Eustachian Tube Dysfunction :: Information, Symptoms And Treatment / Cure
Dec 28, 2014
As far as I know, there is not ETD cure, yet. I am interested in finding one. I am a Caucasian 34 year old man living in Santa Clara, CA. I have a BA in Psychology and work in a Neuroscience Lab. I was diagnosed with ETD a year ago. I have been suffering from it for 17 years. 13 years ago I had a bought of Bulimia that lasted for about a year. I had Anorexia Nervosa as an adolescent. I was given the maximum dose of testosterone to boost me through puberty since Anorexia was preventing it. Soon after I abused alcohol, marijuana, tobacco, and various other drugs until 2005. I believe all these factors have contributed to my ETD. I was diagnosed with OCD and Generalized Anxiety Disorder two years ago and have been taking Effexor (Venlafaxine) to cope. An Ear, Nose, Throat doctor (currently called Head and Neck surgeon in US) prescribed me Flunisolide (corticosteroid) to reduce ETD inflammation. It seems to help a little, but it is certainly not a cure, even when used for a significant period of time (i.e. 3 weeks).
My ETD has been recently aggravated by my attempts to remove pimples and skin tags, which may be a symptom of OCD. Has anyone else experienced this situation? Numerous doctors say there is no connection between the skin abrasions and ETD, but they obviously don't have ETD.
Primarily, I am asking for information regarding ETD. I need to know the statistics of ETD so that I can develop a valid research proposal. Health organizations neglect to respond to my questions. It seems that most biological research is involved in diseases such as cancer and heart disease, which is great. But, as I am sure that anyone reading this knows, Eustachian Tube Dysfunction is a debilitating disease that hinders one's ability to live to their fullest potential. As I have recently graduated with a Bachelors degree. I am researching what my next step will be. I am strongly leaning towards statistics and data mining, since that is a much needed position in all research fields.
I am looking for information on the number of people with ETD worldwide and specific to certain regions. A timeline of ETD cases in these regions. Research groups, Academic and Professional, that are researching ETD. Research groups that are investigating ETD from the Neuroscience and/or Ear, Nose, Throat (Head and Neck surgery) perspective. Any other information is helpful as well, especially your own personal accounts of ETD. Please share your history, as much as you care to disclose, so that I can begin to develop an etiology of ETD.
I have read many of the other discussions on ETD and recognize that many of you are suffering and I certainly empathize with you all. I am still trying to decide if my anxiety disorders are the result of ETD, my ETD the result of my anxiety disorders, if they are mutually intertwined, and/or if something else is going on. I very much hope to hear from you so that we may begin to develop a cure for ETD so that we may not be hindered by this ruthless malfunction.
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This started around late November 2013, I started getting my normal Winter allergies and then came down with what I now believe was a sinus infection. Non-stop mucus, post nasal drip, face hurting, head throbbing etc.. This lasted for about two weeks. During the end of this and soon after, my ears slowly became more and more congested. I attested it to these allergies/sickness and thought it would slowly go away.
It never did. Instead, it started getting worse. Towards mid-December, I began to get slight ringing and more fullness in my ears. Soon the tinnitus grew worse and worse. My tinnitus during this point was extremely loud high-pitched noises, sweeping in and out. Coupled with 24/7 hiss, like an air conditioner was on in my room. Can't hear high frequencies anymore. A loud tea kettle-esque whistle in my right ear if I hear something of a certain pitch or something too "loud."
I saw my primary care doctor on two separate occasions, who said he saw a little liquid in my ear but that my eardrums appeared fine. He gave me Prednisone. No help. I got recommended to the Head and Neck specialist.
The first specialist I see, he doesn't really care to listen to me to say the least. He does get me a hearing test within a few days though. The hearing test shows a curve that they say can be attested to sensorineural hearing loss that someone my age (23) shouldn't have, and that since my hearing dropped with the timeliness of my sickness, that it was odd.
