Blocked Eustachian Tube
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Your prognosis is definitely not one of the more optimistic ones I have seen posted, Windowjob. For the benefit of others, can you please give us more info?
You say you had a mastoidectomy. Were the cells removed due to infection? Was it an infection that triggered the whole saga? You say you had no ET issues before - correct? Have you never been prone to ear infections?
Are you prone to allergies? Have you been a smoker? What was your age range when the problem started?
Did you consider Laser Eustachian Tuboplasty? You still have the blocked feeling with T-tubes fitted? Have you ever had balance issues? Did you suffer from general stress prior to the problem flairing up?
Your reply would be most helpful - Thanks in advance.
You say you had a mastoidectomy. Were the cells removed due to infection? Was it an infection that triggered the whole saga? You say you had no ET issues before - correct? Have you never been prone to ear infections?
Are you prone to allergies? Have you been a smoker? What was your age range when the problem started?
Did you consider Laser Eustachian Tuboplasty? You still have the blocked feeling with T-tubes fitted? Have you ever had balance issues? Did you suffer from general stress prior to the problem flairing up?
Your reply would be most helpful - Thanks in advance.
Last edited by WG774; 14th May 2008 at 21:44.
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BTW - one anomaly with my own condition is that I can still hear 16KHz in the affected ear...odd.
The ear that's currently affected has been gradually bunging up over a period of time, to the point where it's at now which is driving me mad. It feels as if something has gradually 'grown' in the ear, but an MRI has ruled out a nasty such as a neuroma.
The other ear is the one I've traditionally had blockages with, and it's been fine for ages and is now better than the other...
The ear that's currently affected has been gradually bunging up over a period of time, to the point where it's at now which is driving me mad. It feels as if something has gradually 'grown' in the ear, but an MRI has ruled out a nasty such as a neuroma.
The other ear is the one I've traditionally had blockages with, and it's been fine for ages and is now better than the other...
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I just got back from seeing one of the UK's top ENT surgeons and have been told that my ETs are fine and I do not have a blockage / glue ear. He reckons that my issue is an inner-ear problem. He was pretty adamant about the ETs - and it didn't take him long to decide.
So, it appears that my time as a "Google Doctor" has not paid dividends...back to square one...
Anyway, I doubt I'll be contributing much more to this thread - I do hope the links I've provided help someone.
BTW - The ENT surgeon told me that "Laser Eustachian Tuboplasty" was pretty much a scam in his opinion - unlikely to do anything except drain your bank account (I had a quote - think 5-figures Sterling...)
Take care y'all.
So, it appears that my time as a "Google Doctor" has not paid dividends...back to square one...
Anyway, I doubt I'll be contributing much more to this thread - I do hope the links I've provided help someone.
BTW - The ENT surgeon told me that "Laser Eustachian Tuboplasty" was pretty much a scam in his opinion - unlikely to do anything except drain your bank account (I had a quote - think 5-figures Sterling...)
Take care y'all.
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I wouldn't say your back to square one. Sounds like your talking to someone who knows what they are doing.
As a matter of interest did the london chamber get you in touch with the ENT person?
Its just good to know where to point mates in future if they have a problem.
As a matter of interest did the london chamber get you in touch with the ENT person?
Its just good to know where to point mates in future if they have a problem.
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It was the London Chamber who referred me to their man. He runs a private clinic in St John's Wood, London - and also does NHS work, although I'm not sure where. I wanted to get in there ASAP, so I went private.
To be honest, unless you really are in a hurry, I'd suggest getting an appointment via the NHS. The NHS has a scheme whereby you can choose your consultant. If you're in the flying game, you are within your rights to insist on being referred to the Top Noggin, on the grounds that your career depends on it.
BTW - Aside from the wait, which can be pretty arduous, I don't think going private has any benefits really. If you want the TN though, I guess you could be talking about 2 weeks versus 2-6 months though, depending on where you are. No doubt, as with anything public service-related, waiting lists are shorter in Bonnie Scotland!
BTW - Jock, I have sent you a PM.
