Please, help. Eustaquian tube obstruction instead of tinnitus?

[Mirror665]

I was almost surely diagnosed with tinnitus after seeing a couple of doctors but I'm experiencing things that make me positive I instead just have my Eustaquian tube closed either by wax or mucus from a large series of un-properly cured colds.

1. I've been having this mucus sensation in the back of my throat for months.

2. I'm told I don't have wax excess time and time again but I feel my ears closing, opening and popping either randomly by themselves or from physical things like yawning, swallowing or even my posture. When I do the blowing nose thing the right ear interior feels drastically different to the left one, don't know how describe how it sounds but it feels different, like far more "full".

3. Got tested and I don't have any hear lost even tho I've been listening to music and YT in rather unhealthy volumes. But how I perceive sounds has been changing in the last few months, sometimes I've been hearing better, sometimes a little worst.

4. The sounds have been mostly on my right ear, the left one started to feel like I could hear my pulse or something (as in the right one), but stopped last night while doing exercises I've learnt are good to open the Eustaquian tube.

5. The ringing in the right ear continued, accompanied by the pulse thing, but it fluctuates either randomly or by doing this exercises. It doesn't go away but sometimes I hear different things, sometimes one more than the other, sometimes it's just my pulse.

6. The ringing feels always like something it's not properly draining, like a blowing thing, like my pulse. It "trembles", it doesn't feel like one static. It feels like it's related to my pulse somehow.

7. Both yesterday at night, and the night before that, for about 30 minutes it felt like literal air was coming out of my right ear. Not like a feeling infused by the sounds I was hearing. It felt like literal air, a very little stream.

8. I got told to use a nasal spray one of the first times I got to the doctors. Even tho I ended up thinking I definitely had tinnitus I've been using it for a couple of days. Yesterday night the ringing felt worst until I used it and started to do the exercises for the Eustaquian tube. Again, the pulse on the left one stopped completely, the pulse and the ringing on the right one remain but got significantly better.

So, my question is... Could I have chronic tinnitus nonetheless, or should/could the proper opening of my right Eustaquian tube make it go away? I think it could be both, but the sounds either changed or felt so significantly better after doing those exercises. Am I unto something?

[Sassyjax1]

Hi, i’m very new to tinnitus - coming up to 5 weeks, how long have you been having the popping/clicking symptoms? My left ear feels very full and pops if I swallow or blow my nose. My tinnitus is sudden onset.

[Happyrosie]

I get the popping etc - and I’m going on a flight tomorrow so that’s going to be increasing! I don’t know why I get the popping other than differences of air pressure. My ears aren’t blocked - though the popping increases when they ARE blocked, as happens gradually. I get them suctioned about once every 12 to 15 months.

For me, this is. I thing to do with the tinnitus, which has its own mind. Yesterday the tinnitus was almost invisible (so as to speak) but because I’m writing this it’s very loud.

My conclusion is: you have tinnitus, it might go away on its own or it might not.

Full help on the Tinnitus UK website.

[AgedCrone]

Have you tried inhaling? Either with just hot water steam, or adding something like menthol & eucalyptus to the hot water?

That will often clear Eustachian tubes……..of course if your problem is tinnitus it probably won’t help…….but as you don’t yet have a diagnosis…it might be worth a try?

[Philip6]

Hello, there a device called an Otovent that is for clearing the Eustachian tubes, it’s basically a balloon that you blow up with your nose, it also removes fluid from the inner ear. You could ask your Dr about it, mine prescribed one for me, or you can just buy one from Amazon. They aren’t expensive, it might help.

[Jolyn in reply to Philip6]

Do they work Philip, I was prescribed that too but haven’t tried it yet.

[Philip6 in reply to Jolyn]

Yes, it does work, it’s a little tricky to use at first but you soon get the hang of it. I think I used it twice a day for two weeks. It will say in the instructions. It’s a bit like holding your nose and puffing air into your ears but probably safer.

[PABLR]

Just because you have blocked Eustachian tubes doesn’t mean you don’t have tinnitus, although it may provide a cause for it. Tinnitus by definition is the subjective hearing of sounds in your ears so you have it. If you can get your tubes cleared the tinnitus might go away. If you can afford to go privately I would get another opinion and maybe some other treatment options if you’re only getting temporary relief with what you’re doing now.

