Tinnitus and Eustachian Tube Dysfunction: Symptoms Suddenly Worse

[TeaE24]

Hi, I am new here, 32F.

My journey began when I woke up one morning in November with buzzing in my ears and a feeling of fullness after having an achy throat. I saw my family doctor, who referred me first to an audiologist and then to an ENT. I have no hearing loss, and the ENT suspects it could be Eustachian tube dysfunction. He recommended some lifestyle changes about a month ago.

I was starting to get used to it, having some bad days here and there when it was worse. Starting this week, it has gotten significantly worse, and I am not sure why. The only thing I can think of is that I was on a car trip to visit my grandmother. Now it is more high pitched, much louder, and there is some aching pain. I have also woken up with headaches a few times.

Before, the sound could easily be masked by the sound of my fridge, and I could forget about it during the day. Now, I am not sure what to do or if there is really anything to do.

Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.

 

[FXBG]

Hi, I am new here, 32F.

My journey began when I woke up one morning in November with buzzing in my ears and a feeling of fullness after having an achy throat. I saw my family doctor, who referred me first to an audiologist and then to an ENT. I have no hearing loss, and the ENT suspects it could be Eustachian tube dysfunction. He recommended some lifestyle changes about a month ago.

I was starting to get used to it, having some bad days here and there when it was worse. Starting this week, it has gotten significantly worse, and I am not sure why. The only thing I can think of is that I was on a car trip to visit my grandmother. Now it is more high pitched, much louder, and there is some aching pain. I have also woken up with headaches a few times.

Before, the sound could easily be masked by the sound of my fridge, and I could forget about it during the day. Now, I am not sure what to do or if there is really anything to do.

Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.

I have found that most of my tinnitus is also related to Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (ETD). Initially, I was prescribed the steroid Prednisone, and it cleared 100 percent of my tinnitus. However, one of the side effects of that medication is a "hyper" feeling most of the day, so I did not repeat it after tapering off. Then I tried Flonase, an over-the-counter nasal spray that is a corticosteroid, and that also relieved my tinnitus for two or three days while using it, but then it became less effective.

Both of those medications help to calm the autoimmune system and reduce inflammation. If they work, it indicates that the problem is inflammation related and would point to ETD as the source of the problem. It might be worth a try.

For the Flonase spray, look up the correct way to target the Eustachian tubes. The angle of inserting the spray into the nostril is important, since it will not work for ETD-related tinnitus if it is sprayed upward into the sinuses.