Does eustachian tube dysfunction following AOM self resolve?

[vince77]

Update for anyone following this message board and concerned about a similar problem. The crackling and crunching sounds in my right ear (the one which had the infection) has finally disappeared! and the pressure is fine so hopefully its all back to normal now and won't return. The left ear still has small clicking and pressure problem, but I now think this should also resolve. In total since the start of my troubles this has taken 9 weeks to finally clear up completely (in the right ear), I can't help to let you know if anything specific finally cleared this up but there were 3 things in particular which helped. 1- Using the neti pot regularly - helped a lot with the pressure problems, and sometimes with the crackling, may have had something to do with the full recovery. 2- Chiropractic - I started going to a chiropractor 2 weeks ago, may have had something to do with clearing up the condition, i personally don't think so, but can't rule it out. 3- Beconase - steroid nasal spray, I used this earlier, and stopped, I started again a week ago and now my problems are gone, again not sure if it was the solution or just something i was taking at the time. Overall I think its a long hard wait and it cleared itself with time which was a tortuous 9 weeks. Now i'm waiting for the left ear to get better.

[vince77]

This damn ear clicking / crunching sensation is back again in both ears. I can't believe it, any idea why it stopped and has come back? This is ultra depressing, does anyone know a really good ENT in london? Any opinion on whether i have eustachian tube dysfunction or some type of muscle related issue like middle ear myclonus or palatial myclonus.

[kdny6]

Hi Vince,
I'm newto these boards . . . but not new to this clicking and crunching in my ears!
My ENT said he only sees fluid in my left ear, but I get the clicking and crunching in BOTH. He put a probe in my nose to look at the ear drums and also down the throat. I've been using Sterile Saline Spray in my nose 3 times a day, and my ears really start to click & crunch when I use that. He also put me on oral Steroids for 6 days.
What I find most worrisome is the 'spacey' feeling I get from time to time, does anyone else get that? The best way for me to describe it is that relaxed, dreamy feeling you get when you wake up after dozing off on a nap on the beach in the sun. Does that make any sense?? ALSO, I still feel a little off balance sometimes, but not as bad as 4 weeks ago when I really felt more pressure in my ears.

[kdny6]

I'm not sure if I posted correctly . . .

[vince77]

Hi kdny6 - I can relate to you problem. I got AOM in my right ear in April and was one of the worst experiences I've ever had. I can't remember having had an ear infection prior to that. For me the worst of it was the first 2 months (unfortunately it can take some time for this to resolve) when I had ear pressure, lots of sounds from the fluid and partial hearing. Now everything has gone back to normal except I still get crackling sounds when I swallow, the doctor says this sometimes happens depending the type of virus which caused your infection, and it can take from 3 months to a year for those crackling sounds to go away. I have to admit its getting less and less every week and doesn't bother me too much now. I hope you get better - just give it time, I found the things that helped me most was to pop my ears lightly by blowing when pinching my nose closed and using a steroid nasal spray daily. I also used a sterile saline spray, I think that's ok, but if you want to properly clean and moisturize your nasal cavity you should use a neti pot like sinucleanse or sinurinse, I use these occasionally if i feel stuffy and they work wonders. Good luck - get well soon.