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Fullness in ears and popping when swallowing

Discussion in 'Your Living Room' started by Robert S, Oct 9, 2021.

  1. Robert S

    Robert S Member

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    Jun 12, 2021
    Los Angeles
    I'm trying to get a better understanding of my own situation and would welcome any help. My ears both have a fullness or pressure much of the time, but my ears also pop when I swallow. (Like getting off an airplane with a cold).
    My first ENT diagnosed me with Eustachian Tube Dysfunction and my current ENT diagnosed me with MD though I have not had any vertigo issues. At the time of my first diagnosis, I did not have a record of any hearing loss in my right ear or tinnitus at that time.
    Could I have both problems or do most of you with fullness in your ears constantly have them popping when you swallow? Thanks for the help.
     
  2. Bryan Goins

    Bryan Goins New Member

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    Robert…I’m looking forward to
    What response you get. I
    Wish I could help, but I’m seeking the same answer. I was originally diagnosed with Eustachian tube dysfunction and asked…great, what do
    We do To fix it. Of course after all three different doctors said…no cure.. I was left extremely frustrated. Then I had the vertigo attack(s) and diagnosed with Meniere’s. The Bad…just like ETD, no cure. But…that’s why like yourself I’m connected with this sight..to learn. Curious when you say your ears pop..do they open up
    Where you can hear better and for how long? My hearing ( bilateral Meniere’s) went from 70% to 5% so im screwed but when I swallow repeatedly they open for a few seconds and it feels so much better
     
  3. IvanNew

    IvanNew Active Member

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    No vertigo, no Meniere... for now. But if you want, you can start to take lysine 1000mg/8h or antivirals.

    I had the same symptom, but it started a few months after the vertigo attack and of course I had already had hearing loss and tinnitus. If you do not have all three symptoms it is not Meniere, doctors usually look for other known causes and if they do not find anything they call it "suspected Meniere", but not Meniere until confirming all three symptoms. In fact they don't even consider it Meniere if you only have one attack of vertigo a year, you have to have at least two.
     
  4. Robert S

    Robert S Member

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    Hi Bryan, when I swallow my good ear's Eustachian tube clicks or pops a little trying to equalize pressure I guess. Sometimes it happens in both ears. If I hold my nose and gently apply a little pressure they both open up a bit but not entirely. My hearing loss in my affected ear (R) was in the low frequencies and I’d guess I lost half of the volume and full spectrum compared to my left ear. I have some better days but they are rare and think we’re in the same situation. I’ve read of long hauler Covid patients suffering from increased histamine problems and using Claritin + Pepcid to better control it, but I don’t know the details.
     
    • Informative Informative x 1
  5. Robert S

    Robert S Member

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    Thanks, and my ENT said the exact thing saying he suspected Meniere’s but it’s not confirmed as I’ve thankfully not had a vertigo attack and my ears have been full for 11 months now. I do have the hearing loss and full on tinnitus which is ringing in both ears as I write this post.
     
  6. bob_

    bob_ New Member

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    Robert, I had hearing loss, fullness, and tinnitus without vertigo at first and my ENT diagnosed it as "endolymphatic hydrops". Now I've had some episodes with dizziness so my new ENT calls it Meniere's. Parsing the difference between the two doesn't seem particularly useful to me, as the treatment is the same for both. Since you're having all the Meniere's symptoms other than vertigo, it may be helpful to try Meniere's treatments with the intention of alleviating symptoms (and potentially preventing the disease from progressing to vertigo).
     
  7. Robert S

    Robert S Member

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    Thanks, Bob, and that’s exactly what I’ve been aiming for over the last few months. I’m currently 3 months into the JOH regimen and have been working with my ENT to run viral tests. My next step will likely be trying an antiviral and/or possibly working with a NUCCA chiropractor. I have TMJ issues and they started right before all of the MD symptoms. I’m also researching specialists in the field of MD in the Los Angeles area. Good luck to you!
     
  8. bob_

    bob_ New Member

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    A couple other things that helped get rid of persistent fullness in my ear during my initial diagnosis: steroids, diuretic, and a low-salt diet. I have some docs in SF to recommend if that would be at all helpful. Good luck to you too!
     
  9. Robert S

    Robert S Member

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    Thanks Bob. I have fullness in both ears but unfortunately it now feels more prominent in the ear that has not had any hearing loss so I’m guessing I’m headed towards bilateral MD. I’ve tried several rounds of prednisone at the beginning of this journey (11 months ago) but it only offered some temporary relief and I’ve been on a low salt diet for years. I also take Hydrochlorothiazide (12.5mg). Which diuretic and how much are people taking?
     
  10. bob_

    bob_ New Member

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    I'm taking Dyazide daily, it's got 25 mg hydrochlorothiazide and 37.5 mg triamterene in each capsule.

    I've had some jaw issues and recently started wearing a mouth guard at night to prevent grinding and help what my dentist says are slipped TMJ discs. Unclear to me whether that's related to my meniere's but I have had some hearing improvement in the month since I've been wearing the mouth guard.
     
    Last edited: Nov 1, 2021
  11. heywally

    heywally New Member

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    I have Ménière's in one ear (first symptoms back in 2000 or so, "fortunately", the balance stuff in that ear seemed to get destroyed during a blow out attack about 12 years ago and I don't have the vertigo attacks any more). Can't understand conversation in the M ear; it is distorted and weak.

    The other "good" ear has been experiencing intermittent hearing loss over the last year or so and coincides with my not being able to get a pop in either ear (can when my hearing is good), when swallowing. Several ENT's say that I have Eustachian tube dysfunction though I don't remember what that diagnosis was based on. Symptoms only or a view up my nose (one guy said my mucus looked like glue) with their scope. An audiologist and recently, an ENT have tried to grab onto the idea that I may be developing Menieres in my good ear but I' not buying it since I have the Eustachian diagnosis and the fact that I can't get an ear pop when my hearing in the good ear degrades. Also, I do not want it there too. :) Plus I'm 70 and can't deal with this again during the home stretch out of here. Nope, not at all.

    Anyway, what I'm doing for my Eustachian tube dysfunction is - stopped all dairy (mucus inducing), added magnesium supplement (supposed to be beneficial for hearing), and drinking LOTS of water. Aerobic exercise too. Also, just in case, have cut back on salt and am taking dandelion supplements as a diuretic. Have also recently re-added L-lysine to my regimen (used to do the full JOH). Have experienced far more good hearing days since I made these changes. Also did some nasal rinse sessions but not lately.

    Have a deviated septum on my Ménière's ear side and am wild guessing that that, combined with Eustachian tube dysfunction could have caused my Ménière's in the one ear. Have history of ear infections also.

    Good luck
     
  12. ronven

    ronven New Member

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    Oct 19, 2021
    so get this...
    back in 2019 my Menieres specialist said I had "atypical Menieres" because of no vertigo, just constant dizziness.
    I only had 1 episode of vertigo in Jan 2019 when it all started, ALSO...hearing loss, some fullness at times and big time tinnitus
    I have not heard this term from anyone else so I'm going to see another specialist July 5. I think he used this term because he really had no answer.
    I was in remission for 3 years after using JOH regimen for 10 weeks until this past April. Today, I'm always dizzy/ unbalanced, no vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus.
     

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