help with blocked ears

[Lakeshiker]

hi evertone

I started with T July 2023 and over the last year it’s got progressively worse. I’ve started to habilitate a couple of time where I was not hearing it for odd times (but not many) but it seems to keep getting worse. My sensitivity to sound is pretty much every sound, which is causing my anxiety to go through the roof. I have seen an ENT consultant a couple of times due to ear issues and had an MRI in September 2023, which came back clear. Each ENT consultant has said something different 🤷🏻‍♀️ But I seem to have ongoing issues with my ears, which I never had before T. At the minute my ears are blocked again, itchy and sore, it feel like something is crawling about in my ear. My hear keeps going funny, it’s very worrisome. My chest is congested and my tongue is white. The doctor gave me Nystan for oral thrush and I’ve been trying bronchio stop for my chest. For anxiety the doctor said try Trazodone, which I’ve been on for 2 weeks. My T is so loud I can’t hear anything else 😢 I’ve been using olive oil as the doctor said for wax build up. I can’t pop my ears at all. I’m on HRT as well, which I was on before T. No one knows what caused my T but I did bang my head hiking and the T started 4 weeks later. But I had blocked ears at the time. I feel like the ongoing issue with my ears is caused the loudness a bit. I’ve had an allergy test and it came back clear so I’m trying to figure out why my ears are blocked. Could anyone advise what they did for ear issues as I need to get on top of it and get them cleared and keep them cleared. My T today sound like a high pitched swam of bees in the ears and head, it’s just awful, and when I go out it just gets louder.

some advice would be very very much appreciated. Sorry for long post. Please help.

regards xx

[Happyrosie]

this forum can certainly give you sympathy and advice on tinnitus, but from what you say the tinnitus is a symptom of something within your ears.

Have a look at the website of Tinnitus UK which might give some signposting to what is going on, or give their helpline a ring.

[Fridays_Child_62]

You say you've seen ENT specialists but don't mention what they disgnosed. I'm not a medical expert but my understanding is the feeling of blocked ears could come from wax, eustachian tube dysfunction or possibly a tensing of the ear muscles. For wax build-up, I find that olive oil and other commercially available drops can make the ears feel even more clogged - I use a water-based product called Audiclean three times per week which seems to be gentler. But of it's not wax, have you tried applying warmth around your ears to see if it eases the blocked feeling? Also, have you tried a nasal spray for blocked eustachian tubes?

[Lakeshiker in reply to Fridays_Child_62]

I saw an audiologist yesterday and he did a test to see how my ears responded to noise and said it was ok and therefore I don’t have ETD. He checked my ears and said there’s lots of wax but not fully blocked. The first ENT consultant said everything was fine and that was before my T became reactive and so bad, I was dealing my it ok as well. The second ENT consultant said I had ETD. The third one said I didn’t have ETD but thought I had TMJ and neck tension issues. All said my hearing was great up to 8000. Im suppose to be getting my ears syringed on Sunday to clear the wax. I think olive oil drops have made my ears more blocked, I’ll try the water based product see if that helps ☺️

[lifeseeker]

I have same symptoms. You may have hyperacusis and reactive Tinnitus. Majority of people with hyperacusis have blocked ear feels. Time should heal it. Need to very patient. Good luck

[Lakeshiker in reply to lifeseeker]

I think I have alot of neck tension and a bit of TMJ from clenching my teeth. Do you use ear protection every day or just get on with it? Would be good to know as I don’t know anyone with reactive tinnitus and hyperacusis. I know people with tinnitus but it’s normal and can mask it using sound. I find that hard, especially at night as it’s so reactive.

[lifeseeker in reply to Lakeshiker]

I try not to use ear protection but it means im housebound. I can just go for walks.

[Lakeshiker in reply to lifeseeker]

Ok thanks. I don’t stay in and around alot of normal everyday sounds but it still reacts and it’s a nightmare. Wonder if it makes it worse 🤔

[lifeseeker in reply to Lakeshiker]

If I go to a restaurant the T gets very loud (the reactive tone) and it all feels loud. So not enjoyable. My family have all been going to things recently but I couldn't, it just makes my T worse (its already at a high level) . Are you housebound as well?

[Lakeshiker in reply to lifeseeker]

No I go out. I find it hard staying in listening to how loud my T is. My anxiety is bad. How do you manage staying in? Mine reacts to the tv and music, hoover, kettle, washer, drier, shower fan, log burner, fridge, you name it and mine reacts. It’s a nightmare 😢

[lifeseeker]

Its hard, as I cant mask my T, it makes it worse, if these household sounds make yours worse, how do you manage to go out, doesnt a coffee machine make yours worse in a cafe, or traffic?

[Lakeshiker in reply to lifeseeker]

I struggle alot. I’m off work sick because of it. I have dogs so have to walk them and need food and stuff so have to go out. I just suffer but what else can I do. If I clench my teeth my right ear tinnitus increase and that ear is louder. I’m having neck, jaw and sinus issues at the minute as well. I don’t really know 100% what caused mine. I banged my head though and it started 4 weeks later. I was under alot of stress as well for months.

[Lakeshiker in reply to Lakeshiker]

Yes cafes, traffic, wind, rain, sea (I live in Blackpool) driving, everything makes it worse. I’m on trazodone, wonder if that makes it worse 🤔