I Live with It Now

Hi,

I'm Sue and have had tinnitus for 20 years.

You do get used to it but sometimes it can be annoying.
I think mine is caused through ETD.

It's trying to find something to help with ETD.

Anyone have any suggestions?

 

You've had enough ETD for that long? Are you sure? You might want to have a doctor look at it, assuming you didn't already.

 

There is not a whole lot that can be done about ETD other than wait it out. A corticosteroid nasal spray can help speed things along. There are a number of techniques that you can try for clearing the fluid/gunk out of the middle ear (heating pad, steaming, Valsalva maneuver, a device like the Eustachi, etc.). For long-lasting cases a doctor may want to do a myringotomy — essentially, poke a hole in the eardrum (and possibly insert a tube that will fall out after several months) — this allows pressure to equalize and fluid to drain out. The eardrum will heal after a few days. I haven't come across any stories of this procedure really helping with tinnitus, but who knows.

You have been waiting for 20 years... You either have chronic ETD, or something else. Is it in one ear or both? Do you ever have balance issues, dizziness, nausea, or those sorts of symptoms?

 

Yes I hav been to the doctors several times and ENT but they aren't interested.
When ENT put a camera up my nose an near the Eustachian tube they said it was inflamed!

 

Wow you really have had it for a long time. I would suggest you visit an allergy doctor. I have ETD and I use Flonase. It helps clear my ears out.

 

I m using Avamys and cetirizine at the moment .
My doctor wants me to try dymista, has anyone used dymista?

 

Try and get a referral to see a Hearing Therapist @Susan Durrant as they normally specialise in the management and treatment of tinnitus where as ENT doctors don't, unless they can treat an underlying medical problem causing the tinnitus medically or surgically.

I suggest using sound therapy at night, using a sound machine by your bedside to start with. Keep the volume slightly below your tinnitus.
All the best
Michael

 

I meant to add that I have it in one ear and do get spells of dizziness. I have also tried Serc but it made me sick.

 

Thank you all for your suggestions.
People who don't have tinnitus don't really understand it.

 

Some Hearing Therapists and Audiologists that specialise in the treatment and management of tinnitus and work with tinnitus patients have the condition. They were either born with tinnitus or acquired it at some time in their life. They will have an understanding of tinnitus and be able to empathise with you in such a way that cannot be learnt by training alone.

Best of luck.
Michael

 

Thank you Michael I will ask my doctor for a referral .

 

I don't believe you will regret it @Susan Durrant and hope the Hearing Therapist or Audiologist that you see, who specialises in tinnitus treatment has the condition as mine does who was born with tinnitus.

Remember to use sound therapy at night low level.
Michael

 

I asked about dizziness because Ménière's disease usually comes with dizziness or similar symptoms (on and off) and otherwise shares many symptoms with ETD, generally affects just one ear, and it is a long-term condition... Something to ask the ENT about.

 

I have thought about Ménière's disease and if I could have it.
It is something else to ask about.
Thanks

 

Hi Sue. I'm new to this and I was told by two ENT's that I don't have ETD. I just have a couple of questions about your experiences, if you don't mind.

Does an inflamed tube mean that you definitely have ETD? If not, have the doctors actually diagnosed you with ETD through standard tests and observation, or said that you don't have it if that appears to be the case as far as they can tell?

 

Hi Luman
I have been told that it is probably ETD but they cannot confirm this. They are only going by what I have told them and the inflamation of my tube.
However, I went to my doctor last week with a very sore ear and neck pain. She thinks I may have nasal polyps. If these are near the ET they can cause ETD. She has given me a course of antibiotics and I am to have steroid nasal drops next week.
I hope this helps.

 

Good luck with the antibiotics, feel better and keep us informed.

 

I gave finished my antibiotics and steriod nasal drops now and no change!
They think It might be acid reflux now. So I am going to try 40mg of omeprazole, as I had really bad cud reflux, burning in my throat and nose.
I'll let you know what happens.

 

Hi all
Has anyone been told that acid reflux can cause ear problems?

 

Never heard (or read) of that. What's the mechanism of action supposed to be?

 

I've heard of it.

Stomach acids travel through the esophagus and up into the throat/ET's during sleep.

 

On another note... I would be careful with treating stomach acid with proton pump inhibitors and other drugs. These treat the symptom in many cases but not the problem (they do have their place). In many cases people have low stomach acid which causes the sphincter in the esophagus to not close entirely because it is controlled by acidity. Also food will digest poorly in the stomach with low stomach acid and ferment causing gas pushing food back up. The drugs do reduce the acid, but this is a downward spiral because once acid production is inhibited, you don't absorb nutrients as well, which are necessary for everything else including the production of stomach acid. In many cases peoples reflux symptoms improve by adding apple cider vinegar to their diet to help digestion. Disclaimer: I'm not an M.D. so I can't give you medical advice but you might want to do further reading on this on your own to educate yourself on the subject matter and discuss with your Dr.