recurring inflammation in middle ear

ok, a year ago i was on a flight and i had a rubbery (airtight)  earbud in my (right) ear.  stupid, i know.  i fell asleep during descent, and it got stuck and somewhat wedged into my right ear.  on landing, i pried it out but i suppose i must have made some quick air pressure changes on my eardrum, as there would have been a vacuum created by the pulling, and then the rush in of ambient air pressure.

i had a fair amount of fluid in there for a month or two.  My eustacian tube was not blocked.  If i swallowed hard and drained the fluid, it then felt like my middle ear/ eustacian tube had a dryness to it.  

the chronic issue now is, when i talk, I have a heightened resonance of hearing, as though I have plugged my right ear with my finger.  it's fairly minor, but if i talk for a long time, the general feeling of right middle ear and eustacian tube inflammation gets worse.

it doesn't truly "hurt" but if feels strange and slightly sore in there and i wish it would go away.  i went to a doctor but he misdiagnosed it, thought it was eustacian tube blockage.  blockage has never been an issue.  i had no fever at that visit so i assume this is not an infection.

note, a year before this happened i had minor "ear squeeze" diving incident (shallow depth, first time diving,) and i had a major amount of work on a tooth on the other (left) side requiring "crown lengthening" which needed grinding my left jaw.  but the airplane descent and removal of the plug was the real event i think.  

I had hoped this would go away by itself but it has become chronic a year later.  Real problem is, when i give a lecture for over an hour, the vibrations of my own voice make it worse and worse.  I have looked all over the internet and I do not see these symptoms in ear health sites anywhere.  any advice would be much appreciated.  thanks -- jcl

[OHNS2010]

Hi,

This condition of yours is broadly termed as "Eustachian tube dysfunction". Due to minor insult of the Eustachian tube opening in the nasopharynx, the os might not perform the desired function efficiently. There is no specific treatment for this condition. Yet, you can try taking steam inhalation 2-3 times everyday.

Regards
OHNS2010

[OHNS2010]

Hi,

This condition of yours is broadly termed as "Eustachian tube dysfunction". Due to minor insult of the Eustachian tube opening in the nasopharynx, the os might not perform the desired function efficiently. There is no specific treatment for this condition. Yet, you can try taking steam inhalation 2-3 times everyday.

Regards
OHNS2010

[jcljcl]

dear OHNS2010,

wow, thank you so much for that insight.  you have given me a search term i needed desperately!  

just fyi, the ET works (not stuck open or closed) but is in a state of constant minor irritation/ inflammation, made worse by excessive talking.    

i sometimes wonder if, when i was on the flight descent, the fact i did not equalize the air pressure on the way down resulted in bacteria being forced up into the ET.  or something.  
i will try the steam/tea therapy :-)  again, thanks so much - jcl