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ETD? TINNITUS? ACID REFLUX?

Posted , 5 users are following.

eyesonfire
eyesonfire

Hi. I am new to this. I live in Canada. June 2014, a year ago, when my ear started popping out of the blue. It was my left ear only. I saw my GP who suggested allergy medication and nasal spray. I tried both and it did not work. I had 2 more nasal sprays and again, did not work. I went back to my GP and referred me to an ENT. I had to wait 5 months ... Month 5, I was still suffering from ear popping and my hearing started to seem muffled and lots of ear pressure and fullness in both ears. I saw an ENT who had nothing to say or helped at all. He said I have ETD and good luck. Only suggested an ear popper device. I bought an ear popper which costed me almost $200. It works ... but only for a few minutes because my ears will feel pressure and full again. It is like I have to use this device 24/7. Month 12, It is now June 2015 .. I am still suffering. I had a hearing test done 4 months ago and found out that I lost 10d in my left ear. I wanted to cry. Why? Because I am already hearing impaired. I wear hearing aids in both ears. I now have anxiety and will probably have a breakdown soon because no one will help me. Two weeks ago, I am hearing humming in my right ear. It is very upsetting and annoying. It won't go away either. The popping in my left ear only happens when I am laying down, sleeping. It goes away when I get up. All day, everyday, I have fullness, pressure in both ears and now I have a humming nose in my right ear. I went back to my GP who referred me to a second ENT. I have no idea how long I will be waiting .... I am only 24 years old, female. I have no idea what to do anymore. I also have acid reflux my whole life. I don't know what is going on

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  • vas1972
    vas1972 eyesonfire

    Posted

    Hello,

    I'm also from Canada and have reflux/Gerd and recently diagnosed with Barrett's esophagus as a complication of GERD. I'm in the exact same boat your in my ear issues started after a sinus infection and going on 6 months now. I also bought the ear popper and it doesn't work in fact it makes them feel more full. I'm not sure if you're on any meds for reflux but some PPI's can cause sinusitis and in turn can cause polyps to grow and block your Eustacean tube and not allow for drainage. Which is what mine ending up being and now have a biopsy scheduled next week hopefully get some relief as the ear issue is driving me nuts and giving me more and more anxiety making my reflux worse. The ENT also told me that ear issues can also be a complication of GERD if you're reflux makes it up high in the esophagus and your larynx. I'll keep you posted after my biopsy...has your ENT checked for polyps using an endoscope?

    • eyesonfire
      eyesonfire vas1972

      Posted

      I am on prevacid 60mg a day for acid reflux for the last 7 or 8 years now. The ENT that I saw in Nov 2014 did nothing. He only saw me for five mins and said goodbye. good luck. It was very discouraging. I will be seeing another ENT soon ... hopefully. I will mention about this. No one really knows what is wrong with me. It could be from the water … etd … tinnitus … acid reflux … Like I don’t know what to do anymore. I am very upset because I do not want to lose any more hearing. I hope I recover soon and get better soon … Keep me posted! Thank you
  • eyesonfire
    eyesonfire

    Posted

    Update: I have my second referral to a ent and I have to wait 7 weeks. Right now, I am on cotristeriod spray (budesonide mixed with otri) twice a day for two weeks. It seems to help pop my left ear since I never could before .. but all my symptoms are still here. This is my 3rd spray in the last year by the way. I cannot have a bath or shower anymore without wearing plugs. Water seems to get trapped inside. I still have anxiety problems but trying to stay positive. The humming sound in my right ear has never gone away. This started last month. I will have to talk to my doctor about acid reflux and other things but I won't see her until August. I already had acid reflux problems my whole life .. I am taking 60mg of prevacid twice a day. Reminder: I have fullness, pressure in both ears. Popping sound in left ear when I am sleeping and humming sound in right ear non stop. This started last June. Thanks everyone ... Stay positive
    • eyesonfire
      eyesonfire

      Posted

      PS: I am wondering if this is TMJ related .. The way I pop my ears is by opening my mouth and making a sound. It pops everytime. I was also told last year that I grind my teeth at night. I know this may mean nothing ... But I hope I recover soon. Trying to find answers ... Thank you again
  • vas1972
    vas1972 eyesonfire

    Posted

    Hi eyesonfire

    Just wanted to update you, so I went to my ENT appointment on June 8 at East General Hospital here in Toronto after suffering from the same issues as you since Jan 11, 2015 after a bad sinus infection and what they found was adenoid lympoid tissue filling up the nasopharynx and blocking the Eustacean Tube for both ears.  At first they thought it was related to GERD and they prescribed Tecta 2x a day.  I stopped the Tecta and the fullness feeling got better but I lost about 6db from what the audiologist said.  Anyway they took a biopsy of the tissue and as soon as they did my ear popped even though they only removed a small piece.  So my question to you is did they put the camera up your nose to see if they're anything blocking your Eustacean Tubes like me or a polyp or something.  Before he went up my nose with an endoscope he said my ears are clear with no blockage and well vented.  I told him I don't care what you say I can't hear and I can't pop my ears.  That's when he pulled out the endoscope and found blockage.  Anyway now I'm waiting the results of the biopsy of the piece they pulled out to see what it is and if it can be removed completely because like you I'm losing my mind not being able to hear and having a constant hum.  

