Eustachian tube dysfunction - How to clear it fast?

[Ivan1234B]

Two months ago I got constant buzzing in ears (regular tinnitus). On audiology test I was told that my left eustachian tubes is closed and they gave me some spray and instuctions for valsava exercise + bubblegum chewing. I was very happy because eustachian tubes is problem and not other things like circulation or spine.

Using this therapy for a 5 weeks now, situation is a little better, I was told that this might take a while while tube is completely clean. Any advice how to make it faster? Also sometimes I noticed that my tinnitus gets a pulsating behavior. Mostly when laying on bed. I mean if I had pulsatile tinnitus, I would hear that pulsation all the time? Can eustachian tubes dysfunction also produce pulsating tinnitus?

[vollinglobin987]

One thing I do want to say is a friend of mine had similar tinnitus that you describe and the issue was actually wax build up within the ear.  He used debrox to clean it out and that resolved the issue.  If you haven't tried that, you might consider it.  Debrox is otc and inexpensive and worth finding out if this is actually the issue.  If not, then ya.  Try the reverse ear pops, antihistamines and ibuprofen.  Or see an ENT.  

[SassyLassie]

Hello~I would definitely try both suggestions that Specialmom gave. If you can't find the Debrox, (we don't have it here in New Zealand) then my GP said to use olive oil, he said it works just as well. You put a drop or two in your ear at bedtime, but a little cotton in outside of your ear so it doesn't go onto the pillow, and do this a few days, it should work.

One doctor told me that the pulsating tinnitus can be due to high cholesterol, I don't know the validity of that, but you might want to ask your GP.

I can relate to the vertigo, the last two weeks, I have been having it, it is awful, it think mine is positional as I have to sleep in our recliner because laying down makes it worse. I had to call the EMT's twice the first night this started, I was petrified. My doctor doesn't think it is serious, so I have to trust her, I am on an anti-vertigo pill for a few weeks. UGH. I have had giddiness before and vertigo but never this bad. I have had tinnitus for many years but that was all, my ears seem open and although there is some wax, it isn't enough to cause the hassle. So, who knows, it sure is miserable.

I hope you feel better soon and that a doctor can help you resolve this.

[Ivan1234B]

I will try that.

For pulsatile tinnitus  before my doctor told me that in that case I would need to have a very high blood pressure which I don't have, I have also my kidney stone (blood test, ultrasound) year control very soon so in that way I can check cholesterol levels. I also read yesterday that eustachian tube dysfunction can cause both type of tinnitus. I hope that is source of that, by people expiriance tinnitus sometimes can stay through whole life.

[specialmom]

I suffered Eustachian tube dysfunction.  For me, the tube was closing in on itself and I had issues for over a year dealing with it.  It was awful because I had full on vertigo with nausea which is hard to do your every day stuff like that!  I've got kids so had to figure that out!!  I did get better.  The ways that I did was by doing reverse ear pops.  This is when you hold your nose and blow and do it several times over and over.  It will pop your ears. My ENT told me about this.  I also have used antihistamines like over the counter Clariten. And ibuprofen. I've also chewed gum along with these.  All have helped. My tube did clear up. Since that year period of having issues and recovering, I have had one bad episode of it that lasted a few days.  Pseudophedrine helped me at that time along with these other things particularly the reverse ear pops.  

One thing I do want to say is a friend of mine had similar tinnitus that you describe and the issue was actually wax build up within the ear.  He used debrox to clean it out and that resolved the issue.  If you haven't tried that, you might consider it.  Debrox is otc and inexpensive and worth finding out if this is actually the issue.  If not, then ya.  Try the reverse ear pops, antihistamines and ibuprofen.  Or see an ENT.  

Do you hear swishing like ocean rushing when laying down and you change position?

[Ivan1234B]

I was alrady at my ENT, she told me all that I wrote plus she gave me Dymista sprey. I don't have vertigo with nausea, just buzzing in ear. Yes, I also use that reverse ear pops exercise, when doing that I hear crackling and popping on my left ear. "Do you hear swishing like ocean rushing when laying down and you change position? " No I don't hear, it sometimes produces a popping sound. You didn't expiriance pulsatile  buzzing when laying on bed?