Eustachian Tube Dysfunction: tube is plugged

Posted by redhead63 @redhead63, Apr 14, 2020

I am a 65 year old women with Dysfunction of my tube in my left ear. I have no idea why this happen. I tried everything to get this ear unplugged. I always used plugs to wash my hair and shower. I did not have a cold or any other health problem when this happened. This happen on December 25, 2019 and I cannot get to a Doctor because of this Virus. My right ear had 3 tubes and finally I had a balloon inserted into the ear about 2 years ago and now that balloon had collapsed on the same date as the left ear. I had no problems with the left ear in the past. Can anybody tell me if they had this problem? What can I do since I cannot get in to see a Doctor. I cannot get a Doctor even to talk to me because I was told that a Doctor has to look in my ear.

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@dedubbs I can't believe this As a retired nurse our anatomy book said they are Maybe you need a second opinion ?

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@deedubs-sometimes the musculature in that area can give off a feeling of ear fullness. The sternocliedomastoid (SCM) muscle into the mastoid process bone, as well as jaw muscles can all cause this feeling and is often overlooked. If you press directly behind your ear, sometimes you can even feel some soreness or trigger points. They don’t know why this also can cause a feeling of hearing loss as well. If like you say, your whole right side is a mess, it might be worth checking the musculature in that area. Tight/tense/stressed muscles can cause all kinds of congestion. And I don’t mean congestion in your nose I mean congestion like a traffic jam.

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@nrd1

@deedubs-sometimes the musculature in that area can give off a feeling of ear fullness. The sternocliedomastoid (SCM) muscle into the mastoid process bone, as well as jaw muscles can all cause this feeling and is often overlooked. If you press directly behind your ear, sometimes you can even feel some soreness or trigger points. They don’t know why this also can cause a feeling of hearing loss as well. If like you say, your whole right side is a mess, it might be worth checking the musculature in that area. Tight/tense/stressed muscles can cause all kinds of congestion. And I don’t mean congestion in your nose I mean congestion like a traffic jam.

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This is fascinating!!! I've recently discovered that pressure point behind my ear. It's painful when pressed and I can tell it's related. I'll look into this more. Thanks so much.

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@erikas

@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?

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SORRY just saw this i often get lost in the discussion rooms. His nurse is a tiger i once wrote a letter to him, went to office and she refused it. I said well I will mail it to him but never did. I think in another room here I mention that the day of his phone call for which I waited a year i had two ocular migraines at five am and six am and daughter tried to cancel his call but he didn't see it; he phoned and i explained after migraines am now getting a little confused and memory loss... he went on and on about his practice during covid and 18 patients pressuring to see him etc. and his son wanted him to see his friend on and on raising his voice and he never once asked me about my issue; after i wrote several letters in draft finally mailing the last one to him in which I , I, apologized to HIM IF I had said something out of line ... he phoned on my husbands cell week or so later, and told him why he didn't want to give me ear tubes, possible infection, then said put wife on speaker phone and then he went on again another fifteen minutes about his practice and so many clinics referring patients to him, giving him extra work but he did say to me; You taught me a lesson with your letter... but that was it; another mention about his father in Montreal and he was gone; not one time did he ask about me... I feel if i had recorded those calls i could complain to the College but what would that get me. I saw a new ent out of town and he was in hurry, rude to his staff, gave me a quick check i n my ears that have no wax or drainage... i showed him photo of thick strings of mucous twenty times a day to see if part of it.... he said for him to look in my nose i would have to go to hospital and that was it ...off he went. His report to referring clinic said for me to use nasal rinses, which i cant as makes tinnitus worse, but he said it was for crusting. Well i haven't had crusting in my nose since a child and i had shown him and told him of constant thick strings of clear wet mucous from nose for years ... he said oh thats a booger. What specialist says that! sooo.. I put up with moderate hearing loss, tinnitus night and day, musical ear and hear people commentating in background; hyperacusis and eustachian tube or inner ear pain plus some tmj... but i know it could be worse but along with other list of illnesses I have that is getting longer it does put a dampener on enjoyment of life to say the least and no help for the pain. Thoughts to everyone else with similar issues.... and hope that you have more professional drs. than i have had to see in northern ontario! J.

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I have Eustachian tube disc unction-
trying Patulend nose drops from Dr in LA. HS anyone used this and did it work .

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@rosalind308

I have Eustachian tube disc unction-
trying Patulend nose drops from Dr in LA. HS anyone used this and did it work .

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Rosalind, you'll notice I moved your post to the Ear, Nose & Throat group to this related discussion:
- Eustachian Tube Dysfunction: tube is plugged https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/ear-dysfunction/

I did this so you can read the helpful information in the previous posts and connect easily with fellow members like @lacy2 @deedubs @imallears @upartist @dkro @stites @chantellk20

Are the nose drops working for you?

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@lacy2

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 🌹🌹🌹

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p.s. the three dizzy spells i had and eyes would not focus, 2 at home and one at emerge and the on call dr. said take tylenol..long story short, it was a small stroke april 3, 2021. neurologist i spoke to in August about memory loss after ocular migraines picked up on the face my vision was sort of crossed and my left arm and leg went out to the side and i lay on floor; he ordered mri but our local machine out of service eleven weeks; anyway it wasnt until almost a year later was told it was a mild stroke.... still vivid in my memory ... i guess nothing showed on the ct scan, but did on the mri. just updating.

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I have a Cochlear implant in my right ear and a hearing aid in the left ear. I have been told that I have Meniere's. When the left ear drains my hearing with the hearing aid is very good. But when I'm experiencing a Meneries attack the hearing is muffled. This happens at different times during the year, and I'm beginning to see a pattern. I qualify for a cochlear implant for the left ear, but I wonder if there is an alternative treatment.

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I am 72 years old and have my first case of ETD. It started with an ear infection. The attending physician prescribed amoxicillan for 7 days which greatly reduced the initial ear pain but after the doses ended, I still have severe loss of hearing in that ear. My primary care doctor has now prescribed prednesone for 5 days and recommended seeing an ENT, which I have scheduled 2 weeks out. My question is: Is there a risk of long term damage if this is not attended to for 2 more weeks?

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@gliebisch01

I am 72 years old and have my first case of ETD. It started with an ear infection. The attending physician prescribed amoxicillan for 7 days which greatly reduced the initial ear pain but after the doses ended, I still have severe loss of hearing in that ear. My primary care doctor has now prescribed prednesone for 5 days and recommended seeing an ENT, which I have scheduled 2 weeks out. My question is: Is there a risk of long term damage if this is not attended to for 2 more weeks?

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I would let that ENT office know you suspect sudden sensorineural hearing loss, and get in there now. Or book an audiology appointment and get an audiogram right way, and compare it to an old one if you have one? If SSNHL is what's going on, you do need to take action now and beyond the 5 days of prednisone to contain or correct your hearing loss. It's considered an emergency with a narrow treatment window. Good luck.

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