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Plugged ears. Can anyone help?

Hello, I have been with plugged ears for 11 years. I have learned to deal with it but with frustration. Both ears are plugged, crackling noises when I swallow and I have sort of a "fuzzy" head due to what I think is my equalibrium being off from the plugged ears. It has caused a kind of confused state of mind for me even though I am still fully functioning. I had went to several doctors and ENT specialists about 10 years ago but they did not have a solution that worked. Kind of gave up hope. Any suggestions or doctors you could reccomend would be helpful?  
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Avatar universal
Hi again. Yes I am sticking with it to a T. I have been checking all labels to make sure there is no milk in anything I eat. Surprisingly milk is in more stuff than you would think. No relief yet but I am going to take it to Friday to give it a full week. At the very least I can start creating a list of things that are not causing this for when I return to seeing doctors. I don't remember about the steroids. I plan to make an inquiry about my medical records at the ENT specialist I went to 10 years ago. I hope they still have my records.

In a different direction I have made an appointment with the family chiropractor but it is not until March 12th. I was told that he may be able to help with plugged ears. Seems crazy but I will keep trying things until something can give relief. Thank you for your continued interest. I will keep checking in as I go.
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Avatar universal
I didn't get any relief whatsoever until approx. day #5.  It literally opens up within a few seconds.  

I think it's great that you're trying a chiropractor.  I've heard of the strangest things being fixed in a chiropractor's hands - the strangest of all being allergies - go figure.  That's why I like these forums.  It just goes to show all of us that one disease can have so many different root causes and cures.  

Keep plugging away....or should I say "may your plugging go away!"  LOL.

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Avatar universal
I'm assuming the diet didn't help or you probably would have thought to update this forum!  I hope the chiropractor does the trick.

Good luck!
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Avatar universal
Hello again. Unfortunately the diet didn't work. One good thing is that it is another thing I can check off that isn't the culprate. If it was, that may have been a tough diet to keep. :) Chiropractor is next plan. Any other suggestions would be great. Thanks.
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Avatar universal
I was just looking up a site about CHIARI MALFORMATION, just because I never heard of it before and wondered what the heck it was.  Take a look at the medhelp sites and other web siites.  I doubt you have this problem, but anything is possible.  Read several sites to get a good feel for it and its symptoms.  After reading it (just for fun!) I realized that I'm 99.5% sure I have this problem.   Due to your "fuzzy head" and muffled feeling,  and your mentioning going to see a chiropractor, I thought maybe this could be an area
to explore.  It made me aware that foods and other things that go into the body that cause inflammation on a brain that's already in a "tight spot" can create many different symptoms, depending on the parts of the brain effected or areas that are being "pressured".  Which would explain why, when I first started with the noise in my ears and the muffling, before I went to ear doctors, I tried gingko biloba (an herb) and it cleared my muffling up and reduced the ringing.  Gingko increases blood flow and must have aided in clearing some fluid and pressure from my head.  I forgot that I tried that stuff and that it actually worked.  So maybe you could try some gingko biloba and see if it helps.  I believe it took my ears 3 weeks to feel the relief.  I used the Nature Made brand.  It's much easier than the milk free diet :)))   LOL.  You take it with food (on an empty stomach you'll find yourself belching up herb-tasting leaves).  You'll feel like a feather pillow shooting out feathers!  LOL.  Now, of course, you'll have to check with your doctor to see if it's safe for you to take this herb...you know...present medications or preexisting health conditions...need to be considered.
It's over the counter, and can be found anywhere.

This is your next assignment!  
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Avatar universal
I'm on it! :) I am all for trying an herbal remedy. I have used other herbs to  cure other ailments I have had and think they have a lot to offer. I agree that it will be a lot easier than the milk free diet! I did a little reading on the chiari malformation. Here is a question I have that may help in my diagnosis. Is there a better way to reference my symptoms for the "Fuzzy Head" and plugged years?

Most times I read the symptoms to be double or blurred vision may occur. Balance difficulties, vertigo and dizziness.

My story:
My plugged ears started around 10 years ago. At the same time began a pressure or fullness on the back portion and sides of my head as well as my upper cheek bones under my eyes. (Something you would feel with an allergic reaction or cold.) Every time I swallow I hear the "popping noise" you would get after a change of altitude. My brain issue is that sometimes I go into a haze or fuzziness that kind of zones me out. Almost as if I am caught in a dream like state of mind. I am focusing on something and then I come back to reality, maybe a focused day dream. Sometimes a change in light can trigger the situation. I do not get dizzy or have loss of balance. I also do not get any of the other allergy related symptoms like runny nose or coughing. It is a constant issue but I can still live a normal life. I just feel like there is a way to see through a clearer less foggy view.

The only thing I can think of that happened 10 years ago was a wrestling match I was in where I had hit my head and face on the outside of the wrestling mat. This caused a deviated septum which I had corrected afterwards. Starting that summer is when my situation began. Could be a complete coincidence. My original thought was it opened up a new way for my allergies to interact with my brain since they all seem to intertwine somehow. I did take allergy shots, seems like i have quite a few of them, for over a year with no relief. My new thought for the chiropractor is that maybe something adjusted when I hit the floor that he could correct. So you can see that it is hard for me to explain this to a doctor. Any suggestions? I appreciate your interest and suggestions.
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