Blocked eustachian tube advice: It's been a... - Tinnitus UK

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Blocked eustachian tube advice

It's been a while since I posted on the forum as I have been coping reasonably well with my very unpredictable tinnitus. However, I have developed a new complication which is almost worse than tinnitus if that's possible and it is driving me mad, so once again, I am turning to members for advice. Last year, I had fluid in the middle ear which would not drain and a blocked eustachian tube was diagnosed. I was prescribed a nasal spray and after a few weeks, the blockage seemed to clear. Late December, the blockage was back and the practice nurse prescribed a stronger spray. It cleared again but in the last few weeks, it has become much worse and the spray is ineffective. This sounds weird, but if I tap my head it sounds hollow and every movement of my jaw moving when eating is amplified as is my own voice when speaking. Stick a finger in each ear and speak and you'll get an idea what it's like. I called my GP and she explained it was all to do with an imbalance of pressure, due to the blocked eustachian tube. Other than prescribing yet another nasal spray, she said the only other treatment option was to have a grommet fitted. I know from posts on here, grommets can both cause and worsen tinnitus and that's the last thing I need! So far, I have tried a facial steamer, facial exercises and massage but nothing seems to clear it, so does anybody have any advice as to what might be effective. I hope you are all keeping well in these difficult times and look forward to hearing from some of you soon.

Best wishes

Jimmuck

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11 Replies

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Lilly2005 years ago

Hi Jimmy

So sorry to hear about the problems your having, I completely understand what you are going through. I've had blocked eustachian tubes after a sinus infection 18 months ago, nothing has helped mine.

If I get any kind of infection my left ear buzzes and kind of vibrates, I can feel it as well as hear it, it's awful.

I think you have this..

Patulous Eustachian tube (PET) is the name of a physical disorder where theEustachian tube, which is normally closed, instead stays intermittently open. When this occurs, the person experiences autophony, the hearing of self-generated sounds.

Steroid sprays apparently make this condition worse and a saline solution is recommended instead.

Your GP should have known what you have described, I recommend seeing another.

It does says PET goes away on it's own so I wouldn't worry too much.

Can I please ask what spray cured your ETD?

I do hope you get sorted, good luck and please keep us updated.

Jimmuck• in reply toLilly2005 years ago

Hi Lilly and thank you so much for your reply. Last year, I had an issue with an inflamed ear canal and ear ache. My GP could see a blockage and referred me to ENT for microsuction. As an interim treatment, she prescribed an ear spray and a saline nasal spray which helped. The NHS waiting list was nearly 3 months so I went private and had the microsuction done at a local clinic. They removed a huge and I mean huge lump of wax and a couple of weeks later, I could feel fluid behind the ear drum, so I went back, They examined me but couldn't see anything so I went back to my GP. I was prescribed another nasal spray but it did nothing this time so fast forward to two weeks ago and I called the doc again,. Due to Covid restrictions, it was a telephone appointment without examination and this time I was prescribed another nasal spray, Mometasone Furoate. To cut a long story short, I was told to use it twice a day rather than just once and one evening, after using it, I felt something draining slowly down the back of my throat and the following morning, my ear was back to normal. However, after a couple of days, it came back and now it seems to be worse! In between using the spray, I had also been using a facial steamer and doing facial massage so

I don't know which was most effective, perhaps a combination of all three!

If I press just in front of the ear hole, I can hear something swooshing about and I am sure I can hear the ET opening and closing. Another odd thing is I have started having nose bleeds which is a bit disconcerting, so I think I will revert to a simple saline nasal spray and see if that works better. I hope you're right about this being PET as this is driving me mad. Again, many thanks for taking the time to reply and my apologies for making this response long winded!

1Dar5 years ago

Hi Jimmuck sorry to hear about what you are going through , 4 years ago I had a blocked Eustachian tube and had a grommet put in ... the worst thing I could have done . I woke up with shocking tinnitus and 4 years later, 7 operations on my ear I am on my second cochlear implant . I now have severe pain in my right ear, tinnitus, hyperacusis, and awful anxiety. After each operation I thought this would help , only to discover it made things a lot worse. I’ve just applied for CBD oil but it’s hard to get in Australia. Feel free to private message me if you want more information. Good luck, but don’t get the grommet unless you have to, I wish I had done my research! Jenny 🌞

Jimmuck• in reply to1Dar5 years ago

Hi Jenny,

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly and for confirming my suspicion that having a grommet fitted would not be a good solution. Tinnitus alone, is a cruel enough affliction without all the other complications you have endured and you must be a very strong willed person to have come through all that. I tried vaping CBD oil when my tinnitus first started and I also tried taking it orally but to be honest, it did nothing for me. I suspect it was too low a concentration but if I could get a stronger variety, I would try it again as I am convinced it would be of huge benefit. Thanks again for your reply and please let me know how you get on. Best wishes.

Jimmuck