Ear Fullness — Searching for Answers

[KeithGator]

Hi all,

Unfortunately (but fortunately) I have come here in search for some answers. I was hoping to post this with the thought someone had some experience like this, and can talk about their situation.

Sequence of Events

• No ear issues
• Flew Monday 1/22/18
  
• On Wed 1/24 woke up w LEFT clogged ear
• Took z Pak in the following week..no help
• ENT visit 3/15...no fluid, hearing tested fine
  • Was given Steriod (didn't take then, see below). ENT said 'I doubt this will work, but we can try'
• Fullness was always there, but never life altering (sometimes forgot about it)
• Got sore throat 4/23, then a cold. Ear amplified to Pain, and even a feeling of 'something in ear'.....it got ugly!
  • 4/27: Took Steroid from ENT. Didn't' help.
  • 5/1: Googled...thought maybe TMJ.....went to TMJ Specialist. Super quick diagnosis with a large bill (didn't do). He did a CT scan....looked at it kinda quickly and said 'yup'. My reaction to all this was that he was just guessing a bit, and wanted to make money (I know cynical, but I want more of a concrete diagnosis with step by step, not let's just throw everything at it, and was invasive at that). He even said 'it might not solve'. He wanted to do an orthodontic device to help move my jaw (not just a night guard). Also wanted to do trigger point injections, and ultrasound.
  • 5/3: Lot of pain. Did Acupuncture. Helped relax, but as soon as stood up it ear fullness was back.
  • 5/6: Massage. She massaged SCM in neck. Felt more relaxed, but still 'something in ear'
  • 5/7: I had dropped off that CT scan with the ENT. He called. He reviewed it and pointed a few areas but really didn't think
  • 5/8: I saw my chiro at his wellness center. He said he could see some TMJ in left jaw, but not a lot. Said my neck muscles were VERY tight, and he also massaged SCM, and did ultrasound and heat treatment. Wants me to do acupuncture. He said if we do this a few times a week, we will know in 3 weeks.
  • Overall this changed my life for 2 weeks (no exercise, lots of laying down, bed at 6 pm, pain, not going out..it was truly life altering).
  • My thought was something before blocking the tubes, and then cold put a lot of fluid in there that couldn't drain. But this is a guess.
• CURRENT DAY: Less pain (still some), but still feel very full.

Other Notes of interest:

• Don't feel ear stuff when laying down (for most part). So have been sleeping (many times with help of muscle relaxer, etc)...except if I can't sleep for other reasons
• Have also been a bit itchy over last 6 months. First really noticed xmas Eve 2017. Every now and then chest or neck will get red. Related? Allergies? I have been allergy tested last year before all this....but all they did was airborne stuff, not food.
• I work from home, hunched over a laptop.....and i do find my jaw clenched a bit. Over 10 years of this......I am trying to correct this with a laptop stand, being more conscious about my jaw etc
• That TMJ dentist wanted to do a MRI of jaw area. I have not done this, probably b/c I really don't want results going back to him. There is always that chance that something is 'really' wrong.
• Slight memory issues. Nothing major, but I couldn't remember the brand f a wifi device I installed a few months ago.....small things like this but has happened over last few weeks (and just over last few weeks). I also didn't sleep well last night.

Medicine:

• Daily Flonase
• Been taking Costco Allergy pill
• For last few weeks been taking sudafed (have stopped this for at least 4 days)

Right now I feel 'human' again, but I know it's not right. Was hoping some one in cyberland could relate to this and advise.

Thanks to all.

Keith

 

[dingaling]

Could be possibly acute Eustachian tube dysfunction where the pressure inside the ear is less than atmospheric pressure causing fullness and pain? Were you given an nose balloon? Can you pop your ears?

 

[housemzk]

Do you have tinnitus or ringing in the ears?

If you look up my history here, our stories very similar... Down to the week we were gifted t. My fullness issues are gone for the most part though. I do have dull pains in my inner ear or eustachian tube with the occasional clicking a popping sound in/around my ear and jaw. Drives my crazy at times. This is controversial around here, but I've been able to get rid of the blocked Eustachian Tube by using neti-pot, then spraying Flonaise in the Eustachian Tube. I do this daily. 2 ENT's said it was a great idea.

I went ahead and got the orthotic for TMJ. Have had it for over 2 months and wear it 24/7. Don't know if it's helping. PT on my jaw and neck for TMJ probably have the greatest impact on my overall well-being. This has been good for my posture at work also, as the Dr has now moved on to other areas of my back and shoulders. I'd recommend you continue down that path. I stretch the neck and jaw 2 times a day and have it documented that it helped with fullness.

I decided to get allergy shots a couple of weeks after having t and I'm close to maintenance level shots where I no longer have to go in every couple of days for shots. Allergies have been a non-issue this year and could be having a positive impact on my tinnitus. Every week is better with tinnitus though, but just barely. Just enough to notice.

I've also reduced my sodium and sugar intake. Gluten and dairy free now too.

Regarding your memory issues - Is it possible that you obsess so much over your condition that you're focusing less on the world around you? I've caught myself doing that anyway.

 

[KeithGator]

@dingaling ....thx for taking the time to respond. ENT wrote 'possible EDT' on the report....but after talking w him about the CT scan I really got the impression 'this wasn't an ear thing'. I feel I can pop my ears but it doesn't do anything. I didn't have any balloon thing, no. I did buy a 'eustachi' from Target....it pops fine but no relief from fullness.
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@housemzk ....thx as well for taking the time respond. I would love to read your history as it says it mimics mine. I tried searching on your posts....this is the closest I got: https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/the-past-3-weeks.26709/ Is this is? Another one?

I don't have any ringing in ears. It's just a fullness. Like its all clogged up. But won't relieve. I feel last few weeks with the cold fluid built up...and couldn't drain....and that's what caused the extreme pain. I'm back to 'very limited pain' since the cold is over and I'm less congested. but the fullness remains.

My TMJ also said the jaw moving thing...2k device...wear all the time. I'm just not convinced.

Did you have fullness in your ear? or ringing? I think tinnitus but could be wrong is ringing.

Would love to talk more about this....is there a messaging platform on this site?

 

[housemzk]

@KeithGator -Yup, that's the post. In the post I mention that my fullness disappeared after having PT on my neck and jaw. I remember that it came back the next day, but it was greatly reduced and over time has gone away.

I had both ringing and fullness, along with shooting pain in the ear and a slew of other issues. I was real mess a few months ago. The ringing (tone) is still there, and it fluctuates throughout the day, but I've started to habituate.

I'll send you a pm.

 

[KeithGator]

@housemzk .....i saw your pm......there is no where to hit reply. I'm in IT.....i should be able to figure this out Do new members not allow to respond to conversations? Very odd