Real Improvement

So it began one night three days ago when I was sick and my tinnitus was praticularly worse than normal, and I couldn't sleep. So I was watching stuff on my phone and was paying attention to that. Suddenly I have a massive pop in my left ear, and it feels much more "open", but my right ear doesn't feel clogged. I could hear out of my left ear about 50% clearer in my left ear and sound was much more crisp (not louder, just crisper). I put my left ear in my pillow and noticed that the tinnitus was very, very, quiet. It creeped back with the congestion eventually.

Then I posted about it online and @vermillion told me to look into ETD. So my mom bought me Flonaze and some decongestants from a grocery store, and I've been using that. The tinnitus has been improving a lot, and the volume has dropped by at least 25%. I don't hear it for the first 10 minutes every morning, and it's quieter in the morning, when it used to be louder than the rest of the day. When I go into the quietest room in the house, which is my closet, sometimes I don't even hear it at all (This is still rare). The closet is 35dB.

Lately I've been feeling "off" and when I wonder why I feel like this, I notice that I don't hear the ringing. It comes and goes but it's been absent much more recently. I'm hoping this leads to a full recovery.

 

Glad to read this! Sounds like a ticket back to life is being issued for you @threefirefour.

 

What caused the tinnitus?

 

A multitude of things. Woke up with it one day being extremely loud, was like that for a year about, and then found out it was earwax. Got that removed and the volume dropped by 70%. Lingering volume was too loud and I found out it was ETD. Now I don't know if this will get rid of it, or make it quieter. Either way thank goodness.

 

Update: I got a large spike in the middle of the week but now my tinnitus has been at an all time low all day. Hope it stays that way.

 

Sorry for my ignorance. What is ETD?

 

Eustachian Tube Disorder

 

That should have been Eustachian Tube Dysfunction.

 

Great news! I think I have the same thing, in fact I'm sure of it. I've ordered a device that has been recommended here, Eustachi - Eustachian Tube Exerciser, which has been shown to safely unclog the inner ear, it will arrive next week. I've made some progress in stopping the ear pain, I'm a side sleeper and have been sleeping on a neck rest cushion so that my ear is not under any pressure, and am expecting to receive a specialty pillow with a hole in it, for the ear to be free of pressure, in a week or so. Also, from the advice of my DDS, I have been applying warm compresses to my jaw, and ears, and doing mouth isometrics (sort of) which loosens up the inner ear components. When I put the warm compresses on my ears this morning, I could hear some activity and it was not tinnitus. My T was lower today, also. So, here's hoping we have some success!

Edt, forgot to mention, another doctor I saw recently, about the Tinnitus and "full" feeling", recommended Flonase, s0 I bought a generic version of it, but haven't tried it yet - will start today.

 

This sounds really good. I'm gonna try these out.

 

Oh and by the way, shove the Flonase way up your nose, perpendicular to your face. Then look down and spray it moderately hard to hit the back of your throat. Do this for a while and it will clear up. If not see an ENT for a version with steroids.

 

Your method is correct.

https://www.fauquierent.net/etd2.htm

 

I have not tried Flonase, although i have some suspicions that i have a slight problem with the ET. Might try it as well. But i would stay away from any type of steroids type. I have talked with some very respectable medical experts and know that this is not a cure. Steroids have their use, but you should be very careful with them. You can even do more harm than good.

 

Depends on the steroid. The types I want are for reducing inflammation. If generic Flonase (they sell it without prescription now) works then yeah don't get the steroids, but if it doesn't tackle inflammation then get an appointment with an ENT.

 

Hi luman, could you pm me a link to the ETD device you're talking about?

 

Question, does your t sound like it's from your head or your ears? And how long had you been using nasal spray before noticing any difference

 

Sounds like it's coming from the ears. I was using it for two weeks before improvement. Today was a great day for my tinnitus. Lowest it's ever been and it seems to be improving overall. This week was the first week I couldn't hear it outside whatsoever, even if it's silent.

 

My tinnitus sound obviously is loud in my ears when i plug them but i feel like it comes from my head.

I hope this doesn't mean overactive neurons aka i'm fucked.

 

Tinnitus always means overactive neurons. Doesn't mean it can't go away.

 

In my experience, when T is loud, I hear it in my ears. If it gets quieter, I start hearing it in my head. So it is possible that your T is on the quiet side.

 

well considering it's nearly unmaskable at times I definitely wouldn't call it quiet.

 

fair point.

 

Update, I have the Estachi and have been using it for six days. I also bought an inexpensive facial steamer and a can of Arm and Hammer Simply Saline spray, rather than using the Flonase which I think isn't really a good idea in my case at least not every day. I do the facial stram for five to ten minutes, then use the Saline Spray on the Estachian tubes, finally use the Estachi, and I do this twice a day. I went out today for a few hours with earplugs in most of the time, and tonight my T was virtually gone for the evening. I do not think that my Estachian tubes are close to being completely cleaned out yet, as I still have that fullness, but I believe that it's getting better, albeit slowly. Many people without a serious blockage, such as airline passengers or employees, can clear their ears up with one application of the Estachi, but that's not usually possible for those with ETD. The Estachi has a 30 day money back guarantee, as they are confident that it will produce results within three to four weeks, even for those with very blocked tubes.

 

Why do you avoid Flonase? Just curious

 

It's meant for allergies, and I don't think that I have any.

Edit: I may give the Flonase another chance, for a week or so once a day, before using the Eustachi device, as I didn't really do it that way before I switched to the saline spray.

 

Are you closer to full recovery?

 

Seems I had a setback. My tinnitus is loud again, and my ears have become full and crackly again. Also the hearing disperagy between each of my ears has increased. At any gven time I hear much better out of one ear than the other.

That said, my tinnitus is now more "extreme", and is either loud or record quiet. Twice this week it went down so much for a few hours I couldn't hear it in a 35dB room.

 

Is it the case that you have no idea what had caused this setback?

 

Honestly I don't know. I seem to have fuller ears with a swishing feeling in them. I assume this is trapped fluid. In one ear i have fluid, and in the other ear I have less fluid feeling but more pressure, and I think I may have a mild ear infection. I am taking Amoxycillan for this. I have had enough of this and I am trying to get a referral to an ENT, but my doctor doesn't seem to want to admit that he doesn't know what he's doing and wont give me a referral.

 

You can try going to a walk-in clinic or to the emergency...