My Bizzare ETD (Eustachian Tube Dysfunction)

Chronicling my journey with muscular Eustachian Tube Dysfunction (ETD), Tinnitus and Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJD):
- Symptoms
- Timelines
- Treatments
- Next Steps

Myofascial Release therapy in the GTA:

Masseter and temporalis massage:

TJMD Exercises:

Lateral Pterygoid Release:

SCM trigger point release:

SCM stretch:

Neuromuscular Dentistry:

[Jonathan-Lindee-ny]

Champion ribbon to you for this video. My problem(s) started almost identically to yours and I received many different diagnoses and widely differing treatment options from practitioners who were baffled. I began to think that I would never find a clue or experience a break-through in understanding. I have had what I describe as eustacian tube impaction for over five years. Your descriptions, your articulation of the sensations, are on the mark.

I drive an old classic truck (my husband isn't allowed to drive it, that's how it has lasted to become classic) but with my problem, there were many days that the low rumble would be debilitating. Nothing helped until last week and what happened made me sure that this was muscular AS YOU SAY! I have avoided driving the truck on bad ear days, and avoided heavy digging and shovelling because those activities seemed to trigger sounds like generators running full out in one or both ears for days at a time. I am 76 so trying to slow down anyway though we keep livestock and have a lot of physical work. But last week there was a lot of snow and even with a snowblower, vehicles have to be hand shovelled out somewhat. It was heavy snow and I had a headache for a few minutes afterwards. Then I felt the COOL AIR that you described and I felt a mass drainage into my throat. I have not had a "clear" head or hearing for five years until now. I am able to pop my ears now to keep some drainage going, but I have had some pressure back if I don't. Popping didn't work for five years.

But I now believe, whatever the initial trigger, that the condition is a muscular problem AS YOU SAY! as it continues. My first trip to the ER five years ago was after a few weeks of the condition and it seemed at the time that I was having a reaction to fish oil capsules for Omega 3 supplementation, swelling all through my sinuses, throat, breathing problems, and severe ear impaction. (I quit the capsules, no improvement.) I was back with wild vertigo a few weeks later, but that ceased in an hour and has not repeated. Many specialists later, I have decided to just keep going day by day without being the subject of experiments. Your video is such a support. May your condition improve and improve.

[sharontodd]

I’ve had this condition going on 27 months. I am 65 years old. I had to retire because I could not tolerate the low bass sounds being so loud along with tinnitus. I find I plan my days around good days. I did that sleeping on my back with a flat pillow helps. I massage my face muscles every day. Warm compress on face and ice pack on neck. Prayer helps as well.

[No_Boxing_No_Life]

Wow! I'm going through the exact same thing. I've been suffering from bothersome tinnitus for well over 4 years. This past year my tinnitus has intensified along with fullness and tightness around my TMJ to the point where I went back to my Dr. He suggested we focus on finding the root cause of my tinnitus. Next week I have an appointment with my ENT and we'll go from there. So far, I believe that my tinnitus could be either from TMJ, ETD, or vagus nerve impairment. I have my first TMJ therapy on the 15th. I'm really praying this gives me some relief. Great video. Thank you for sharing.

[mariaboyd]

I've been in the same situation for a year. It is getting better now. I think it was related to poor nutrition and stress. Poor posture and lack of exercise. That's why the body can't fight the fungus or virus getting into the body and slow down the healing process. Mine started in the gut problem (constipation and diarrhea) then turned into sinus and ear infections. I went to see a doctor and I thought I was losing my hearing on the right ear. It turned to be an impacted earwax. I went back to the doctor and can see any problem as well. Avoiding dairy, sugar and gluten helps. Fasting is great to reset the body. It is hard to be healthy when you get older like I am 55 now. I lost my job because of this condition. I only wait for my body to heal itself. I am avoiding to take any antibiotics to save my gut from destroying the good bacteria. Just taking supplements like probiotics, digestive enzymes, magnesium and melatonin. I feel much better now. I have learned to accept that it is just part of aging process. Head/ear massage and tongue exercises work every night. Eating more greens and doing one meal a day help. I'm slowly healing with my Tinnitus condition as well. I hope you find this helpful. Be patient to your body and listen to its signal and symptoms. Eat more organic and whole foods. Praying for everyone's healing and recovery soon.

[elizabethp.]

Thank you for sharing your story and so eloquently. I've had similar issues, I do need to start wearing my night guard as I'm actually wearing my teeth down and causing all kinds of head issues. My hygienist recommended a hearing pad on my jaw every nightto relax the muscles and recommended to sleep upright do everything drains properly andmy jaw not being pressed out of alignments during sleep. I also cane across Dr.Alan Fields you tube videos on difference techniques to relaz the muscles and open/drain the sinuses and eustacion tubes. His videos really helped during an episode. Prayers for everyone that suffers from this.

