said I was not paying attention....that 30 yrs ago i had tmj etc. That morning before he phoned i had two ocular migraines and daughter had phoned his office to cancel phone call but he didn't get message and when I went to explain my mental state after the 2 migraines at 6 and 7 am approx and awake since four, I think he thought I was asking for help for non-ent issues. I wrote 2 letters to him, tore them up, and then a short one almost apologizing for whatever I did or said to upset him! I think he is stressed out as only 2 ents here. Anyway since then, emerge as had 2 very bad "almost dizzy but worse" attacks early am and eyes would not focus etc., and had 1 milder attack at emerge. Dr. just said take tylenol!!! Anyway I have tinnitus 24,7; pain and pressure in ear "area" and head pain sides and back still... on and off for months but now every day... So daughter phoned dr. at GoodDrs clinic in Ontario and amazing Dr.Ahmed ordered ct scan with contrast to try and find out what is wrong and what can be ruled out. Also a week ago pain in calf and again this clinic emailed me a blood test and positive for blood clots and only small but Superficial Phlebitis right calf and just warm wet cloth on and off... feels a bit better now but this resting in bed all day has not helped in that regard so trying to get up more. psychological as well.
From mild, if can use that word, tinnitus to 24/7 to soft to loud it is the pits and honestly I have found no solution. I leave YouTube piano music on my ipad all night very low, take sleeping pill and managing a few hours at a time which is saving me. I dont doubt that pain around jaw area and neck is not tnnitus but I dont want to start strong pain killers. At same time Dec. and March had 2 molars removed and they were beasts to extract, well been in mouth 70 years! So had all this with sore throat.... I was not a happy camper!
Sorry this is so long but may as well get it all out at once... am trying to get help with light housework maybe some light meals but no one is available plus we are in lockdown re covid but my husband is not feeling best from triple heart bypass last november and covid vaccine last Thursday.... he is my PSW right now although I do have a few hours each day I can do a few things but the pain and being scared of possible Meniers or possible another attack of Vertigo has me scared to death I dont mind saying; I applaud the hundreds even thousands of people dealing with a lot more than this and are coping somehow or the other, but I must admit I am struggling. (oine thing the ent yelled at me was: "fifty per cent of people who have tubes in ears end up with holes in ear drums" not sure if that is true but I wont have it done... maybe he was just trying to scare me, he succeeded!! BEST OF LUCK TO ALL ... SORRY THIS IS SO NEGATIVE BUT ITS HOW I AM RIGHT NOW 🌹🌹🌹