When I was becoming hypothyroid (not that I knew it at the time!) and for some considerable time after starting levothyroxine, I’d find driving up or down hills would very often cause my ears to pop.
This is, as we all know, a common issue in our lives, especially when flying, in lifts in very tall buildings, and when driving in very steep hilly/mountainous areas.
But I was getting it going up and down very modest hills. Sometimes more than once in fairly quick succession. And, my usual experience was that a quick swallow and all was well. But at its worst, it was actually uncomfortable. (Not painful but going a little in that direction.)
I was reminded the other day when I drove over some hills which rise to about 400 to 500 metres. And I had a tiny ear pop - cleared immediately by swelling - not enough to have even noticed except that it reminded me how it had been. Something that rarely happens nowadays - at all.
I suspect many have had this?
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helvella
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Yes, most of my life, it wasn't always a steep hill or long haul flight either...and along with other ear problems particularly childhood earache
Just behind my earlobe( usually the left) it can feel uncomfortable and swollen for a while, then it clears
A therapist told me it could be connected to the vagus nerve!!
I suspect it's related to a couple of old whiplash injuries/ RTAs that traction helped
And, I once read a paper that suggested early earache/ problems are a symptom of thyroid hormone resistance ( probably lost in the chaos that is my filing!)
I just thought it was another of my quirks until I read that....and began to think: Thyroid!
Now I'm convinced my "quirks" are actually the consequence of decades of low (cellular) T3 though I'm sure you will have investigated that possibility.
You'll not be surprised to hear me say...T3 is key!!
Oh that's really interesting, I had recurring earache as a child and young adult, at the same time I first went to the GP about being tired all the time (not normal for an 18 year old). I have a recessive DIO1 gene that means I don't convert well so no doubt this has always been an issue. I had suspected glandular fever at 15 though and everything definitely got worse for me from that point. I think like you, it's all been about low T3. Also have a fibromyalgia diagnosis I'm convinced was just low T3 (they tested my thyroid hormones and T3 was under range but TSH and T4 was in range so I wasn't under medicated as far as they were concerned and only discovered when I got my hospital records 18 months ago 🙄).
Vestibular issues are common with being hypo. Sounds a bit like Eustachian Tube Dysfunction. I get popping and clicking especially in right ear, plus I have intermittent hyperacusis, I'm very sensitive to sound in that ear, but not the left which is weird. So people talking, the hoover can be painful.
Thanks so very much for this information. I have never heard of this link before. While I have been hyper/Graves, I too suffered ever since a child with ear issues. Traveling on business was always brutal and now I know why... information is powerful. Thanks.
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What are your symptoms?
Large Goitre/ Thyroid symptoms / TSH normal. 
Hyper symptoms 
Symptoms and Weight
Low tsh, lots of symptoms!