[Seabob]

Incredibly sad to view your vlog and how much you have been and are suffering, and yet here you are trying to help other people on their journey, that's incredibly kind of you, i am experiencing ETD (still yet to be diagnosed) and Tinnitus (the worst thing psychogically i have ever experienced), i do hope things are improving for you, how are you at this time? HUGS!

[mitchellfuentes]

Very helpful I love how well spoken and articulated you are about you symptoms I have patulous ETD and found that sometimes is so hard to describe what I feel so your video help me with my vocabulary

[chrisgladue]

I hope and pray everyone gets well soon.

[chrissyalford]

You are an amazing storyteller, and very knowledgeable about what is going on. I am so proud of you for continuing to seek answers when something doesn’t work. I know it is not easy when you don’t feel well. I hope you find some relief soon! 💛

[gary]

Thank you for sharing your story. I’m not alone! I’ve been dealing with ETD of varying intensities since October 2021. My ETD pressure tests at the audiologists have been normal; however, the full feeling, distortion of sound, tinnitus, and pain at time. I do have hearing loss resulting from my army service. This condition gets worse in me when my scalene muscles, SCM muscles, and sub occipital muscles get tight. I find improvement from “manual physical therapy.” The PT I have received (first in Alaska and now in Texas) strengthens weak muscles (that cause text neck) . I also receive dry needling in the aforementioned muscle groups from a DPT - and it works in relieving my symptoms. From my first round of this in Texas, I learned that strengthening my weak muscles in back of my neck is key I taking strain off the tight muscles. They’re tight because they get tired and then spasm. Poor posture (my case) during computer use and texting are the root cause in my case. This definitely appears to be related to muscle tension. Relaxation exercises and removal of stress can lead to abatement of symptoms. Massage works but the dry needling (not for the squeamish) and strengthening weak muscles seems to be the way to go for me. I do have a very limited supply of prescribed muscle relaxers from my MD. On the occasions I take those, symptoms partially resolve in a favorable direction, ETD goes away. Proper Posture is vital on a daily basis. Things need to be held at eye level when reading. I’m so glad to have “virtually” met you. Best wishes snd I’ll subscribe to learn more.

[mather]

Nat great discussion. Highly complex situation . One worry I had for you is the heating pad, please be careful as it can cause pigmentation, see the diagnosis erythema ab igne ....and good luck, hope you heal completely

[sishrac]

I'm in the same boat and realized my ETD was muscular too. I ran into some information that led me to use nicotine patches, which did bring some relief during the treatment. I stopped only because it was getting expensive. I'm still not on the other side of this tunnel yet, so as other commenters have claimed, prayer brings solace for me too.

[Ventibreeze]

Me too! I woke up and I just couldn’t hear right, I felt like I had a speaker in my ear, it was so bizzare. Thanks for sharing your story.

[sotouno]

I have all the same symptoms for about 4 years and it also triggers high anxiety/ panic attacks!

[TheHowitz]

This is so helpful, thank you for providing all your knowledge. I hope you feel better soon!

[christopherwithers]

I feel you sis! I am having this same battle for about 5 months now. I am going to see a ENT doc next week. I think my tinnitus and vertigo my be from a long untreated upper lung/bronchial tube infection.🤔 Like your symptoms mine started out coming and going. Now, the dizziness comes and goings with frequency and the ringing is none stop. Stay strong, stay focused.

[jordanmitchell]

I’m glad u are raising awareness. There is another guy called Jaye Wellness Studio, he also discusses muscle related issues regarding this thing I had this for 8 years so far and since I’ve been messaging it’s been going down quite a bit but still there I think coz I’ve had it for so long might take extra effort to get rid of it

[Tad-For-Global-Peace]

Let me start by saying migraine ear pressure and sensations of ear fluttering, fullness and popping and the distorted sounds that come with them are not usually a eustachian tube problem. It definitely feels like eustachian tube dysfunction, but typically the eustachian tube continues to function normally. Similar to the way migraine can make your teeth hurt even though your teeth are healthy. And migraine can make you feel like you have sinus congestion, even when there is no sinus issue present. Migraine can make you feel like you have eustachian tube dysfunction even when you don’t.

Migraine variant symptoms like ear pressure and fluttering are often described as being a result of central sensitization from a hyper-responsive, hyper-excitable, sensitive migraine brain. But what does that actually mean? Dr. Teixido, board certified Neurotologist at ENT & Allergy of Delaware says (The brains of) people without migraine disease can adapt to sensory stimulus such as barometric changes, light, noise, strong smells, movement etc. within minutes. Effectively turning stimulus off and moving it into the background. But, for those of us with migraine, our brains don’t easily adapt.“

[FlorenceB]

Hope you can find some relief. Hugs! I'm trying to figure out my journey as well.

[alionasviridova]

I love your story! I had the same for five years. Recently fixed it!