Clogged ear feeling after Myringotomy tubes surgery PLEASE HELP

[sheais]

Three days ago I had myringotomy surgery to put tubes in both of my ears. The reason for this was not because of any problems other than when I fly. My ENT assured me that it was a very simple proceedure with no recovery time. She said it was as easy as "getting your ears pierced."

Well, since that proceedure, my left ear has been fine. However the right ear feels extraordinarily clogged, as if there's cotton plugged inside of it or as if it needs to pop. I can hear my voice echo in my head and chewing is awful sounding. Even brusing my hair echos like crazy.

This started immediately after the surgery and I told the doctor about it (I even asked her if my ear was stuffed with cotton) and she told me that I was probably just hearing sounds better because of the tube and that "I'd get used to it." No way you can get used to this. I even waited in the waiting room to see if it would subside, and when it didn't, I asked a nurse who asked a different doctor who said that he guessed it was just the numbing drops and it should wear off within an hour.

Three days later, the problem is still there. There is some pain, but that's not the biggest issue...it's the clogged feeling and sound distortion. It's so annoying. And the doctors won't even talk to me...I keep getting passed to nurses who don't know anything.

Finally, I went yesterday to my GP and he said that I had a hematoma on my right ear. He was afraid to do anything because he didn't know what was going on behind the tube, maybe a clot?

And to make all of this worse, I got this proceedure done ONLY because I needed to fly in 7 days. I was assured that it would be no problem and make flying completely pain-free. Now I don't even know if I can go on my trip because I don't know if that tube is clogged or what. And no one will even SEE me at the place where I got the proceedure done (supposedly one of the best in the country). They didn't even schedule me for a follow-up appointment.

To say that I'm irritated and uncomfortable is putting it mildly. If anyone has ANY information or similar stories on this, please please please respond. I would be totally okay if I knew this was normal, but I can't find a description of this anywhere and I don't know what else to do.

PLEASE HELP!

Many thanks in advance.

Amber

[Jess_Marie_85]

I had a really bad sinus infection for about two weeks with lots of nasal congestion, and sinus pressure. I went to the doc and they gave me a steroid shot, along with a Z pack.. A week later I started to get sporadic stabbing pain in my ear(very painful) that would subside within a few seconds. My sinus pressure was better at this point but not 100%, so I started taking Mucinex D, and, Afrin Sinus spray but my left ear started to feel clogged. I could hear an echo when I walked, talked, ate, it drove me crazy so I started every  home remedy I could find. Nasal flushes, peroxide, warm towel, olive oil, Valsalva maneuver -nothing worked. I took Tylenol and went to bed, four hours later I woke up in excruciating pain and my ear felt completely closed off. I went to the Urgent care in the middle of the night and was told that I had a really bad ear infection and was sent home with Amoxicillin 1000mg every 8 hours for 10 days and RX Ibuprofen 600mg. I took this for five days and felt no relief, if anything if felt worse. The pain wasnt so bad but the clogging was driving me insane. I scheduled an appt with an ENT who again stated that my infection was bad, the pressure of the fluid was starting to change the shape of my eardrum which could result in hearing loss if not corrected soon. He did a series of scopes, hearing test, and decided to give me a steroid shot, prescribed Bactrim 800/160 mg twice daily for 14 days, and Ciprofloxacin Otic 0.2% drops twice daily. He performed a Myringotomy without tubes and this literally had me in tears, between the needle Anesthesia, and the vacuuming suction noise, it was horrible. I usually tolerant pain relatively well but this was painful for me. And to top it off I got NO relief. I couldnt believe that I subjected myself to this procedure and got nothing except a blow hole in my ear. Now if I try the Valsalva maneuver it comes right out the incision. At this point I guess I have to wait it out and hope this regiment works out, maybe 3rd times a charm. I will keep you posted.

[Jess_Marie_85]

Update: As it relates to this episode it took a month for the fullness feeling to subside. Two and a half years later I still get the sensation of fullness every couple of months and only in the ear that was previously affected.. Taking Claritin-D usually subsides the symptoms within 24 hours.

