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.

[twosonskk]

I had my tube put in today(12-14-15) I have the clog feeling and echo when I talk. Is there any help for this?

[susie197702]

I had my tubes put back in Aug, still a problem for me ,I also hear my voice inside my head,

[Izzy369]

I dont have tubes. I used to about 4 years ago. My ear is killing me too! I feel like my whole ear is clogged up and my voice echoes!! This has been happening for 3 days now what do I do?

[Lydia_jane]

I'm having the same problem. My ENT doctor said It will heal. I was told my ear drums are swollen. I just had the surgery done today. You probably have swollen ear drums. Give it some time.

[susie197702]

clogged still after one month!

[sherrywarner328]

amber ,
             i just realized you wrote this back in 2009... if your available can you please texted me cause im having problems exactly how you described. thankyou
765-631-7947

[Shelby8765]

I am having these same problems as well! I am freaking out!!!!!!! All I want is to go back to normal even though my normal was not good, it is better than this!! I got tubes for ETD and right now I am 4 days PO and I am regretting this badly! Does this get better??????

[susie197702]

Mine has not gotten better,has been 1 month now.

[susie197702]

regretting it badly also.

[susie197702]

Me again,now 9 months,still not good,will try and get them taken out in June,

[Fluidfilled]

I don't have an answer but I do know what she is going through November 2016 I had the bone removed fm behind my left ear and an artificial wall placed between my ear and brain to prevent any new infection from spreading to my brain which is why the bone was removed I had an infection for several months maybe even years that went untreated because every doctor I went to said that there was nothing wrong like as if they knew had I was feeling at times I thought they thought I was a pill popper finally I had so much pain that they did an emergency CT and found a mass on the back of the left side of my head and the bone had been affected as well and the infection was going to my brain. After 9 days in the hospital antibiotics IV and the surgery and the painful hell I went through and still going through nothing has changed I actually feel worse my left side feels like it is going to explode I can hear my heartbeat in my ear and it is driving me crazy. I cannot live the rest of my life like this I am not that old but I feel like it because this crap has worn me out physically and mentally there is something wrong I know it but it seems like no one wants to listen to me when I see the surgeo once a week he says that it is heeling nicely well it doesn't feel like it this is my body I know how I feel and I feel like hell. The life has been sucked out of me and it is not right. I need help. These doctors would only only understand if they felt this bit I would not wish this on anyone. Good luck to you.

[Tammylynn123]

It's been a month since I have had the tube placed in my ear.  I still feel clogged, and can not really hear anything . Ct Scan showed nothing. The dr. acts like I am just crazy.  I am not crazy.  I was having ear infections and he said he could put a tube in my ear and that would help me.  Now I am worse then I ever been.  All I want to do now is stay to my self .  This feeling is a feeling I wish on no one.

[fentonchristine]

I was told by my ent that this is not normal. It happened to me about a week ago (insertion Feb 9th). I'm getting my ear tubes removed 1 week post insertion. I hope this resolves my problems. Any updates from you?

[susie197702]

I really have lost my trust in ENT's. they make you think that these tubes insertion is no big deal,but It is!  I know there is not much information on this problems that adults are having with  tubes. My ENT said he has never heard of the problems I am having with the tubes and he has no answers for me,leaving it up to me rather to take tubes out or wait until they fall out! I ask him if my hearing would come back the way it was befor the tubes,you guessed it,he said "I DON"T KNOW"