I see a different specialist next trip. He attests it to allergies and says that my eustachian tubes seem to be blocked up. He looks in my ears, up my sinuses, etc.. He recommends I just use a sinus rinse and to not get my ears drained because that will probably make things a lot worse.
I began to do so for the next week or two, and my symptoms did not seem to change at all. I had already been taking flonase and allergy medication as well, to not much help for my ears.
Lastly, I saw another specialist about a week or two ago. He told me that my hearing test showed what he typically would cite as congenital hearing loss, and kept implying that I had been born with bad hearing (That's definitely not the case, this has been a HUGE shift!) He had me do bloodwork for environmental allergies and other tests and a CT scan. I also asked for antibiotics just to rule things out- those have been used up now.
To say the least, I had to call back a few times as a follow-up. They didn't even bother to get in touch for my results, and all I learned was that I did have mild allergies (something I've known my whole life) and that the CT scan was "fine." I ordered those results to be sent to me to see for myself, but either way I guess he hasn't much interest in seeing me again. Do I see ANOTHER specialist now?
Right now, my tinnitus is not as bad as it was then (I could barely sleep then) but still extremely irritating. The tinnitus is still like that of an air conditioner, and there is still a constant ring that goes on, although it is a bit quieter than before. My hearing is still congested and full, and I can hardly hear someone talk a few feet away from me, I'm afraid my hearing may be permanently damaged or getting worse. I can no longer hear certain frequencies. Sometimes I feel like there is liquid in my ear, but maybe not. Wouldn't the CT scan or other ear examinations show that? Is this actually ETD?
I've done all the advice shown around (Proper Flonase spray to the tubes, Sudafed, (extremely careful) Afrin use, etc. I feel like I'm not getting better. My passion is music and I'm afraid I'll never be able to hear things "right" again.
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I am a teenager,aged 15. I have been suffering from problems with my eustachian tube for 2 years now. I felt thumping,buzzing,vibrations come from within my ear-but at the same time I felt the symptoms to DEEPER into my ear. It has created some headaches and I have to pause between conversations to attempt to unblock my ear.
However,nowadays I cannot unblock my ear properly. The 'stuffed-up' feeling I get has gone even DEEPER. I got an okay in many audiometry tests (PTA tests) and I got a weird thing that sucked out all the mucus in my throat a good 2 TIMES.
The doctor says it will go within time. I've had for 2 YEARS already, It would be terrible to go on like this without being able to swallows properly! Yes,one of my symptoms is the inability to swallow properly without the pressure building up where my tube is at-it makes me go light-headed and faint sometimes.I've tried taking nasal sprays,but they were hell as the steroids made my adenoids act up and swell (but my adenoids are okay now).One point to add,I have only got a deficiency in Vitamin D and I have no thyroid deficiency.
A few questions:
1: Does any UK hospital or the NHS have a cure/treatment to this?
2: Is it normal for teenagers to have ETD for a long period of time such as 2 years?
3: Do home remedies work,like the Candle Ear treatment? I've tried steam treatment but it doesn't work.
Please give some suggestions, It's truly uncomfortable getting out into the cold or out into the hot with such a feeling of 'stuffiness'.
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I have been reading the boards about ETD and all the other potential causes of my ear problems for the last 6 months and am still without a clue what is causing my particular issue.
The story is long and like so many others on these boards also very frustrating. In March I was diagnosed with and inner ear virus as I was dizzy, foggy headed and had a slight sensation of fullness in my left ear (all occurred less than 24 hours after a 3 hour flight). This lasted for 3 weeks at the end of the three weeks all symptoms subsided except for the constant need to "pop" my ears. This lasted 4 days and was gone.
For 3 weeks I was symptom free, I had to take another flight which went off without any problems. For days after the flight I had spells of dizziness and on day 7 after the flight hear came the ear fullness and need to "pop" my ears.
