Question: Hi.


Looking for any advice if you please as this whole thing is very confusing - have seen my GP, who told me to "wait for a few weeks" and have done that, but cant get another appointment for about 4 weeks


Mid July I had a little cold…nothing too bad, more of cough then anything.


I noticed Tinnitus in my right ear at the start of Aug. Saw my GP (I’m based in the UK), who said everything was fine in my ears (a little redness). Obviously by that point I was reading horrors stories on the web, and went to see a private audiologist that same week.


At this point I must have noticed “fullness” in my ears as I mentioned this to the audiologist (like someone has put a thin glove over it or something) as she said it could be stress causing the muscles to tighten up (I agreed).


I had a hearing test = best she’d ever had, esp. high range. Had a Tympanometry test = normal. She looked in my ears = normal. Everything normal. She might have also mentioned Eustachian tube dysfunction at this point as she said “there’s little that can be done about that”.


I also hear a “disturbance” over certain things such as the radio, TV esp. clapping, the shower, even a fan or white noise app….they sounds like there a small high pitch sound attached to them.


A few weeks after I noticed the pressure easing in my ears and now it felt like bubbles behind where my nose connects to my mouth.


A few weeks after that I started to get ear ache, sometimes a dull ache, sometimes a sharper heat/prickle….this has settled a little again.


A week after, more pressure in my ears, and just below my ears. Very unconfortable. A week later, a cold. Now the cold has gone, it’s back to the slight fullness.


The fullness is normally in one ear for a few days then into the other. For example, all yesterday it was my right ear. Yesterday morning when brushing my teeth in went to left, then back to right, now its left again, but moving between the two a lot.


I can hear clicking when I swallow, mainly right side (the currently “better” of the two ears). I can also cause the click by trying to wiggle my ears!!

Today, it felt like there was water in my ears...like my ear canal was wet (its not). I went to the walk-in centre but my ears are still clear apparently.

Interestingly, a few years ago I got a new dentist, who said I had small teeth. She suggested silent acid reflux was the cause and got the Dr to prescribe omeprazole. I had just restarted taking omeprazole when my T started, so stopped again, but no real change. I have recently read that acid reflux could cause ETD…so started omeprazole again….no change in anything.


One more thing, sometimes, mainly my left ear goes all quiet and the T really ramps up. The best way to describe it is that you’re wearing headphones and one suddenly goes quiet…you can still hear, but it feels odd, like there’s a pressure change too. This only lasts a few seconds (fleeting T). But has happened x3 times in the last 2 days (where before I might have been once every other week).

Secondly, I have used a nasal spray too much over the years (once a night, one nostril, depending on which one feels full) and am aware this is an issue.


Doing the valsalva manoeuvre, nasal spray etc. all have no effect.


So, having no vertigo (thankfully) or hearing loss, I’m pretty sure it’s ETD and nothing “more sinister”. However, a few questions if anyone can help.

If it’s ETD why did I notice my Tinnitus before any fullness?

If there’s no fullness in the ear why is there still Tinnitus

If there pressure issues to do with ETD or anything else, why didn’t that get picked up during assessment.

I’m in good health, always have been. I thought id done this to myself through headphone use (maybe I have silent hearing loss!!) so it confuses me that this might be my body letting me down.


p.s. stress levels are okay. I’m living my life as normal (although you think about it a lot esp. as I can feel it). It’s taken me a week to post it as it just keep living with it…but I don’t want to keep living with it if there’s something I can do about it of course.

Hello.

Thank you for the information. I would agree with the suggestion of mild ETD. However, as I’ve had these symptoms for a prolonged period (>8 weeks) I will try the steroid/antihistamine nasal spray etc. as suggested.

I am also aware that there are many, many, many reasons why someone might present with tinnitus. I am also aware to trying to “find” a reason or cure it might not be beneficial. However, surely the link between having a cold and starting with tinnitus in both ears at the same time so close to symptoms of ETD suggests that the ETD is the cause of the tinnitus (even if my tinnitus was related to headphone use surely both ears wouldn’t suffer exactly the same amount of damage at the same time!), and can only hope that it is reversible if/when my body can get the tubes working again.

Anyhow, a couple of follow up questions.

Once I start with the nasal spray, how long should I give it before seeking further medical attention (GP) if no improvement?

Secondly, I am able to equalize pressure in my ears I think (I can "pop" them). I am booked to do a skydive/parachute jump at the end of October. Would you advise against it?

Finally, are steroid and antihistamine nasal sprays the same things? I have ordered this, hopefully this will help?? http://www XXXXXXX co.uk/BECONASE-HAYFEVER-ADULTS-100-DOSES/dp/B007KNV04U/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=0000&sr=8-12&keywords=nasal+spray

For you information, The current nasal spray that I’ve use include Xylometazoline Hydrochloride

I will aim to upload my hearing test results once I get them.

Kind regards