I've read your advice, and value your opinion. I'm hoping
you can offer anything that may send me in the right
direction with my problem. I'm a 24 yr. old female who's
suffered with extreme bilateral tinnitus and incessant
"cracking" and "popping" of my eardrums for over a year. I
also have tenderness and swelling of what I believe to be a
lymphnode just below my left ear. I do not have any hearing
loss. I had an auditory evoke potential which proved to be
within the normal range. I've been to four ENTs and they've
all said my symptoms are normal and to learn to deal with
it. I should mention that I experienced these same symptoms
several years ago, but they went away after five months or
so. At that time I was being treated for chronic sinusitis
and tonsilitis, which I experienced throughout most of my
college career before having surgery (Deviated septum &
tonsilectomy).
After doing much of my own research, I've concluded that I
have chronic eustachian tube dysfunction. Several weeks ago
I tried another ENT, and he confirmed that my eustachian
tubes are in fact dysfunctional. Finally. Only, he did not
address the long-term reprecussions of this dysfunction -
retraction pockets? Hearing Loss? Is a year and a half long
enough to suffer such irreversible damage? He also said that
such a condition is only annoying and that I would have to
coax him to put tubes in my ears. The swelling below my ear
also was not addressed. Am I getting some poor advice?
Please help me understand this so that I may seek proper
treatment. I don't know how much more of this ringing,
cracking and popping I can take. Thanking you in advance,
P.S. Flonase for over a month and Guiafed has not made any difference.
Reply -----------------------------
Certainly chronic eustachian dysfunction could theoretically result in complications such as those you mention (retraction pockets, etc.). However, such complications usually are the result of long-term eustachian dysfunction and neglect of serious symptoms. Serious symptoms include hearing loss, pain, dizziness, or discharge from the ear. In the vast majority of adults with eustachian tube problems, the condition is at worst a nuisance. The use of topical nasal steroids such as Flonase, as well as decongestant-mucolytic combinations such as Guiaifed are commonly recommended and generally result in at least modest improvement in symptoms. I also strongly recommend frequent attempts at "popping" the ears, known as autoinflation. As long as you are able to "pop" your ears by plugging your nose and building up air pressure until the ear drum inflates, you will likely be able to prevent the complications you have mentioned.
--
Steve Dankle, MD
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Milwaukee, Wis
NOTICE: OFCN is not engaged in the rendering of professional medical services. The information contained on this system or any other OFCN system should not supplant individual professional consultation. It is offered exclusively as a community education service. Advice on individual problems must be obtained directly from a professional.
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