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1001981 tn?1293978481

How to get rid of the ringing of blocked eustachain tubes

Has anyone had any luck in relieving the ringing or noises caused by the fluid build up in the middle ears.
Some days I don't have any, But since December of 2010 after a viral head cold I have had the pain and pressure
and hearing fluid in my ears, along with the ringing that alternates from one ear to the other. I have tried the
steriod sprays, the M drug with D and decongestant that you have to sign for and the sinus rinse.  My ent
gave me prednisone which upsets my stomach and can't take that.  I never had anything like this until our weather
here in Virginia dropped drastically and blasted my sinuses.  Don't know how many boxes of Kleenex I have
used.  The ENT says that they can draw the fluid out of your middle ear and put tubes in - appreciate any
suggestions..........ct
14 Responses
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1001981 tn?1293978481
Wow that is quite a story.........the audiologist told me that my right ear drum was
not retracted but curved out a litle bit he showed me this curve that bowed out from
the graph. The other ear did not have that.  He said there might be some ETD there.
8 degress or something like that.   The ringing is very slight when my ears feel
plugged up.  When I swallow I feel like I am on a plane ascending or descending.
My ears pop when ever they feel like it on and off, and last night I was doing a sinus
rinse and it felt like the water was shaking thru head like there is air in a water pipe.
I could feel the fluid or something in the ear moving around.  The ENT told me my E tubes were clear and no fluid nobody bothered to look in my ears.  In fact tomorrow
I have my first allergy test and they still could not arrange someone to look into my
ears. I feel like I am swallowing in a tunnel and the ringing slight now can move back
and forth into either ear on one day or another.  I will get my medical records and
hearing test copies.  I have made an appointment to go to Richmond, VA where
we have alot of good doctors, maybe you have heard of Medical College of Virginia MCV
and UVA medical.  My endocrinologist recommended  him - Quite frankly my first
diagnosis was inflamed sinus and e tubes, could not take the pred, got a Rocephin
shot for the sinus infection but the Decadron shot, caused me to go to the ER Sunday
It was terrible!!!.  I was taching out nausea, light headed, diarrhea and still had the
wierd pressure in my ears.  I was put on IV's for hydration, and nausea, and drugged out
I left hanging on to the maintenance supervisor of my apartment complex, who babied
me in the room and took me home and put me to bed.  So apparently I had a withdrawal
from steriods the rocked me and scared me for sure.  No more pred, only thing I can
take is topical steriods for skin and occaisonal corizone injection in a joint.  My opinion
is that I am getting a confusing bunch of information.  Maybe I don't have fluid in there
but what is all that noise coming from inside my ears like liquid stuff, I feel like a pressure cooker in there.  I was first told that I had retracted eardrums with fluid sucked
in from the ENT.  Then there was the pred I could not take.  Now he says there is no
fluid in them and the audiologist says too.  How can they tell from that test?  Something
is not pressurizing.  ENT tells me the steriod cleared up the fluid, but something is
moving around in there be it air or fluid.  I think my ringing started with my head cold
virus around first week of December and the pressure in my head has never been the
same.  I suspect viral or bacterial.   Damn if know - I am not impressed with the office
here in town.  When they won't even get a MD to look at your sinus and ears for one
minute. What a mess my friends tell me you must still have some kind of infection
or why would you have that type of pressure?  I hope this allergy work up helps,
right now I am not impressed.  This is a mess............thanks for all your info you
have been thru it.....I am sure there is an answer, but I do not want to spend money
on hearing aids yet and go into to my retirement for it thanks for the info on CD,
my ex says he uses it for his, he has hearing loss and puts up with it better than me.
I definitely need a second opinion...........does this make any sense to you?
thanks,
Carla

              
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi, Carla

So sorry about the news you got.  Unfortunately, hearing loss is one of the leading causes of tinitis.  I would recommend a second opinion though.  It doesn't mean that you will go deaf though.  So, chear up on that one.