Oh yeah, before I forget - the consultant was optimistic about the prognosis for ET problems in general when I discussed it with him - he didn't paint a doomsday scenario whatsoever. Cheap he is not though...
To be honest, unless you really are in a hurry, I'd suggest getting an appointment via the NHS. The NHS has a scheme whereby you can choose your consultant. If you're in the flying game, you are within your rights to insist on being referred to the Top Noggin, on the grounds that your career depends on it.
BTW - Aside from the wait, which can be pretty arduous, I don't think going private has any benefits really. If you want the TN though, I guess you could be talking about 2 weeks versus 2-6 months though, depending on where you are. No doubt, as with anything public service-related, waiting lists are shorter in Bonnie Scotland!
BTW - Jock, I have sent you a PM.
Oh yeah, before I forget - the consultant was optimistic about the prognosis for ET problems in general when I discussed it with him - he didn't paint a doomsday scenario whatsoever. Cheap he is not though...
Last edited by WG774; 16th May 2008 at 16:01.
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Guys....I want you all to have a look at the link below...
http://www.eardoc.info/
I ve already ordered one of this.
cheers
http://www.eardoc.info/
I ve already ordered one of this.
cheers
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WG I wouldn't abandon your search quite yet - my ETs are also "working" although they don't work well enough. The traditional pass/fail test for ET function is the valsava manouvre (AFAIK) and even though you may be able to pop your ears using this technique it doesn't necessarily mean they will work on their own as they should. So they can tell you there is nothing wrong with your tubes and you "pass" the "test". Also my guy failed to daignose fluid in the ear when it was diagnosed by the nurse at my GP practice when I had my ears syringed....I went totally deaf in one ear and she said she saw bubbles behind the drum. ENT man didn't spot that.
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no contest . . . . . . !
anycomments on the eardoc?
. . . . . . . . I know which I'd choose, and I think the MDU would back my decision 100%
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Hufty - thanks for the encouraging comments. I don't even want to get started on what the issue really is... I have theories, but I've been proven wrong so many times now...
I ordered an "Eardoc" a few weeks back, before I saw Mr Specialist. I have a strong suspicion it will find its way onto Ebay without having the packet opened...
The diagnosis treadmill is not a nice one for these kinds of conditions - ear function isn't a simple area of medicine
edit - before I get my hide tanned, I'd like to remark that no area is simple - it's just that inner-ear conditions can be particularly awkward to diagnose.
I ordered an "Eardoc" a few weeks back, before I saw Mr Specialist. I have a strong suspicion it will find its way onto Ebay without having the packet opened...
The diagnosis treadmill is not a nice one for these kinds of conditions - ear function isn't a simple area of medicine
edit - before I get my hide tanned, I'd like to remark that no area is simple - it's just that inner-ear conditions can be particularly awkward to diagnose.
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I saw one of the UK's most respected ENT Surgeons and he said the laser treatment didn't make sense and he felt it was definitely a scam.
As (Mac?) said, if a miracle treatment appears, only one person is qualified to to carry it out, and it's expensive...it's probably a ripoff...
If it's such a miracle cure, why don't they offer it at the Royal ENT Hospital in London?
I got a quote for the laser treatment btw. See quote below.
If you're a millionaire and you reckon the risks are worth it (not sure what the risks are), go for it - keep us posted!
BTW - Every other surgeon in the building is in the cosmetic field... It's not like they're based above a world-class oncology consultant and below a famous neurosurgeon...
Having said that, I don't 100% know it's a scam, I'm just repeating what I've been told... Good luck to you!
As (Mac?) said, if a miracle treatment appears, only one person is qualified to to carry it out, and it's expensive...it's probably a ripoff...
If it's such a miracle cure, why don't they offer it at the Royal ENT Hospital in London?
I got a quote for the laser treatment btw. See quote below.
If you're a millionaire and you reckon the risks are worth it (not sure what the risks are), go for it - keep us posted!
For information, the cost for a surgery is Euro 9000,- to 13000,- or Swiss Francs 15'000.- to 20'000.-, depending from what kind of surgery must be provided.
You must do a deposit of about Euro 13000,- or Swiss Francs 20'000.- before the surgery. All payments can be done in cash or through a previous bank transfer.
