For the past five months, I have been going through the hell of eustachian tube dysfunction. This was due to trauma to the ear drum. On the best days, my left ear feels very plugged and uncomfortable. Other days, I feel this very maddening twitching and thumping in my left ear. Sometimes the thumping sensation happens in my right ear to a far less degree. The worst symptom ever, one that has occured primarly in the first three months is when my eustachian tube opens suddenly, causing my left ear drum to pop back and forth violently. I have had numerous nervous breakdowns from these unbearable and prolonged symptoms. I have lost a great job and had to move back to my parents. At present, I am still in too much discomfort to work or study. I have seen three ENT professionals. For some inexplicable reason, the hearing in my left ear is normal, so they think it is only a minor condition that I am overeacting to. Some weeks, it has felt like it was slowly getting better, but then without warning, the twitching and popping returns! Will this heal on it's own? Do I need surgery that those three ENT doctors don't think necessary at the momment? I CAN'T LIVE LIKE THIS. I would appreciate it if I heared from anyone who has suffered from this condition or who still is. I need as much advice as I can to try and get through this.

Vernon, I HAVE this disorder!! :eek:
I've had it since I was 19 (30 now).
Its name is Patulous Eustachian Tube. If you search in the net, you'll find many things about it.
Sensation of fullness in the ear, autophony (the worst thing for me!!), incredible yawning(!!) :yawn:, desperate cherishing to lay on a sofa, tiredness.
After many years of discomfort, mixed with ENTs who did NOT :confused: understand how annoying this can be, :eek: I met an ENT who tried with two actions: he opened my nose that was not perfectly open and he put a little tube in the eardrum, that compensated pressures.
IT WORKED!! :p :p :p
{REMOVED}
Kisses, Blooming

Hi, I've got this problem, I'm fairly certain. 2 months ago, i underwent surgery for right face pressure and pain...it was only partially successful. It was the nose procedure you mentioned. I mentioned to my ENT afterwords that i get rattling in the ear, but I didn't know how to explain that I thought the rattling had something to do with the pressure and discomfort i still feel. he ordered some tests, and in the tests it was determined that i have an injured eustacian tube in my right ear. the procedure is to do nothing...probably because i didn't spell it out for him that the rattling and the pressure are associated. i've had this problem since age 18 (i am 32 now). one psychological symptom that goes along with it (besides everything you both mentioned) is a desperate need to avoid conflict, which somehow exacervates the agony. at this point, i'd be willing to do anything to fix it. i'm taking a med school entrance exam in a couple of weeks, and i don't want to be crucified by the exam because of all this pressure. i won't be able to fix it in time, but perhaps there is a technique you used in the interval?

sorry, i am rambling. i think you catch my drift. thanks for any advice.

Hi, I've got this problem, I'm fairly certain. 2 months ago, i underwent surgery for right face pressure and pain...it was only partially successful. It was the nose procedure you mentioned. I mentioned to my ENT afterwords that i get rattling in the ear, but I didn't know how to explain that I thought the rattling had something to do with the pressure and discomfort i still feel. he ordered some tests, and in the tests it was determined that i have an injured eustacian tube in my right ear. the procedure is to do nothing...probably because i didn't spell it out for him that the rattling and the pressure are associated. i've had this problem since age 18 (i am 32 now). one psychological symptom that goes along with it (besides everything you both mentioned) is a desperate need to avoid conflict, which somehow exacervates the agony. at this point, i'd be willing to do anything to fix it. i'm taking a med school entrance exam in a couple of weeks, and i don't want to be crucified by the exam because of all this pressure. i won't be able to fix it in time, but perhaps there is a technique you used in the interval?

sorry, i am rambling. i think you catch my drift. thanks for any advice.
the rattling could very well be myoclonus, a muscle spasm in the middle ear, it is made much worse by stress.....i have/had it.....rattling was horrible!