Hi, I need advice. I have had ear problems for years and years. It has been diagnosed as eustachian tube dysfunction and the symptoms are a clogged or pressure sensation in ears, tinnitus in left ear, a constant need to pop to get the pressure right, hearing loss and a floaty/spaced out feeling in my head. I have tried all sorts of treatments, including a tube in my left ear... this is only made things worse and I had it removed after 10 days. I noticed that if I am able to blow my nose really well and get a lot of the mucus out, it feels somewhat better. So I asked the ENT if the problem could be up my nose, so she took a look and said, "i wasn't expecting this, you have adenoids!" I was like, "am i not supposed to?" She said tmy tonsils are tiny and no problem, but the adenoids usually shrink by mid childhood. Since they are quite large they could be causing my ear problems and would recommend an adenoidectomy... she said they would be burned off. Sounds very painful. She said, no, just really stuffy for 7-10 days. She also wants to biosy them. So my question is, COULD this be the source of my ear problems? Is it worth surgery to find out? Is the recovery awful? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. :)

~Naomi~

She also wants to biosy them. So my question is, COULD this be the source of my ear problems? Is it worth surgery to find out? Is the recovery awful? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Yes, Adnoids are in direct line to swell and block the Eustacion tubes.. when this occurs fluid present can become infected and result in an ear infection..

Yes, I did at 31 and my son did at 3.5 and many of my family had it before the age of 16. Since the adnoidectomies, ear infections for all afterward... zero..

No. As far as recovery head ache.. minor soreness.. nothing like the tonsillectomy. Just don't sneeze... major ouch there. Much of the pain can be alleviated by the use of frequent application of saline nasal spray. Have the Adnoidectomy.

Respectfully Yours,
MG

MG-

Thanks for writing. A few more questions because I am still trying to make a decision. Did you have trouble breathing through your nose before you had them out? I have read that this is the main symptom of swollen adenoids and I don't have that problem. I also do not get ear infections (another main symptom), just the symptoms I mentioned above. I am just trying to figure out if my Dr. is on the right track because I don't want to go through the pain of surgery only to be dissapointed. My Dr. said the surgery is optional, but she thinks it "may help me." Then again I have read that any time adenoids are enlarged in an adult, something is definitely wrong. I'm confused. :confused:

Thanks,
~Naomi~

"Did you have trouble breathing through your nose before you had them out? I have read that this is the main symptom of swollen adenoids and I don't have that problem. I also do not get ear infections (another main symptom), just the symptoms I mentioned above."

My son did, I did not. I didn't have ear infections but did have chronic sinus infections and headaches.


I am just trying to figure out if my Dr. is on the right track because I don't want to go through the pain of surgery only to be dissapointed. My Dr. said the surgery is optional, but she thinks it "may help me."

Adnoids are supposed to disappear as you get older. However a hyper active immune system due to allergies persay can keep them active and enlarged well into adult hood.

Then again I have read that any time adenoids are enlarged in an adult, something is definitely wrong. I'm confused.

It will not hurt them to have them removed and 3-5 days of soreness is worth a lifetime of relief in my book. Even knowing what my T&A and full sinus surgery recovery was like I would do it all again if my missing pieces just magically reappeared all at once.

I understand the confusion, but the side effects and cons of an adnoidectomy are miniscule.

Sincerely and respectfully,
MG

MG-

Ok, thanks for the input! I think I'm gonna do it. :)

~Naomi