What do you mean by a pressure curve?  Was that the tympanogram result?  If so, DEFINITELY get a second opinion.  If the presure is off in your ears that means you have eustacian tube dysfunction (ETD), which can cause some hearing loss, not the tinitis though.

What triggered you tinitis?  For me it was flying with ETD.  I had been having some pain in my ears and congestion.  I woke up the morning we were to fly out of town with more severe pain and decided it was time to go to the doctor.  I got that scheduled that day.  I was put on antibiotics even though they didn't really see any evidence of infection.  They just didn't want me out of town and flying with an infection if I did have one.  

Any way, the flight out of town was to high altitude (Salt Lake City) to visit friends.  We went up into the mountains and to Park City.  My ears did not equalize presure like they should have went we came down.  I didn't think much of that.  The last leg of the flight home was the culpret.  Severe pain to the point that I was crying.  The ringing started soon after.  

My daughter had an apointment with our allergist two days later and I had one the next week.  I called and switched our apointments.   The allergist told me that I should have used "Afrin Flight Protocol" - use Afrin 20 minutes before boarding a plane.  She did have me use "Agressive Cold Management" protocol for 3 days - using Afrin twice before sinus rinses, waiting five minutes between uses and before the rinse.   It didn't work and she then referred me to an ENT.  Her referrral was coming in  slowly, and I had seen an ENT the year before so I called that office.  He wasn't on my new insurance but a partner was.  The partner said to do the Agressive Cold Management for 5 days and take pred.  I am a sever asthmatic and didn't want to take pred for that, so we agreed to wait on it.  I did eventually take the pred, but it didn't help either.  I wasn't really impressed with that ENT.  There was a candle burning in his office which triggered an asthma attack.  Typical for me, but medical professionals are supposed to avoid all fragrances because they trigger asthma attacks.  It really ticked me off.  

I decided to go for a second opinion to the doctor my allergist referred me to.  That was even worse than the first ENT.  It was at the major Ear Institute here.  The audiologist was talking to someone through my entire test!  Distracting to say they least and caused them to think I had hearing loss that was causing my tinitis.  Despite the fact that they are a treatment center for tinitis with literature in their waiting room, the doctor offered NO coping techniques or help.  He just wanted to see me again in a year to monitor my "hearing loss" and evaluation for a hearing aid.   I decided to stick with the first ENT after all.  

I have since had normal audiologist testing even with a tube in my ear.  My doctor's best guess is that some thing about the flight and presure caused an injury or damage that is causing my ringing.  I still have pain.  My allergist told her new PA a few weeks ago that I have severe ETD.  

I hope that gives you some ideas.  I strongly recommend a second opinion.  Also, research coping techniques for the tinitis.  You do get used to it to some degree, but it is always there.  One technique is to use a white noise machine while you are trying to sleep.

Take care.
Helpful - 0
1001981 tn?1293978481
Hi  Well I got back some news - I am kind of upset, had my audiologist do some
testing and I got back some tympanic sensory hearing loss that is causing my
ringing in the ear especially on the right I had a pressure curve or whatever they call it.
So in other words in my ENT's opinion I would probably benefit from a hearing aid
that blocks out the tinnitus and helps my hearing.  I probably need a second opinion
The right ear feels like it has pressure in it although ENT said no fluid was blocking it.
The e tubes are okay with the testing so I guess I'm in for some big $. I am trying not
to be upset by this but that right ear still feels like something is in it.  This morning it
was not too bad and seems to get louder when I am upset or anxious by it.  I guess
no one knows just how much you get the noise or if there is a day you don't get much
I suppose you just go eventually deaf. Any info to please help let me know.

thanks,
Carla
Helpful - 0
1001981 tn?1293978481
Thanks for those helpful suggestions!!!!!!!!!!!!
carla559
Helpful - 0
180749 tn?1443595232
This  Pranayam  will  help with the ear problem and relax you. The benefit is gradual, so allow time to feel the difference.
Build up your timing gradually. If you feel tired or dizzy, stop and resume after 1 minute.

