I've been miserable lately. About a month ago I had tubes put in to equalize the negative pressure due to my bad eustacian tubes.

I've always had issues with my ears, but hearing has been generally good - even with the negative pressure inside my ears I've been able to temporarily pop them out to a normal position. However, infections and such have gotten worse in the past few years and I finally took my ent's advice and went to a surgeon who put the tubes in. After a couple of weeks, my left ear has really gotten quite good, but my right ear is ringing and sounds muffled compared to my left. A return visit to the surgeon (and an audiogram) confirmed my left ear is much better, but my right is in bad shape. The surgeon basically said there's nothing he can do, but take the tube out and hope my hearing returns to "normal". He thinks there my have been damage to the bones in the inner ear that he "missed" when doing the initial examination and that my hearing was better because the ear drum was directly touching the bones because it was being sucked inward from the negative pressure.

A few things make me question this theory. First, even now if I tug on my ear lobe slightly I can hear a marked (temporary) improvement in my hearing. Secondly, if I clamp down (what I think I'm doing is clenching my eustacian tubes), I also get an improvement. Third, before the tube, when I popped my eardrum out, my hearing always improved. The surgeon didn't think my tugging my ear or clamping down could be bringing the eardrum to touch the bones, but offered no explanation. He basically said that he could take the tube out if I was really unhappy, but I would run the risk of eventually damaging the bones by wrapping the eardrum around them.

I've been going to someone who is claimed to be the best in ny, but am troubled by the lack of interest in my case.

I'm hoping someone out there has had a similar experience and can offer some words of advice. While my hearing in the bad ear isn't really terrible, it is very strange to walk around all the time feeling muffled in one ear. My hearing is very, very important to me given my love of music and sound and I'm very frightened at the fact nothing can be done. However, because of my reasoning above I am going for a second opinion in hopes another otalogist can find the time to help me.

Yeah, I've had a ct scan and it was completely normal with the exception of a very slight case of mastoiditis. Interesting, maybe that is really the issue, although like yourself, my doctor said it was inconsequential. Stretching or pulling makes a difference in the bad ear, but doesn't do anything for the good ear - that's why a have my doubts regarding that its just changing the ear canal.

How long have you had the tube in your ear?

Let's keep each other posted.

I have a similar problem. Have had tons of ear infections (dysfunctional estuchian tubes) and decided to have a tube put in. It was only put in my right ear.

Unfortunately, since the tube was placed, my hearing in that ear is less than 50% of what it was and it's driving me nuts.

The ENT wanted to send me to have a hearing test but that's pointless. I know my hearing is messed up.

I'm tempted to have him remove it but afraid my hearing is gone perm now. :confused:

I did a post on my son. He is 16 years old. He has had his mastoid bone, encus bone removed. His mastoid bone was full of infection. This all started when he was 6 months old. Please, I ask you all to continue to go to the doctor and get treatment. My doctor that is on D.C. he is really great, he has brought peoples hearing back, when they haven't heard in years. This situation with my son is very hard. His body keeps fighting the tubes. It won't heal from the mastoidectomy. It has took 6 months. He also did a bridge, to bring back his hearing, right now, it is still not working. But, never give up !!! I keep telling my son that everyday. The doctor says that his eustachian are so small, that is what is causing this. But my prayers are out there for him and for everyone with this same problem. I know, I have been there. I have watched my son have tubes put in his ear in the office, with no pain medicine or anything. They even opened his opening to his eardrum. He goes every 2 weeks, just so this doctor can burn lessions off his ear with nitro sulphate. He knows it all. He also lost his taste nerve on the right side ( He doesn't know that, I didn't have the heart to tell him )
I wish there was more to say, The only thing I can say it "Don't give up!! " I can't for my son

An update on my Son. They did a CAT scan on my son. Found that his infection was worse. Found out that he had MRSA.

MRSA is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus aureus, often referred to simply as "staph," are bacteria commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people. Occasionally, staph can cause an infection; staph bacteria are one of the most common causes of skin infections in the United States. Most of these infections are minor (such as pimples and boils) and most can be treated without antibiotics (also known as antimicrobials or antibacterials). However, staph bacteria can also cause serious infections (such as surgical wound infections and pneumonia). In the past, most serious staph bacteria infections were treated with a certain type of antibiotic related to penicillin. Over the past 50 years, treatment of these infections has become more difficult because staph bacteria have become resistant to various antibiotics, including the commonly used penicillin-related antibiotics (1). These resistant bacteria are called methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA.
I know this because my son has MRSA.He is 15 years old. He has had 17 surgeries to fight infection in his ear. He just has surgery on Thursday. They had to remove his mastoid bone and an implant that they put in to bring back his hearing.
We have been on a PICC line. That is a portable IV. I give him IV antibiotics 2x a day.
Using Vancomycin. He had an allergic reaction. Was in the hospital for 3 days. They removed the line. The scheduled an emergency surgery.Hehad his surgery last Thursday. They removed the linning of the masotid bone ( what was left of it ) this is his 3rd surgery on his mastoid bone. They took out the bridge. Because of the MRSA the ear drum pulled away from the bridge. It too had t come out.
We are now on a midline. IV antibiotics for 5 weeks 2x a day. He is on Zyvox, the drug has been out sense 2000.
This infection is a very serious one. It has been knownto kill people as well.
Thank God that we found it in time. He is doing very well. He might get to go back to school on Wednesday.
Hope thishelps people out there