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Family Medicine (Expert Forum)
IS IT EUSTACHIAN TUBE MALFUNCTION?
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
Kevin, M.D.
Boston - MA
Questions in the Family Medicine forum are answered by Dr. J.M. Keyes. Topics covered include general health issues, adolescence, babies, child health, eating disorders, fitness, immunizations and vaccines, infectious diseases, medical tests and procedures, and senior health.
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IS IT EUSTACHIAN TUBE MALFUNCTION?
by laci, Jun 13, 2003 12:00AM
I HAD A COLD BACK IN APRIL ALONG W/AN EAR INFECTION. I WAS GIVEN ANTIBIOTICS FOR 7 DAYS & IT HELPED. A WEEK LATER I HAD PAIN IN EAR AGAIN. WENT ON ANOTHER ANTIBIOTIC & IT HELPED. I WENT TO AN ENT & HE DID A SINSUS SCAN WHICH SHOWED A DEVIATED SEPTUM. I STILL HAVE PROBLEMS WITH MY EARS. EAR FULLNESS & EARACHE PAIN. AFTER 3 MONTHS I WAS GIVEN A STERIOD TO REDUCE INFLAMMATION. BEFORE THAT MY DOCTOR ID A MYRINGOTOMY W/OUT TUBES TO SEE IF THAT WOULD HELP. THAT DID NOT HELP. MADE MY HEARING FUNNY. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD GET BETTER. DR USED A TUBE THROUGH MY NOSE & SAW A DEVIATED SEPTUM & MUCOUS IN EUSTHACIAN TUBE. HE SAID THIS IS YOUR PROBLEM. WHAT OTHER WAYS ARE THERE TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM? AM I RUINING MY HEARING W/ THESE HOLES.? HOW LONG DO THEY TAKE TO HEAL? THIS IS SO FRUSTRATING
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, Jun 15, 2003 12:00AM
, Jun 15, 2003 12:00AM
Hello - thanks for asking your question.
Without examining you, I cannot say what exactly is causing your symptoms.
Complications from myringotomy are rare. They include:
- excessive bleeding
- surgical wound infection
- permanent hearing loss
- cutting of outer ear
- formation of granular nodes (in ear) due to inflammation
- formation of cholesterol and mass skin cells in middle ear, which may damage surrounding bone
- need for repeat surgery
- scarring of eardrum
In this case, scarring of the eardrum can affect hearing.
Complete healing without complications should occur within 4 weeks.
If your ENT physician is not addressing your concerns, I would suggest a second opinion.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.
Without examining you, I cannot say what exactly is causing your symptoms.
Complications from myringotomy are rare. They include:
- excessive bleeding
- surgical wound infection
- permanent hearing loss
- cutting of outer ear
- formation of granular nodes (in ear) due to inflammation
- formation of cholesterol and mass skin cells in middle ear, which may damage surrounding bone
- need for repeat surgery
- scarring of eardrum
In this case, scarring of the eardrum can affect hearing.
Complete healing without complications should occur within 4 weeks.
If your ENT physician is not addressing your concerns, I would suggest a second opinion.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.
Liacha, keep me informed on your outcome. I know exactly how frustrated you are.
Thanks!
There's good/bad news. Outcome depends on Dr. & your short hand-
written questions you want answers to. Rt. ear blocked from a plane descent. 2 days of not popping I started my journey of MD
frustration. ETD-(eustachian tube dysfuntion)makes me scream. I
was dismissed, suggested therapy, low-estrogen, thrown out of Mayo Clinic, humored w/ drugs. MRI showed zip. Pain in ear/temple
stopped my career & even driving. 16 ENT's-`Top Docs' were angry
& blew me off. 1 Neurotogist ran tests & said all negative. My
INT. doc kept me in pain-meds & believed me but by 8 yrs. of this
stuff throwing me into an autoimmune state of rashes, mixed words
noticeable swelling, he had a lab do a Coronal CT. Next day he
called & said we're finding you a surgeon ASAP. Bone infection
had extended from ear to maxillary/ethmoid. A 15mm tumor! Well,
2 surgeons later said films were wrong. I ck-out the films. Did
not look good to me. All said pills for sinuses & tube for ETD.
Fullness over yrs left me w/ fear & slow brain. Out of town re-
read said I need surgery! Yrs. before, I had 3 tubes. 1st lasted
3 wks. till blocked, 2nd got infected & started `pulsing' in/out.
Sucked infection IN! 3rd got engulfed w/ scar-tissue & became a
part of the drum. Pain/fullness still happening. Went out of area
so no colleague-bonding was going on. Dr. surgically removed tube
& said culture was not good. My Int. found me help. (4th) surgery
pathology showed Tumors & cancer. I was bull-dozed & lucky that
it didn't make it's way to the brain. I have trigeminal-nerve
damage, helps the ear wk. Inflammation to the ET internally will
narrow it, block & cause fullness. Once ETD, if there's a cure, I
haven't found it. Augmentin is best spectrum Rx. If unilateral,
it's not allergies. Tube is a good trial but have removed if it
blocks. Insist procedure includes a inner-culture & get a copy.
My IQ & life changed due to a brotherhood of ENT's that couldn't
think out-of-the-box. I have lifetime follow-up for recurrences.
Surgeon researched my past. I'm now refused service if it does
not apply to follow-cks. My INT. MD has retired & I've seen 6.
They have easier patients & conditions in mind. 2 files had all
the Dr. names I visited over the last 8 yrs. Feel blessed if you have a listener. Get copies of everything! I recently got a 7 yr old copy from files of an ENT that saw me. Large print: Suspect
Rt. Nasal Polyps.' I was told, nothing wrong. Big Oops! Follow
your instincts. Ask for cultures to rule out infection even if
it's just the ear canal & nasal swab. Be nice but `in charge!'
The holes: I have lots of scarring on drum w/ no hearing loss.
Barometric & wind triggers pressure & tinnitis.