Surgery on inner/middle ear?

[O2BBubbleFree]

Hi all,

I have unusual and chronic Eustachian tube problems. I have seen several doctors over the years, including three ENTs, but haven’t gotten the relief I hope for, so I am hoping someone here can point me in a new direction. I’m sorry that this post is so long, but I wanted to include all relevant facts and experiences.

For many years I have had trouble with my ears 'clearing.' On a normal day I am constantly working my jaw to keep my e-tubes clear (every couple of minutes). Needless to say, I always have trouble clearing my ears when diving and flying. Even driving in hilly country can be frustrating.

I know about the different ways of clearing my ears, clearing before feeling discomfort, and clearing often. None of that works.

Twice I have done Amoxicillin “just in case there is an infection.” No change.

I know that the problem is aggravated (if not caused) by allergies. I have tried several OTC and prescription antihistamines and nasal sprays. The one I’m currently on (clarinex) works well for my other allergy symptom, but none have had any effect on my ears.

Several doctors have told me just to take psudefedrine. While I’ve found that it helps somewhat, if I take it on a regular basis I seem to build a tolerance, then it stops helping at all. I currently try to take it only if I’m having serious problems, or before flying or diving. I also suspect that regular use is giving me ‘night sweats,” but that’s another issue...

Two doctors suggested that I should be doing the Valsalva Maneuver many times a day, to stretch out the ‘tubes. I have tried this on a few occasions and have found that it seems to aggravate my ‘tubes. Pressurizing my ears is usually not a problem, but clearing the pressure gets harder and harder, until I can’t get the pressure to clear for several minutes after the Valsalva (like a reverse block) .

I understand that tonsils and adenoids can cause pressure on the ‘tubes. I still have both, but have had them checked. I was told they are normal, and not causing the problem.

My most recent ENT said that I could get permanent tympanic tubes (which would preclude diving), but that I would trade my current problem for a feeling of ‘being inside a tunnel,” and slight hearing loss. I would really rather not give up diving. Besides, it seems to me that punching holes in my ear drums is treating the symptom, not the cause.

I have heard of an angioplasty-like surgery that can be done, inserting a balloon in the e-tubes and inflating it to stretch ‘em, then removing the balloon. I have not been able to find info on this, and the ENTs I’ve talked to don’t seem to know anything, either. If someone has knowledge of such a surgery for e-tubes, please provide me with the name and any details that you might have.

I also remember hearing about a surgery for restricted blood veins where a mesh tube is inserted into the vein to hold it open. It seems to me that something similar could be done on dysfunctional e-tubes. Is there such a thing?

Are there any other inner/middle ear procedures that I could investigate? Personal experience would be very much appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[O2BBubbleFree]

Are my expectations just too high?

 

[jagfish]

I used to work for a company that manufactered some kind of Eustatial implant that looked like it remained for some time. however, I never had occasion to see one implanted and therefore have no idea under what conditions it was used for, how it was put in, or how long it stayed in.

Perhaps this question could be fielded in a purely medical forum. I saw one or two when doing a quick search regarding your post.