Went back to the ENT and was told I have ETD and will resolve....6 months, 4 ENT's and an Allergist later my ears still feel pressurized. I have mad improvement over the months and instead of having to "pop" my ear 1 million times a day I am down to maybe a half a dozen.
My major concerns are:
While driving my ears bother me the most I feel increased pressure instantly no matter if the windows are open or closed.
Also I have post nasal drip MD diagnosed with non allergic rhinitis, never had that prior to the dizziness and ear issues.
ENT and others say it will go away it just takes time, I have not read of anyone's ETD going away on this board and feel like I can not live with this forever!
What are your opinions: will it resolve over time are we stuck with this forever?
I have been on oral and nasal steroid no significant improvement, I am doing acupuncture and seeing a chiropractor. I am negative for any allergies and my MRI came back negative.
The next step is tubes which they say can help in 50% of case and may make it worse in the other 50%, as much as I want this to go away I can not even take the chance of making it worse.
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This started a week ago at night I started getting ringing sensation in both my ears which persisted that night and wouldn't let me sleep went to the Ent department and got diagnosed as eustachian tube blockage as I had popping of ears and had to constantly swallow so that the ears feel better had a Pure tone audiometry done which should no hearing loss then had a tympanometry which showed a bit increase in the middle ear pressure got prescribed with antihistamine and antibiotics any idea when the tinnitus goes it has decreased to an extent it doesn't disturb but if I close my ears I can hear it anyone experienced the same?
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I have recently been diagnosed with Meniere's disease because I had a few vertigo attacks, hearing loss, tinnitus, and ear fullness.
However, after much thought I am beginning to doubt that diagnosis. My ETD had been blocked for exactly the same time my symptoms appeared, I know that easily through the valsalva maneuver, my good ear is clear and bad one is blocked. Also, my bad ear does not pop properly after a flight. And my most severe symptoms happen within a few days after flying, which happened twice. I was vertigo free for 6 weeks in between the 2 flights. Another weird thing is I only get vertigo attacks in the morning right after I wake up, as if my horizontal sleeping position had something to do with it.
My questions:
1) Is it possible with ETD to get vertigo (room spinning) or severe dizziness attacks lasting up to a couple of hours?
2) Do any of you ETD sufferers sense that you get more dizzy after you get up from bed?
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I’m trying to find any information about Hedge apple use for treating cancer patients. So far it's really hard to decide whether to try this or not mainly because most information I found were more focused on discussing if you can eat the plant or not, then on the issue of it being used for treating cancer. Basically it seems like it wouldn't do any harm to try this, but I don't know how long or even how should Hedge apple be used for cancer treatment. Some people say they just eat it, but also, I didn't see any rel info on how effective this plant be in either preventing remissions (which I hope), or cancer.
Please, if anyone has any info on Hedge apple use for cancer treatment, especially breast cancer treatment, share.
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I and other volunteers see a lot of posts regarding symptoms after an exposure. Some are minor such as a rash or a swollen node to "HIV like" such as a cluster of fever, sore throat, sores and body aches. Keep this in mind that as humans we are covered or exposed to germs, common viruses, and fungus which we all carry. This is called the "the biome" which is the invisible part of our environment. When we have sexual contact with somebody or their body fluids we expose each other to these organisms and our body reacts accordingly to fend off these invaders sometimes making us feel ill or display manifestations of symptoms. Stress and anxiety post exposure contribute to this since chronic stress decreases the immune system and makes us more susceptible to common infections. But what about the rashes? One may ask. Stress and anxiety causes the "fight or flight" response in our bodies causing release of cortisol which causes itchy rashes on the skin. Cortisol rashes are also called "hives" can be be similar to rashes found in STDs and can be frightening when they occur, (Ive been there). Allergic reactions also play a part. Also, sometimes the timing of exposure and illness is purely coincedental. Finally, if you have had a high risk exposure- when in doubt, test out.