[Elco1240]

I am 63 and I am 6 days post op . I am experiencing the same identical symptoms. Had a ruptered eardrum 2 wks. Ago and could not get congestion to clear up. I fly weekly and have been off work for over 2 wks. And was desperate to get back. My ENT suggested the tubes which I jumped at before doing my research. (Big mistake) . I always have a little ear problems while flying even when I am well and I thought this would solve the problem. Now I am regretting doing this as I have the stopped up feeling and major hearing loss in one ear and partly in the other. I have had ear problems all my life when congested. My old school pediatrician when I was young always had me use the hydrogen peroxide regimen with a ruptured eardrum to keep eustacian tubes clear. I thought about doing this for the last week and it only makes sense . Mentioned it to the doctor and he said no. I tried it about an hour ago and it seems to be unclogged. Only did one side to see if I would end up with a "train wreck". I will follow with other side if all is ok. I was just wondering how yours ended up. Please respond. Thank you Elco1240

[susie197702]

Elco1249 did the peroxide burn the open ear drum?I would be scare to put that in there I have ear tubes  going on 10 months,I have also lost more hearing since they have been put in,

[mimi25254]

Maybe too late for some of you, but I might have a solution for you!!!  

I am 62 years old and had a bad case of the zombie flu that lasted weeks. After a month of steroid nasal sprays, steroid packs and steroid injections, my ears were still clogged, so I opted to have tubes put in with the promise of immediate relief.  No so in my case.  2 days after the procedure, I had such pressure inside my head that I couldn't sleep for hearing my heartbeat so loudly.  I couldn't hear hardly at all out of 1 ear, and only slightly out of the other.  The ENT said my ears looked perfect.  Beautiful.  Nothing wrong with my ears.  I went home feeling like I was crazy and resumed the Mucinex and Dymista nasal spray with some relief  after a couple days, but still couldn't hear well.

I went back to the doc for my 2-week post-op and had another hearing test.  My left eardrum wasn't moving at all and I still had moderate hearing loss.  The doc was baffled, as he could see right through my tube and said there was absolutely no crust blocking the tube and no fluid behind the eardrum.  So this is what he did.....

First he gave me a methylprednisone injection to boost my healing.  He told me to go back on the Dymista steroid nasal spray and to put 4 drops of 3% hydrogen peroxide in my ear twice a day for 2 weeks.  He said  it was possible that I had a crusty plug built up inside the Eustacion tube that he couldn't see and that the hydrogen peroxide might dissolve it.

Boy was he right!!!!  After the 2nd HP treatment, I finally felt it drain down into my jaw/gland (kinda didn't feel so great, but not bad) and by the next day my ear was unclogged!  I used the drops for a few days after that and stopped.  Haven't had a problem since.  I love that my doc didn't give up trying to figure it out, as I was almost convinced I must have had a tumor.  

  

[susie197702]

This is an old post  I know,but where is this Dr.that did not give up on your problem?

[susie197702]

Funny my ENT said he could not test the ear drum to see if it would move because the ear drum would not move because of the tubes!

[babyjneng]

Hi i had done myringotomy last night and the doctor removed the tube after an hour. it makes me think that the fluid wasnt a lot on the time he did the procedure.

This morning when i wake up, i feel my left ear is not hearing as normal as it used to. I thought i will get my hearing back to normal asap. Im still on meds antibiotics and eardrops.

Im feeling a bit of disappointed and regretting of doing this just be. I wanna get rid of the fluid right away. I went to other ENT and was told to wait for it drain naturally. :(

[Janey72]

Yep, same here.  I had this done without tubes to drain some fluid behind my left eardrum, and now it feels really clogged and I am having a tough time hearing from that ear.  I am almost two weeks post op.  If I had known this would happen, I would not have done it!!!!  I am very worried!!

[ansvn]

Even im facing the same problem,is there anyone whose problem got solved,if yes please help me with the procedure.