    So in short if they haven't scoped your nasopharynx ask them to they may be able to see something more.

     

    • vas1972
      vas1972

      Posted

      P.S.  why are you waiting so long for an ENT appointment??? Are you in Toronto?  I saw my GP on March 6 the first time and had my ENT appointment within a week.  I then called him last week and got in to do the biopsy with 5 days.
    • eyesonfire
      eyesonfire vas1972

      Posted

      I live in Manitoba. I wish they would take this more seriously. I will ask about the scope. I am not sure why I have to wait so long .. My first ent appointment took 4 months and it was pointless since he had nothing to say. My second ent appointment will be 7 weeks. We don't have any ents where I live so I have to drive 2 hours ....... I hope this won't be pointless and a waste of money this time. I am glad they found a diagnose for you. Good luck !!! Thank you
  • eyesonfire
    eyesonfire

    Posted

    Morning, I did a test today ... When I woke up, I decided not to move or open my mouth or talk. I noticed that I rarely had any ear pressure and didn't feel the need to pop my ears. Does this mean something? I think everyone can relate this .. When you go to sleep, all your problems goes away and you don't feel pain or anything. Well after sleeping for 8 hours and waking up, I don't have much ear pressure until later in the morning and it goes on all day until I go back to sleep. BUT when I am sleeping, my left ear does make a popping sound non stop until I get up from the bed but I learned to ignore that since it has been a year. I'll have to wait and suffer. But hey, I've been waiting and suffering for 13 months now .. NO BIG DEAL. Have a good day ... Keep me updated! Thanks
  • vas1972
    vas1972 eyesonfire

    Posted

    The same thing happens to me!!! Every damn morning. I told the doctor the same thing and that's when they actually did the scope. He said there's some definite blockage.
    • eyesonfire
      eyesonfire vas1972

      Posted

      Grrr. Nice to know I am not alone. I will defintely mention this next month. What are taking for relief? They found something for biospy? How long will you be waiting
    • vas1972
      vas1972 eyesonfire

      Posted

      I'm taking a nasal spray called Avamys which helps 2x a day. They found what they believe is lymphoid adenoid tissue and took a sample biopsy to make sure that's what it is and I have to wait now till June 22 to get the results from the pathologist. Funny thing is they took a bigger sample from the left side which has cleared most of the weirdness happening in that ear but the right side is still the same.
    • eyesonfire
      eyesonfire vas1972

      Posted

      Oh okay. I am also taking a nasal spray but I was only prescribed for two weeks and it is almost gone .... Weird well I hope you find out soon! Good luck
    • eyesonfire
      eyesonfire vas1972

      Posted

      Did you find out what is wrong with you yet? I just saw my family doctor today. I have been referred to 3 specialists. I hope I recover soon .... She prescribed me another nasal spray which is avamys. Once a day with 5 refills. I still have to wait another month to see an ent. She looked inside my ears and said right eardrum is pushed out a little bit. My left ear looks okay. Not sure what this means ..... She thinks tubes is the only solution but I don't like this idea. I already have hearing loss and I will not risk anymore. I also have acid reflux and she thinks it might be the problem for my ears. I will see a gastro and urologist for this. I am not sure what else to do. A month ago, the humming/squealing noise started in my right ear and hasn't stopped since which is upsetting. Anything else I should do? Anything advice? Any opinions? Thanks. Keep us updated and hopefully we all recover soon. I just want to feel normal again!!!
    • vas1972
      vas1972 eyesonfire

      Posted

      Hi nothing as of yet still waiting for the biopsy results. I should have them by Thursday. That's the exact nasal spray I've been taking Avamys 2x a day it's helped but the problem is still there and drives me crazy. I'm on my 3rd refill. I have GERD and Barrett's esophagus caused by the GERD and I'm only 43. My ENT said the same could be the GERD but I've been taking PPI's for almost 2 years with some breakthrough symptoms occasionally. I've explained many times to these doctors my problem started after a nasty cold and sinus infection it can't be coincidence. Prior the the sinus infection I felt great. As soon as I hear back I'll touch base. Did they scope your nasopharynx yet or just gave you the spray?
    • eyesonfire
      eyesonfire vas1972

      Posted

      How is the nasal spray helping you? Not sure what it is supposed to do ... I have 5 refills. Yeah I am only 24. I haven't seen an ent again yet ... I have to wait 4 weeks. My family doctor was the one who prescribed me the spray.
    • vas1972
      vas1972 eyesonfire

      Posted

      The nasal spray is supposed to reduce inflammation in the nose lining, reduce polyp size if there are any and help with any symptoms of allergies specifically congestion. All of the above can cause blockage of the ET and if you have GERD that causes ear problems as well.
    • eyesonfire
      eyesonfire vas1972

      Posted

      Hmmm okay. Well hopefully this will get figured out soon. Just want to feel normal again ..... Hoping to recover quickly. Le sigh .... I hope the next ent I will see next month will take me seriously ... and look inside my nose, ears. Thank you
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