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Ok, so I recently turned 30 and just had my very first hemorrhoid trouble ever. First it was just internal bathroom bleeding, then I got this weird "skin tag" near by butthole, then the external pillow of doom appeared and all the horrible itching began. That was about 2 weeks ago. I don't have insurance so couldn't see a doctor, just researched online a lot and got some prep h suppositories. I used those butt bullets for a couple days but on day 2, I started to feel super nauseous after insertion. Don't know if it was the prep h or something else, I was sick that week so might have been unrelated but either way, had to use the bathroom right after insertion and lost it anyway.
Rather than trying to put another one in there, I decided to just clean myself with baby wipes as I'd gotten used to doing and instead grabbed some castor oil (that I'd been using to hopefully clear up some old acne scars on my face - it's the organic health food store oil, not the constipation drugstore oil). I added a squirt of sesame oil (that I'd bought to try that oil pulling thing before switching to coconut oil, recently started getting pretty holistic with the healthy stuff). Anyway, so I smeared that stuff all over my inner bum, figured it'd at least keep things from chafing and maybe cool down the discomfort. I reapplied once more before bed and the next day the hemorrhoid was about half as big as the day before. I was completely shocked! So I continued to apply after cleaning the area, did it maybe 3 times that next day and by that night it was even smaller. This is my 4th day using castor and sesame oil and the pillow is still there but just barely - it's not hanging out of my butt anymore, just sort of lining the hole-rim.. so now when I apply, I dip my finger inside just a tiny bit to make sure I'm still smothering the thing all over (I know, I'm graphic AND long winded, but if this helps anyone else it'll be worth it). I have zero discomfort, can't even tell it's there when I'm not applying the oil. There's a chance it could just be a coincidence and it would have gone down on it's own by now anyway, but I know I'll be reaching right for the oil again if it ever flares back up. If this really is what's curing it, I gotta spread the word and I hope you do too!
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Many people have told me there is a cure but professionals like doctors and my rheumatologist have said there is not the trouble is they say they don't actually know what the cause is as everyone is different so how can you cure what you don't know i have been researching into other professionals theories and run them but my rhuematologist and psychologist and they have said that they don't believe there is a cure yet and i have spoken to a specialist who has been researching fibro for over 40 years now and he said there is not a cure yet i have heard so many comments on this and was wondering what others thought on this subject and how many people think it's true or false
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I am 65, Male and take since years daily 1 Co Aprovel 150/12,5 mg tablet and 1 Cardura 4mg. Because I have during sexual activities penis erection disfunction. Can no more get easy hard and can't hold erection after cum. Some one recommend me to make a Cialis treatment with 5 mg every day. Can Cialis 5mg Treatment be used together with the other two medications.
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Since last three month I am suffering from Tinnitus – sound like pressure cooker whistling/ summer insect sound coming out constantly and loudly from my Right ear. I have no idea of actual reason of my present symptom of Tinnitus
2. Location of symptom - In right ear
3. What first started it off - May be after a cold and cough infection
4. When it's worse = in evening and night.
5. When it feels better = in day time.
6. My sleep pattern and details of any recurring dreams – Before suffering from Tinnitus I have silent sleep without any disturbance. As about dreams some time I saw flood water dream otherwise no issues.
7. What I am sensitive to – Heat, I don’t like summer temperature.
8. My state of mind – I am not an angry man, normal behavior can work in cold mind and can handle a situation by my brain without confusing (fears, anxieties, attitudes, moods, etc)
9. Any desires or aversions for particular foods, - like sweet items.
10. Details of any major diseases suffered in past – In fact I have normal body and health. I have not suffered any diseases. Oh yea, in 1994 I have small pox.
11. Details of any reactions to other medicines taken.- I have taken some homeopathic medicines of 200c power without guidance’s of a doctor, the medicines were published in a local news paper for acidity. I have a doubt that after taking those medicines without proper advice, tinnitus has attacked me. I consulted ENT specialist, took antibiotic and medicines, but no result.