Anulom Vilom pranayam–
Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril  
then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril  
then -keeping the left nostril closed  deep breath-in through right nostril
then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril.
This is one cycle of anulom vilom.
Repeat this cycle for 20 to 30  minutes twice a day.
Keep your eyes closed and concentrate on the third eye(in between the two eyebrows), when doing anulom vilom.
You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep long breaths into the lungs.You can do this while sitting on floor or chair or lying in bed.

Bhramri Pranayam -Close eyes. Close ears with thumb, index finger on forehead, and rest three fingers on base of nose touching eyes. Breathe in through nose. And now breathe out slowly through nose while humming like a bee.
Duration : 5 to 21  times

Your feedback on this will help others. It is all natural and no side effects.
Helpful - 0
1001981 tn?1293978481
Hi!  Feeling some improvement already - although I have a high and a let down
from the Decadron, also known a dexamethosone.  All the injections are in the same
family but have different properties.  Decadron is much more powerful the prednisone
and it's a good thing I had it injected - it did not swing me around as much as prednisone did.  The Rocephin is supposed to be good I heard too. my head is starting
to decongest some and the symptons are much better.  Keep my fingers crossed for
sure.  Thanks for all your good info,  This has been quite a trip for sure.
thanks for your thoughts - talk to you soon,

carla559
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
rochephin is a good antibiotic, but short acting according to my GP.  I was given a shot of it in October with a bad lung infection.  I felt so bad at the time they gave it to me that I didn't care what they did.  There was talk about putting me in the hospital.  I was just glad they didn't do that.  It worked.  I was still sick forever, but at least I avoided the hospital.  My GP told me later that it was Rocephin.

I usually get solumederol for an injected steroid, so I am not familiar with Decadron.  You should probably check with the allergist about your testing.  They may not be able to get accurate results with the steroid this close to testing, but it may still be far enough out.  Remember to not take ANY antihistamine within 5 days of testing.  Some meds have antihistamine properties and may be on your allergist's list of "do not take" drugs.  So check with them about all your medications.  Any PM pain killer has Benadryl in it and is off limits.  

I am sure that your hearing test will be fine unless you have some fluid in there.  I always do well with it even with the constant ringing and even after the tube was put in.  

Take care and feel better.
Helpful - 0
1001981 tn?1293978481
Hi how are ya?  Went to ENT today and found out that I had more sinus infaction up
in my nose on top of the enflamed middle ear and tube thing.  Got a big shot of' Rocephin an antibiotic and Decadron 8 mg steriodal shot- gave me a real high and lots
of energy hopefully I will start feeling a difference tomorrow I guess it takes about
72 hours to set in, if I don't I'll call him back up.  He is trying to see what I can tolerate
and I certainly appreciate that.and get the inflammation down - have a hearing test
for the 19th, and allergy testing on the 14th and 17th...........it's been a real challenge
and never before have I had anything like that.  Alot of sick persons here in this
peninsula area of Virginia. ENT told me that the inflammation makes that terrible
ringing and pain Lord have mercy!!!!!   I just don't want to lose my hearing for sure.
How is your situation going?  I't nice to have friends on line that offer good constructive
help.  Appreciate you corresponding with me,  Got my fingers crossed that this will
provide some relief for me.  Always something different I guess,
Thanks,
Carla
Helpful - 0
1001981 tn?1293978481
Hi - appreciate your help, today was especially bad with the ears, yesterday no
problem, I will call my ENT tomorrow and get a script for generic which is 62.00
but I will split it and try and see if it helps..............we have ten different molds in this
area and God knows I'm probably allergic to most of them.  My insurance doesn't
pay for the all of the serum and injections just what medicare covers and I owe the
rest.  It pays for the testing and this is the worst year I have ever had. I think I'll go
for it.  pseudofed does not bother me so I can take it but it hasn't done much good.
I think I'm on my 2nd box of Mucinex D which has 120 mg extended and guafsisen
You are right about the allergens they do change I have moved into the next county
and there might be something else that is tearing me up.  You are very kind to
take the time to write, you must know how frustrating this is, thanks very much and I will
keep you up to date I what's going on...........
your info is very helpful and I'm just looking for some kind of relief.
thanks,
Carla559
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Allegra is available in a generic - fexofenidine (sp?).  I don't not know if it is availble with decongestant though, but you can get some pseudofed to take with it.  If you are taking pseudofec regularly, that could be part of why you can't sleep.  That stuff hypes me up so bad that I can't even sleep on muscle relaxers and Lortab (I have a dislocated rib that bothers me when I try to sleep).   The generic availability may be why your insurance co. doesn't cover the brand name version.