We dont accept credit cards or checks.
You must do a deposit of about Euro 13000,- or Swiss Francs 20'000.- before the surgery. All payments can be done in cash or through a previous bank transfer.
We dont accept credit cards or checks.
Having said that, I don't 100% know it's a scam, I'm just repeating what I've been told... Good luck to you!
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Is there anyone whos got the tubes in..and whos got good or bad experinces with them.. and if you have a medical chekup coming soon.. will it be ok if you already have the tubes in ur ear?
cheers
cheers
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Seeing as I've spent over 20 years having numerous (probably nearing 10) GPs wrongly telling me I have an ET problem, I'm in a prime position to say what I'm about to. Check out this link: http://www.tinnitus.org/home/frame/T...0go%20bump.pdf
The crux is, if you have a middle ear condition relating to tension in the various tendons (if you have a stressful or noisy lifestyle, it's not uncommon), you will get discomfort that feels very similar to an ET problem (the 2 are very close to each other) when going through pressure changes.
If you think you have an ET problem, don't take the GP's word for it: GET A TYMPANOGRAM ASAP, preferably at a time when the discomfort is recent.
(Don't be put off by the tinnitus reference - the analogy about ET issues is relevant, and you WILL get a feeling of pressure, similar to ET dysfunction, if you have a middle ear issue. Also note that a middle ear problem isn't the end of the world - early diagnosis is the key)
Middle ear blockage, not always what it seems
Behind the eardrum is an air-filled space
where three little bones conduct the sound to the cochlear or inner ear, when the eardrum vibrates. The air is replenished through the Eustachian tube every time we swallow or yawn, something most people have experienced on air flight. Many
patients come to us with a conviction that they have Eustachian tube blockage, and this will have been reinforced by professional diagnosis in the absence of any investigation. It is very easy these days to measure Eustachian function with impedance audiometry. A soft earplug placed in the outer ear connects with a device which measures the pressure behind eardrum. In over 97% of our tinnitus patients this proves to be the same as atmospheric pressure, indicating that the Eustachian tube is functioning normally. Nevertheless many patients have been
treated for Eustachian dysfunction even
though they didn't have it. Do not accept a diagnosis of persistent blocked Eustachian tube without this test.
Eustachian blockage no longer such a
common problem.
Concepts about Eustachian tube blockage, particularly in complimentary medicine, are generally very out of date, and reflect the common clinical findings in pre-antibiotic days, when chronic infection of the throat and sinuses was commonplace. In those societies where children are given regular courses of antibiotics, and live in good housing, such chronic infections are now a rarity, compared with the high prevalence of these symptoms. Consequently Eustachian dysfunction after childhood (when glue ear is common) is now rarely seen. In any case, impedance audiometry, taking some 30
seconds to perform, gives the answer
Behind the eardrum is an air-filled space
where three little bones conduct the sound to the cochlear or inner ear, when the eardrum vibrates. The air is replenished through the Eustachian tube every time we swallow or yawn, something most people have experienced on air flight. Many
patients come to us with a conviction that they have Eustachian tube blockage, and this will have been reinforced by professional diagnosis in the absence of any investigation. It is very easy these days to measure Eustachian function with impedance audiometry. A soft earplug placed in the outer ear connects with a device which measures the pressure behind eardrum. In over 97% of our tinnitus patients this proves to be the same as atmospheric pressure, indicating that the Eustachian tube is functioning normally. Nevertheless many patients have been
treated for Eustachian dysfunction even
though they didn't have it. Do not accept a diagnosis of persistent blocked Eustachian tube without this test.
Eustachian blockage no longer such a
common problem.
Concepts about Eustachian tube blockage, particularly in complimentary medicine, are generally very out of date, and reflect the common clinical findings in pre-antibiotic days, when chronic infection of the throat and sinuses was commonplace. In those societies where children are given regular courses of antibiotics, and live in good housing, such chronic infections are now a rarity, compared with the high prevalence of these symptoms. Consequently Eustachian dysfunction after childhood (when glue ear is common) is now rarely seen. In any case, impedance audiometry, taking some 30
seconds to perform, gives the answer
If you think you have an ET problem, don't take the GP's word for it: GET A TYMPANOGRAM ASAP, preferably at a time when the discomfort is recent.