[norcar]

I have tinnitus in the right side with a feeling of fullness in the ear (over 4 months now). I am told that there is nothing in the ear by GP but can't help thinking there is (he didn't look). Before that the ENT specialist said my ears were fine with no inflammation. However, I wonder whether it is adult glue ear (like in children but a lot less common). I feel that if I could get the ear unblocked it might affect the tinnitus. I am due to see an audiologist in a week and will try to get more info on adult glue ear. I know you can get the eustachian tube stretched or get grommets. Sometimes I get a momentary feeling that something drains which does help the tinnitus. I reported that I started a nasal spray (fluticasone) that co-incided with a draining feeling. Since then, nothing. I also started taking mirtazipine for sleep and mood (v. depressed about it). I can report that I now sleep well (especially with alcohol) - 4 nights running and the depression is lifting gradually.

[Dorsetwandering]

I'd recommend getting another opinion if you can. I had two Dr's and several nurses tell me I had blocked tubes after sudden pain and tinnitus. I kept fighting for an ENT appointment and was eventually diagnosed with Choclear Hydrops. By then I'd lost about 40% of my hearing and now have continuous T. He said its always misdiagnosed because Dr's don't know what it is. Early diagnosis and steroids could have saved my hearing. Good luck x

[Foxbat2]

Glad you’ve found some relief, would you mind sharing your Eustaquian tube exercises.

[Destructor]

Hi, look up pulsatile tinnitus (PT). Not all ENTs are aware of it. I have pulsing in my right ear but also occasionally get normal higher pitched temporary tinnitus in both ears. My PTs been on since 2019 after a stressful period. Prior to that I had glue-ear and was prescribed a nasal spray - I believe this didn't help. I also had popping and clicking and pressure related issues originally, less so now but things were constantly changing for over 1 year. Occasionally now I get less loud PT but if I push things too much and stay up late it makes my sound very loud. In turn this affects good sleep more which makes things worse and takes even longer to get things under control. Other things that affect my PT are loud noises like lawnmowers, propane bird scarers, dogs barking, planes, DIY etc, no doubt due to hyperacusis. I too have been told my hearing is perfect (or in line with other people my age), although I'm sure that it's slightly affected and often have to use subtitles when watching things. I'm also sure that my TMD/J that I've had for years does affect things and when having chiropractor treatment to my neck and jaw my PT often is affected immediately afterwards. Often I get changes in pressure. Other than having a thinner skull in my right side where then vein both narrows and then gets bigger by my inner ear nothing else has been diagnosed (by Dr Axon at Cambridge hospital who specialises in PT). I still occasionally get pressure changes with bumpy roads etc and I often find this reduces my PT.In a nut shell your tinnitus will most likely change over time as well as symptoms. Try not to concentrate on it. Research PT as it will explain your pulsing but may be separate to normal tinnitus. I would personally avoid suction to clean your ears as this is likely to create a difference in pressure and I've read that a lot of people have had issues and tinnitus start after having this done. You can clean ears with ear buds (which i occasionally do but very carefully around the outer part of the canal) *but not compacting wax, also using warm olive oil over a matter of weeks - it takes time but is far safer.

Sleep is the main issue as during the day there's more distracting sounds about. It's taken over a year to gain any 'normality' and be able to work and I still struggle badly with this but strict routine has helped I.e. not staying up too late at night etc.

Hopefully some of this helps.

[Jolyn in reply to Destructor]

I have the same problems tinnitus/hyperacusis. It’s a difficult combination isn’t it.

[gbn_]

Hello Mirror665. I suffer with tinnitus for about 9 years now, but lately have been dealing with a blocked left ear, been trying to sort of un-block it for a while now, I've been driving up and down mountain roads around here, chewing gum, yawning, etc., but still have it. It's causing anxiety issues for me, it's very annoying having blocked sensation. I must have seen doctor 3 times already for issue within 2 months, the doctor looked inside and said it looks like fluid th the ear, I have on-going sinus issues also. Seems to have started when I got a bit of water in the ear from showering, doctor said seeing ENT would be good. Finally made an appointment with one, but earliest isn't until late June. I have no idea what to expect, I've never seen an ENT before, sometimes it seems that the ear fullness is like hearing in a fishbowl sort of. I'm hopeing it goes away, but looking for ways to maybe deal with the issue and to try to get my ear to pop.

[Jolyn in reply to gbn_]

Have you listened to Austin Goh on YouTube, he has some good advice for blocked eustachian tubes. 😊

[gbn_ in reply to Jolyn]

Hi Jolyn. I've been watching quite a few on YouTube. Saw ENT yesterday, ordered cat scan. He looked in my ears which appeared to look normal, now it seems more of a sinus issue, currently taking an antibiotic, waiting to see what the scan will reveal, first appointment with ENT was too long of a wait for me, found one who made appointment much sooner, hoping all gets resolved.

[Jolyn]

Would you mind sharing the exercises with us, I have the same.

[Jolyn]

Hope you get some positive results. 🙏🏻