Ear pressure and pain

[suem78]

I've had ear pressure, not really pain going on about 7 months now. Back when it started, I went to an urgent care center (I was looking for a new primary care doctor at the time) and the doctor there told me it was Eustacian Tube Dysfunction. He told me to take Claritin D and he prescribed Flonase. I started taking/using both, and the pressure eased up a little bit, but it was still there. At that time, I was also experiencing some sinus pressure. That seems to have lessened.
Fast forward to now - I went to the doctor because my neck was swollen on the left side and I could feel a large lump. She kind of brushed it off, but I asked for an ultrasound, which showed that I have 3 "cystic nodules" in the submandibular region. They're right under my jaw by my left ear. The doctor says it's nothing, and that I should just get another ultrasound in 3 months to make sure they haven't grown. However, now the ear pressure is worse than ever, especially on the left side. I'm also having pain in my left ear while chewing. I've never been diagnosed with TMJ but I do wear a mouth guard that my dentist made me because I do grind my teeth in my sleep. There's no discharge from the ear, but it sort of feels like there's some kind of liquid in there sloshing around every once in a while. The doctor said there's not ear infection and my throat looked fine. There's no dimished hearing or anything. Sometimes there's a slight ringing, but it goes away after a minute or two. My eyes also seem a little sore - they burn a little bit, but I'm not sure if that's a symptom or just because I'm not getting a lot of sleep and they're tired. No fever or body aches, but I am fatigued and I just don't feel "right". I had seasonal allergies when I was a teenager, but I grew out of them (I'm 33 now). I don't have a stuffy nose or a cough, I haven't had any recent colds or flu, no sore throat, etc. I didn't have a lot of infections as a kid, but I was very susceptible to getting "swimmer's ear". Should I give up on the primary care doc at this point and go to an ENT? Or does it sound more like a TMJ issue? Does anyone have any ideas?

[suem78]

I actually AM having a thyroid problem, but I think it's being resolved. I had a bad doctor insist on giving me generic synthroid, and lo and behold, 4 months later I'm severely hypo. My new doctor got me back on brand name and upped the dose a little bit. I think what is worrying me the most is that she kind of blew me off with the cysts. I don't want her to GUESS that they're "probably" fine - I'd rather know for sure!! Since when do doctors guess?

[Caryopteris]

I think I would have this checked out further.  It sounds very uncomfortable, and I wonder if there is something going on with your thyroid or parathyroid or something since you don't feel right.  I'd want to know what kind of cyst it was and whether it was going to continue growing and cause more discomfort.