(Don't be put off by the tinnitus reference - the analogy about ET issues is relevant, and you WILL get a feeling of pressure, similar to ET dysfunction, if you have a middle ear issue. Also note that a middle ear problem isn't the end of the world - early diagnosis is the key)
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I've just recovered this very interesting thread from the archive... I'd like to share with you my experience and specially WG774 tell u about my theory... that seems pretty similar to yours...
I've been flying since 2003 and this year first time in comercial ops / pressurized. I've never had problems with my ears before, even being allergic to many things. After a period very high emotional stress... i've begun to suffer from blocked ears both during climb and descent but worse during the last 5000ft of the approach... due to the bigger pressure difference, i guess.
Every ENT doctor talks about otitis media, rhinitis, sinus problem etc... but my experience is that medicines for that doesn't solve the problem. I'm in the same situation as you... but one day I started thinking about the possible relationship between tension and blocked ears. There's a lot of stuff on the internet about that but not very clear though.
One morning, when sympthoms were better (as you say), while still on the bed I started thinking about a problem I had which created me stress.. one minute later my ear was blocked. On my last days off i went to the beach... no problem with the ears... i was relaxed, but the day before starting flying my ears went blocked again.
I'm convinced there's a direct relationship between my blocked ears and tension / stress... and also because after a back and neck massage session I feel my ears unblocked sometimes inmediatelly.
Any comments on that? WG774 can you update us on your current status? I'm very interested and supporting 100% your theory about muscular relationship.
Cheers!
I've been flying since 2003 and this year first time in comercial ops / pressurized. I've never had problems with my ears before, even being allergic to many things. After a period very high emotional stress... i've begun to suffer from blocked ears both during climb and descent but worse during the last 5000ft of the approach... due to the bigger pressure difference, i guess.
Every ENT doctor talks about otitis media, rhinitis, sinus problem etc... but my experience is that medicines for that doesn't solve the problem. I'm in the same situation as you... but one day I started thinking about the possible relationship between tension and blocked ears. There's a lot of stuff on the internet about that but not very clear though.
One morning, when sympthoms were better (as you say), while still on the bed I started thinking about a problem I had which created me stress.. one minute later my ear was blocked. On my last days off i went to the beach... no problem with the ears... i was relaxed, but the day before starting flying my ears went blocked again.
I'm convinced there's a direct relationship between my blocked ears and tension / stress... and also because after a back and neck massage session I feel my ears unblocked sometimes inmediatelly.
Any comments on that? WG774 can you update us on your current status? I'm very interested and supporting 100% your theory about muscular relationship.
Cheers!
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Earpopper
Note that I am NOT a pilot and I am only posting here on the off chance that someone will be helped.
I have experienced it all with my ears. Born with a cleft palate, multiple mastoid operations and recently a total replacement of the middle ear bones with a titanium unit. I was lucky enough to have the finest ear Dr. in the world (Dr. Brackmann, House Ear Institute, LA, USA).
To make a lifelong (49 years) story short, after all of the above, my Dr. recently prescribed the earpopper device ($200 USD). This simple device has made a world of difference for my hearing and has greatly reduced the uneven pressure in my middle ear. That fullness in the ears is gone. He prescribed this because the titanium unit was not fully functional due to the inward pressure on my eardrum.
(Not a shill for the company, just a happy customer).
EarPopper - Earache, Ear pain, and Ear Pressure Relief Device
I hope it helps some of you.
I have experienced it all with my ears. Born with a cleft palate, multiple mastoid operations and recently a total replacement of the middle ear bones with a titanium unit. I was lucky enough to have the finest ear Dr. in the world (Dr. Brackmann, House Ear Institute, LA, USA).
To make a lifelong (49 years) story short, after all of the above, my Dr. recently prescribed the earpopper device ($200 USD). This simple device has made a world of difference for my hearing and has greatly reduced the uneven pressure in my middle ear. That fullness in the ears is gone. He prescribed this because the titanium unit was not fully functional due to the inward pressure on my eardrum.
