Eustachian tube dysfunction - what are the symptoms?

[Megan74]

Is it dizziness? I usually almost always feel like i'm on a boat... it's not a dizziness, but rather balance type just like i'm on a boat... my head always feels like it is full type feels weird... ears plugged usually too... my head almost feels like it is full of mud or something not unable to concentrate or anything but just feels awkward...
Thank you. Best Regards, Megan.

[JAyj23]

i really feel the same thing and i feel like dreaming, and same symptoms mention... please help me... i've seen 6 ent doctors and they said its just colds... but i feel different... please help me... im so scared... please help.. please email me if possible... ***@****

[RadioAstronomyObserver]

  CDH404, your descriptions sound very much like many other ear problems.  So to say it "is" one particular thing is not necessarily a good thing.

[cdh404]

For over 3 months now I have gone through so much of what has been described here and on other boards.  It started with ear pain and stuffiness, then temporal headaches, back of the head headaces, neck and shoulder pain as well as slight dizziness but bad vertigo when laying down on my back.  My first doctor was the ENT who said my ears were fine and it looked like my symptoms had something more to do with my neck.  I went to my Chiropractor who said my neck was way out of alighnment and as soon as he could straighten it out my symptoms should go away.  It did help about 75% but I still had vertigo and ear pain/fullness.  I went to my dentist and he said I was a clencher and that I was putting so much force on my jaw muscles that they were just over used and worn out, which is the 1st stage of TMJ.  Who knew?!?!? There was no evidence of joint damage via xrays.  I have anxiety so I got that under control with some light meds.  The dentist gave me a small night guard that has helped immensly in my night clenching.  I am now very aware of my day clenching and stress/posture especially when I am on the computer 4-5 hours a day.  I am feeling TONS better!  So everyone out there-it's all very simple and there is hope! Do not listen to all the negative and scary posts out there-they will literally drive you crazy!  Just relax and know that anxiety and stress can make you feel awful in the most unusual ways.  It's amazing how much pressure your jaw can/can't take, and it affects everything!!!  Stretch your neck muscles, get lots of massages and enjoy life!!!

[pedders]

Hi,I was surfing the web,trying to find treatment for a lot of the same symptoms mentioned here,full headed feeling,struggling to focus,heavy eyes,fatigue, etc.,something I have had for many years now,and felt I had to comment on a very simple,and for me, really the only thing that has worked.
I was told to do this by a Doctor,here in England,whom also used to suffer from similar symptoms,buy a facial sauna,one with a nasal mask,which as suggested,fits over the nose,inhale the steam three times a day,for 20 minutes each time, for at least two weeks(at first to get on top of it ).I know steaming your nose for an hour a day seems like hard work,but it DOES work!,I have tried all inhalers,been to ENT,all that,and this is by far the best way to help.Please try it,also, don't get lazy,as I did, and once feeling better,stop completely!,hence that was why I was surfing the net for quick answers!,can't wait for two weeks!,but started steaming again.
Anyway,Hope this helps some of you at least,unless you suffer this way yourself,nobody knows what you are going through,I do,Best of luck,Glen.

[friggy]

The doctor isn't dismissing your complaints,  The doctor just isn't telling you a secret--there is no effective treatment for ETD.  You can confirm this by reading posts by ENTMD, who is an excellent doctor and professional enough to admit the problem.  I had the problem in one ear, 2 great doctors gave me identical ineffective treatment, it took several months to go away, and it kicks back in about once or twice a year for a few minutes.

One thing that helped me was saline flushing.  A Neilmed Sinus Rinse is about $13 at any chain drugstore.

[johnbg]

I have had many of the same aforementioned symptoms for about 4 months now. My left ear, sinus, eye and forehead are the effected areas. My ears continually feel like they need to be popped and often I hear an echo in my left ear.  When I do try to finally pop my ears I will typically feel sensation of dizziness that lasts only for a few seconds.  What concerns me is that many times I feel this sensation of dizziness without "over-popping my ears".  Many times the dizziness is spurred on by a loud noise, when I am in a car, or when I look towards the ground.  The symptoms have been causing me severe anxiety which has compounded the problem.  I went to emergency care after experiencing extreme pressure related dizziness on the left side of my head and they diagnosed me with an Eustachian tube dysfunction and prescribed me with a nasal steroid and antibiotics.  The steroid was marginally helpful.  The symptoms continued for a couple of weeks after and I began to get more anxious.  I decided to schedule an appointment with my primary care physician.  He indicated that I was experiencing vertigo probably due to the Eustachian tube dysfunction and mentioned an exercise I could do to relieve the issue.  But overall he was dismissive and said that it would pass.  I went to see him again for my annual physical around three weeks later following my initial consultation with him and once again he said it would pass.  I asked him if he would recommend that I see and ENT and he said "no" and that "he didn't think it was necessary".  It has not passed and is starting to really concern me.  I hate self diagnosing via the internet but have been left no choice.  I have come up with all sorts of ideas as to what the cause of these symptoms are including, Meiner's disease, BPPV, Eustachian tube dysfunction, Eustachian tube blockage, a tumor, mold in my office, sinusitis.  This is really demoralizing and tough to live with.  Like many of you, I have my good days and my bad days.  I want to be a good husband/friend/son etc. and drive, do my duties etc. but I also don't want to put anyone's life in jeopardy if I happen to have a bout with this issue while I'm operation a car.  Any advice, referrals etc. would be sincerely appreciated.  It's at least a blessing to know that other people are dealing with carrying this cross too.

Thanks,
John