jenni9033

I can talk some about pe tubes in adults. I have a history of ear infections as an adult, and in December 2010 ended up with a double ear infection that turned into ETD. Flying while congested is what triggered this nightmare.

I got the tubes put in for problems with keeping my middle ears equalized (any change of elevation -- even small hills or a storm front coming in) was causing my ears to block or fill up with pressure. Even sometimes just talking or eating did it. You can read a lot more about my condition in my past threads. I had the right ear done first, since it was the most bothersome, then a couple months later, the left ear.

Once the tubes healed, I found them to be helpful to help relieve the pressure, though they were not a perfect fix. I'd say they helped about 50% of the time. But I still had blocking/pressure...just not as constant. They also helped me to fly safely/comfortably.

I only had one ear infection after getting the tubes in, but it was nasty. The infection/fluid blocked my right ear for about 3-4 days, and then was treated successfully by drops. A granuloma on my eardrum also went away with the drops. But the tube in my right ear is now non-functional because it's clogged with dried material from the infection. My local ENT said to leave it in place and let the eardrum push it out as it heals, as him digging into my ear to remove a non-functional tube would be risky and leave a perforated eardrum behind. Better to just be conservative and let nature take its course.

That tube lasted 10 months, total. The other tube in my left ear is still functional. That is something to remember -- tubes only last from 6 months to 2 years, then if you still need them, you have to get the surgery again. It's not without risk of permanent damage, though overall it is considered very safe. Having your eardrum blow out from ETD pressure while flying or from infection is far, far worse.

The good news is that apparently my e-tube on the right side has recovered enough that I don't seem to need that pe tube anymore to keep the ear equalized. I'm feeling much more comfortable these days, with only very intermittent ear issues. Like maybe I'll have a bout of 30 minutes to an hour of ear pressure every 1-2 days. Or sometimes I will go days at a time feeling okay. When I do have ear symptoms, I become agitated, thinking I am relapsing. But so far, that has not been the case.

My underlying issues ended up being TMJD muscular spasms and allergies. I'm on splint therapy and immunotherapy (shots) to address these problems. The muscular spasms made my e-tubes struggle to function properly, and allergies caused swelling and mucus issues that also set me up for ear infections and ETD disaster. TMJD also caused my middle ear myoclonus (thumping/twitching) AND many strange sensations that are difficult to distinguish from classic ETD. So I had a mess of issues going on in a very small space in my head. At one point, I was so severely depressed that I truly could not see living my life this way. I became quite desperate and willing to do just about anything.

I have a very good local ENT-allergist working with me for the allergy problem and the more acute ear issues. But since I still had chronic ear issues and had waited 6+ months for an appointment, I ended up ultimately flying across the country to see Dr. Dennis Poe in Boston. He helped me figure out a treatment plan that is working. I wasn't a candidate for the new e-tube dilation surgery as the problem was not permanently blocked e-tubes. But honestly, it did not take long into the splint therapy that I started to feel better. Working with a neuromuscular dentist with a good reputation has been key...many dentists know a little bit about TMJD and will attempt to treat, but it's more of a fine art and science than that, and I strongly recommend finding a dentist who makes TMJD his or her main or only focus of practice and will investigate jaw position and joints thoroughly. Otherwise, you really will be wasting your time and your money, and quite possibly damaging your bite and making things worse.

I am not reading the boards as much these days, since I'm not having a lot of problems on a daily basis, but I will still check in from time to time to see how everyone is doing. Like DLT, I never liked that people would post while in the throes of ETD, then disappear and never update with their condition. I am very grateful to be feeling much more healthy again, and do hope for a complete recovery.