Allergens change over time with new allergies developing all the time.  Retesting and new shots may be a good idea.  My allergist retests every two years.  My serum changed a lot this year.  Make sure the your ENT does skin ***** testing and uses immuntherapy shots.  Some ENTs only do RAST blood testing which is not very effective.  Some use a steroid shot for allergies and not immunotherapy.  So be careful with this issue.

I hope those new thoughts are helpful.
Helpful - 0
1001981 tn?1293978481
Hi - thanks for the suggestion - Will look it up and read about it............
have appt with ENT on the thurs 6th...........
Thanks much,
Carla559
Helpful - 0
1001981 tn?1293978481
Hi - thanks for getting back to me.  I tried the Mucinex D with lots of liquids and once
in awhile I could get some peace and quiet maybe a day out of a week depending on
how much pressure I felt in the ears.  Right now I am taking tagament and mylanta
to calm my stomach down from the prednisone.  It's just too much. I could never
tolerate prednisone ever.  It seems that it helped for the day or two that I could take it.
I take it with food it doesn't matter.  I have trouble with all types of those meds.
I did the Afrin for three days and have just run out of Flonase.  My ENT does allergy
testing and the shots, my insurance pays for  that had all that done so many years
ago - know all the main ones, mold, ragweed,house dust, oak pollen.  They recommend
Allegra D and my insurance does not pay for it, and they do not have free samples.
How convenient. Pinch the nose, the sinus wash, you name it I did it.  All my life
I  had allergies but never this much trouble with my ears. I see him the this Thurs. 6th
and will ask him about prednisone shots, also I understand they can inject medicine
into your space in your ear also.  I have read stuff online about tubes causing problems
with people.  It seems to be a case of from one ear to the other , one is silent and the
other is ringing.  I'll keep you up to date and it has caused me some anxiety for sure
and have trouble hearing at times,
Thanks again,
Carla
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi,
I would really love to be able to give you absolute answers.  Unfortunately there aren't any.  What works for one person may not work for another.  I have dealt with these same issues for 15 months now.  It is better, but still there.  My ENT calls me complicated and an enigma. You do get used to the ringing to some degree after a while, a long while.  :(   I eventually had one tube put in to see if that would help.  It did for the pain at least, but the ringing is still there.

I recommend that you really try the pred.  I know it can upset your stomach, but it really does work to reduce inflamation of the eustacian tubes.  Do you take it with food?  Talke to your doctor about taking part of a day's dosage and different times of the day, not all in the morning.  Don't take any at bedtime.  Can he give you a shot of it instead of oral or a shot and reduce the oral dosage?  

Afrin in three day cycles can be beneficial.  Three days using Afrin followed by three days not using afrin.  Have you tried that?  Also, sinus rinses can be helpful.  You may want to try a different antihistamine like Zyrtec.  Along with the Mucinex, are you drinking plenty of water?  

You may need to see an allergist if there is an allergy component.  If you don't to the root cause of the problem, it won't go away.  

I hope that helps.  At least you know that you are not alone.  
Feel better.
Helpful - 0
1517903 tn?1329304316
I wish I knew the answer, Ms. Carla.  I know T-Bio helps with ringing in the ears when it originates in the inner ear.  You can ask your doctor about that and/or check it out on www.t-bio.com.

Good Luck,
SL
Helpful - 0
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