Tinnitus from Fluid Being Trapped in Eustachian Tube?

Anyone else get tinnitus from fluid being trapped in ET!? It’s driving me insane!
It’s a constant cycle next to no tinnitus (sleeping in near silence) - tinnitus increases - hearing decreases, sounds are echoey, lots of clicking and squelching in ears, ears won’t pop - eases off - carries on easing off til tinnitus is back down to a near 0.

The ENT thinks it is allergies but it all started when I had my tonsils removed. It has been noted on two appointments that my adenoids are ’huge’ and ‘bulky’ but the ENT nurse practically laughed me out of the room when I said could this be causing my problems!
I’m also completely anaemic which I guess doesn’t help.

I just feel really down about it. I’m doing everything I possibly can - my nighttime routine is ridiculous with vitamins and nose sprays!

I had my CT scan yesterday so I’m hoping that will show something :-(

 

I don't know if I have fluid stuck in my E tubes- but I do believe I have ETD. Last time I went to my ENT he said that the openings of the tubes that he could see in the back of my throat were swollen, and also I had negative pressures in my ears, which means that there's an issue with the E tubes. I also use nose sprays.

 

Yes it is very frustrating. Try PatulEND to kill any bacteria up in there.

After Nose Sprays you will need to drain any fluid out of there. Try working the jaws (like airplane / air pressure style) to make sure all the fluids are down. Try an infrared sauna to dry it out more. Salt water in the ears will cause just as much issues as everything else.

 

My hearing aid specialist looked in my ear after I told him that certain loud sounds that would cause distortion. He said I had fluid in the ear and told me to take Mucinex. I'm not sure which type because it seems like the regular Mucinex only works on chest congestion. He's now closed down temporarily because of the Coronavirus. Does anyone have any suggestions for me? Any experience with Mucinex or alternate treatments for fluid behind the ear?

 

Fluid behind the ear can sometimes take a while to drain with ETD. When I get it, it can sometimes take weeks if not months to fully resolve, and by the time it does, it’s not long before my Eustachian tubes are clogged up again. It’s a chronic problem for me and I’ve tried everything from nasal steroids (Dymista and Fluticasone), nasal rinses, steam inhalation, cutting out dairy, jaw movements, antihistamines, etc. Nothing works other than the passing of time in my case, but I’d try those as a starting point.

 

Did you ever try the Eustachi? I got it but I'm not sure if I am supposed to use it every day for a few weeks or if it is supposed to work after one use.

 

Hey, all. Sorry to hijack a thread but since this is related and also has some recent posts, I figured I'd post here.

I know none of you can actually diagnose anything, but those who have had similar issues and were diagnosed with ETD (as was I), do any of these symptoms seem familiar?

Little side note that at the onset of my tinnitus I had no recent loud noise exposure and my earbud time was limited to about 20-40 minutes a day (2x20) for 3 times a week on very moderate volumes (yes, for real, no ''unknowingly too loud'' trust me)

I did have a lot of earwax that eventually plugged one ear completely. I've read this can definitely cause ETD. Anyway.

1) crackling when swallowing, yawning, opening mouth etc - this comes and goes a little
2) feeling of something being stuck in my ears
3) itchiness, occasional aches in the ear canal
4) occasional ear drainage, sometimes odorless, sometimes kind of smells gross. It's never a lot
5) occasional pressure/sensitivity around the sinus areas
6) post-nasal drip - I can make this worse when massaging behind my ear and my neck
7) nasal congestion
8) unable to pop ears properly
9) tinnitus, of course. No high pitched pure tone

I've had most of these issues since around the onset of my tinnitus. None of them are related to noise exposure or get worse with certain noises etc. I have absolutely no sound sensitivity, either for loudness or any pain, so I don't think I have any hyperacusis.

It's been lasting for 4 months now, sometimes it gets better but it's immediately back to being bad.

Reason I'm asking is because it was my GP who mentioned this, not an ENT. My GP didn't want to send me to one when it was still possible because my complaints weren't serious and he was convinced it would go in a few weeks. It's been nearly two since with absolutely no improvement; at the time I went I'd already been dealing with this for close to 2 months.

I've tried all the common tricks with absolutely no relief.

Also, how likely is this to play a role in my tinnitus?

 

I have tinnitus due to fluid in the ear but I get the same things that you have mentioned above, however the audiologist could not find any fluid. However I am not convinced, I also feel like there is something in my tubes and when I put my finger in my ear and wiggle it I can hear the fluid, if you get what I mean.

 

Of the symptoms you described, I have 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, and 9.

The ear ache / pain and associated pressure imbalance is particularly bad some days. I think yawning made it worse.

4 is a “probably not” - there’s fluid, but I’m 95% sure that’s just wax naturally leaving the ear.

6 and 7 are a “no”.

Tinnitus is not pure tone as well, but rather an constant electrical / metallic static.

Eustachian tube in my affected area ear feels clogged - like a pipe.

 

I would also say my tinnitus is not a pure tone. It's a static hiss like you said sometimes metallic. I have the symptoms 1,2,3,8,9.

 

I have all of those too and I was found to have severe sinus disease and had to have FESS at the end of October there.

Tinnitus was super quiet for a week after surgery but came back on when I had an infection and has been up & down since depending on how I’m feeling - still early days for recovery though so will update in a couple of months.