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I'm 45 Been having irregular periods for 2 years but lately I've been bleeding heavy for the past 6 weeks with only 2 short breaks . My GP fast tracked me to see a gynaecologist for a hystography ( I think that's what it was called). And a scan interna. Which detected fibroids don't know how many just that they are the size of smarties!
My stomach is huge and I feel so depressed and tired and have done for a long time. I'm going to go to GP and have it all explained. Trouble is I get married in November and my wedding dress is too tight because if the big tummy . I really need to go back to work tomorrow but I have no energy. Glad I'm not going through this alone as at the moment I feel like a freak!
And I have the other joys of needing tena pads and laxatives!
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Anyone on here been diagnosed with ibs as well as ulcerative colitis? I have been getting daily abdo pains and doc thinks I have Ibs alongside
uc which hopefully is in remission! Sometimes food relieves pain and sometimes a bm stops the pain but I cannot pin down any reason for the pains. I have been prescribed Mebeverine 135 but so far hasn't stopped pains. Would be pleased to hear from anyone else with IBS and UC and what their symptoms/ treatment are?
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Has anyone had yeast infection during their pregnancy? What are the symptoms? And what helps cure/prevent it?
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For the last couple of days I have been extremely itchy. The itching is mainly towards the bum and at the vaginal opening. I do
have a white patch at the vaginal opening but towards bum it is mostly red and feels bumpy. The itching is keeping me awake at night. I take baking soda baths, apply coconut oil and have a cream made up of 3% steroid and canes tan . I am not on clob. Or Dermovate. So questions
What else can help the itching?
When LS is under control do symptoms stay away for a day, a week, or a month?
I was diagnosed in Oct 2015 and have issues almost everyday since when I have a day when I feel 'normal'. I could sing, fly jump with joy for the relief
Does clob help the itch?
Does LS spread more if it's not treated?
if it is treated will it stay more in one area.
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I have one blocked tube ( my right one ) which my doctor thinks is due to having a ruptured appendix. I have been to fertility clinic today and the doc has put me on the waiting list for a lap to remove the right blocked tube. I am not sure how this will help? I have never fallen pregnant and I have been trying for 3 years ? Why would removing the blocked tube help? I cannot receive IVF as my partner already has a child with his ex, so apparently that means i'm not entitled. I really need some answers i'm really pulling my hair out and I am so frustrated.
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I'm looking for advice. My 60 year old father (who has had HCV for more than 10 years; previously treated with Interferon but bad side effects) finished his 12 week Sofosbuvir+Daclatasvir (considered same as Harvoni) treatment a month ago. Already first tests after 2 weeks showed virus was Undetected, but yesterday he received his most recent results and he has a relapse of the virus. He is genotype 1, fibroscan result 4 (close to final stage). He is based in Poland and I'm not sure if our doctors are fully informed of the new generation medications and HCV itself.
Is anyone able to give us any advice? We are pretty desperate and my dad is just so depressed as he thought he finally got rid of the virus (he got infected while on an operation in a public hospital) and now it is back...
Are there any specialists that you are aware of I could possibly get in contact with?
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A few weeks ago my bf noticed some bumps in his pubic area. He went to the dermatologist and was diagnosed with molluscum contagiosum, which is thankfully not that big of a deal! He got his treated with cryotherapy. Around this time I noticed a few bumps and because of the area they were in, went to an OBGYN for treatment so my bf and I don't keep spreading it to each other. The OB GYN agreed that they were also MC bumps and lightly scraped each one, then applied an acid treatment. That was a few days ago and while the bumps are mostly gone, the skin surrounding each one is dark and almost looks like a scab in color. Is this normal post acid treatment?
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Does anyone here relapse after harvoni treatment?
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I wanted to know how can I get pregnant if I already have the tube ligation burnt procedure.
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