(Not a shill for the company, just a happy customer).
EarPopper - Earache, Ear pain, and Ear Pressure Relief Device
I hope it helps some of you.
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KF - You and I have very similar symptoms by the sound of it. I'm no nearer a conclusive diagnosis, and am resigned to the prospect of seeing many more ENT specialists. I suspect that issues of this nature (and indeed those witnessed in other threads such as Stilton's) are fantastically difficult to diagnose, and doctors often feel that investigation causes more damage than good.
Sorry to sound pessimistic, but I suspect you *may* need to see a lot of specialists to get a conclusive diagnosis. My tip is to trust your instincts; nobody knows your body better than you. Get a holiday and see what that does.
Also, try a Google on 'TMS'. I'm not totally convinced, but I believe Sarno's theories have some truth to them in a common sense kind of way.
I'm away for a couple of weeks, so don't think I'm rude if I can't reply. Excuse typos as this is written in a hurry.
(Not Test Match Special btw)
Sorry to sound pessimistic, but I suspect you *may* need to see a lot of specialists to get a conclusive diagnosis. My tip is to trust your instincts; nobody knows your body better than you. Get a holiday and see what that does.
Also, try a Google on 'TMS'. I'm not totally convinced, but I believe Sarno's theories have some truth to them in a common sense kind of way.
I'm away for a couple of weeks, so don't think I'm rude if I can't reply. Excuse typos as this is written in a hurry.
(Not Test Match Special btw)
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Can I just say that I have suffered with blocked eustachian tubes for years. The consultant wanted to insert a grommet , which would have been only a temporary remedy if at all. I refused but later my GP suggested a Beconase type of nasal spray, using it while lying on my back. I had this trouble for about 4 months last winter but I have been using an Eardoc for the last two weeks, before a severe blockage occurs and I must say the signs are hopeful. I think it is going to work for me.
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Any thoughts on acidophilus for ETD?
I have ETD which started after I took azithromycin for a sinus infection (an antibiotic). I've been getting the same line as everyone else from the ENT - do nasal steroids and decongestants and hope it goes away eventually.
I started wondering if it could be related to some sort of yeast infection caused by the antibiotics? IF so, what if I did my nasal cleansing with a warm water solution containing some live acidophilus cultures? Has anyone thought of this? Anyone tried it? Can anyone think of a reason not to try it? The same approach has worked wonders for me for yeast infections in other areas of the body, so that's why I thought of it.
However, I'm going to try the guaifenesin first, since several of you suggested it here.
Thanks, this is a lively forum!
I started wondering if it could be related to some sort of yeast infection caused by the antibiotics? IF so, what if I did my nasal cleansing with a warm water solution containing some live acidophilus cultures? Has anyone thought of this? Anyone tried it? Can anyone think of a reason not to try it? The same approach has worked wonders for me for yeast infections in other areas of the body, so that's why I thought of it.
However, I'm going to try the guaifenesin first, since several of you suggested it here.
Thanks, this is a lively forum!
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Bearing in mind that my ETD issues have been misdiagnosed for many years by serial GPs, and that I have nothing of the sort, being told I had ETD has made me learn to exercise my ETs with various techniques. The upshot of this is that I've spent tens of hours flying in the last few weeks, without a hint of a problem or pain. My tip is to 'pop' your ears every few hundred feet in descent. I can't quite describe the technique, but I manipulate the jaw and muscles around the TM joint, without swallowing, which pops my ears. It's magic and I get no pain in the middle ear at all.
I strongly suspect there are many people with unrelated ENT conditions that are told they have ET issues... Over 5 doctors said I had ETD... Whilst others in the cabin have their faces contorted in pain, I have no discomfort at all... I guess the benefit of misdiagnosis has been learning to open my tubes at will.
I strongly suspect there are many people with unrelated ENT conditions that are told they have ET issues... Over 5 doctors said I had ETD... Whilst others in the cabin have their faces contorted in pain, I have no discomfort at all... I guess the benefit of misdiagnosis has been learning to open my tubes at will.