Eustachian Tube Pressure/Pain - Allergies Message Board

mattg1021 · 06-22-2009, 08:46 PM

I've been dealing with pressure and pain in my ears for years now from what I believe is a eustachian tube problem. I've seen 2 ENT's and tried all sorts of nasal sprays and decongestant pills. Lately I've been seeing an allergist who is also trying allergy meds. But they don't work! I also use a sinus rinse twice daily to keep the nasal passages clear. I breathe great through my nose but my ears are killing me. It's almost as if there is glue in my ear. It has been relentless and disrupting my life of late coinciding with the spike in grass pollen. Has anyone had similar problems? What did you find successful? I've also tried ear tubes and physical therapy. THanks for your input.

dolysods · 06-25-2009, 04:43 PM

I have problems with my right ear/tube. Acupuncture has helped me a lot. I went to the ent about it because i was having pain more frequently and he wanted me to do this and that for 30 days and report back. I have done that daily for years. I was rather disappointed

Bett1125 · 07-17-2009, 06:13 PM

I have also had more pressure and feelings of fluid in both my ears, but I do have some hearing loss....however, I do know that when you use the sinus rinse, an amount of fluid gets in your ears from using those...especially if you have a tendency to use the squeeze bottle.....I was told to barely squeeze the bottle so as not to squirt the water to quickly...I notice when I used the nasal rinse in the winter, I am fine, but in the spring and summer has increased ear fluid....it could be because I am having so many problems with seasonal allergies as I live in an area that is heavily wooded with everything I am allergic to.....I can definitely attest to the ear/allergy connection, as when it first started with me this year, it was after I had walked through a heavily wooded area, within 2 days I had positional vertigo for about a week.....

i notice with my fifth allergy injection some of the fluid has cleared up in my ears, and I can hear somewhat better.....but when I get around the allergens, stops up again....I guess I need more time on the shots..I have cut way down on the nasal rinses.....I only use half a bottle once in a while....

jayshri · 09-28-2009, 01:13 PM

my son is 6 yrs old and has had persistent nasal drainage since 6 yrs ago. We recently found out he had extensive cholesteatoma in his right ear- has had 2 surgeries- we have to go back for a third at some point- he developed perforation in his ear drum after the surgery and I am being told that it is retracting into his hammer bone- any suggestions on what I can do to relieve the ear pressure- he has negative ear pressure in his left ear as well.

bluenick62 · 10-18-2009, 09:38 AM

I too have had this problem for years and it's caused both by allergies and colds. You may have done this...but get tested for what you are allergic to. I'm allergic to my own hair when cut off for god's sake. When you know the full extent of yr allergies you can avoid them. And when i say avoid them, and this depends on your life circumstances and how much it bothers you, try changing countries. you'll find if you weren't born in a country your allergies don't exist there. I was born in the UK but don't have pollen allergies in two other places i've lived in LA and Spain.

Secondly, sniff warm salty/brackish water. and if it's bad lots of it. it does work. when sniffing it open the eustachian tube by keeping your mouth open or chewing. you can also put your head off the end of the bed backwards and using a pippet put warm salty water into your tubes via your nose and let the water rest on the entrance to the tube. when doing this you can 'pop' your nose gently to push the salty water into the entrance of the tube slightly to start it draining out.

something else that works for me is going and spending at least an hour in a steam room in a gym. tough it out and keep breathing deeply through your nose, while occasionally 'popping' the mucus (by holding your nose, mouth shut and blowing). sometimes this is method is very successful. if you get the condition badly, look into getting your own steam room. i'm doing just that because this condition is debilitating and receives scant attention from general practitioners and even ENT doctors who if they haven't experienced it, don't have a clue.

my condition has induced panic attacks in me. so when i get the condition i get in a right state and sometimes have to take valium in order to not going completely mental. i kid you not.