Eustachian tube dysfunction - Inner Ear Disorders Message Board

Graciecat · 05-12-2003, 01:54 PM

I've had problems with my left ear almost as long as I can remember.
Everytime I wash my hair tons of water gets in that ear, for up to an hour aftewards the water slowly trickles back out.

In December I started to have a lot of pressure in that ear, the pressure follows my lower jaw line and goes down into my neck.
When I open my mouth to chew or yawn that ear snaps and cracks and it always feels like it's wet inside.
It burns and itches plus I feel dizzy.

I went to the Doctor he said I had a sinus infection, but could see nothing wrong with my ear.
He gave me antibiotics, I took those for ten days but my ear was still killing me.
I went back and this time he said there was fluid in my ear...more antibiotics...still no relief.
I went back today and he told me I have Eustachian tube dysfunction.
He told me to hold my nose and blow, that does help, but very little.
He also gave me a decongestent.
Even though I told him that everytime I've taken this kind of medication I've had major problems...heat palpitations, very hyper...I have panic attacks and the last thing I need is for something to make me more hyper than I already am!
His answer to that was "Take a Xanax and then take the medication I gave you"
That didn't seem like a good answer to my question.

So after that long winded explaintion, here's my question....has anyone ever used any kind of natural remedy for this problem and had sucess?
When I was a little girl my Grandmother used to put...I think it was clove oil..in her ear and that helped her.
I'm willing to try almost anything, this is driving me crazy.

hbep · 05-12-2003, 03:57 PM

Hello,

There's someone on the hearing disorders board who explained a natural remedy - saline spray - and how to use it. Her ENT told her about it. Put 'saline' in to the search engine on the hearing disorder board and read all the answers from Doris Day and Zip2Play under that thread.

I notice you mention pressure in your jaw. I have been diagnosed with tmjd (tempero mandibular joint disorder. I thougth I only had an ear problem for months and then found out the ear probs, including the full feeling in my eustachian tube was caused by muscular spasm from my jaw - this is v. common with TMJD. Tmjd can also affect the e tubes to such a degree that they keep getting fluid trapped in them. Check out the tmjd board, try putting ears in to the search engine, it will bring up posts, many of which will refer to this and the popping and cracking sounds.

Graciecat · 05-12-2003, 04:45 PM

Thanks so much for your response.
I checked out both boards and found some helpful information.

Graciecat · 05-15-2003, 01:20 PM

I want to thank you so much for sending me to the hearing disorders board.
I've been using the saline nose spray and the difference in my ear is amazing.
It feels almost normal again.
I still have a little pressure and dizziness, but it's nothing compared to what it was.
I'm so glad I posted here.
Again, thank you so much!