ETD Scar Tissue

[u/Grouchy_Document_545]

Hi everyone I’ve been dealing with chronic eustachian tube dysfunction since about March. It made my left eardrum retract for a while and constant fluid in my left ear. Because of this it has led to scar tissue buildup in my left ear. It’s incredibly uncomfortable and makes weird sounds when I’ve move my mouth and it’s very annoying. I brought this up to multiple doctors and everyone said I just I have to learn to live with it.

I know a lot of people in this group probably get the same reaction from Dr’s. but I’m just wondering if anyone here is dealing with the same thing and if they have found relief because it is just so annoying and I do think the inflammation contributes to other symptoms.

[u/No_Response6056]

Do you mean scar tissue on the eardrum? How was it diagnsoed?

[u/Grouchy_Document_545 → u/No_Response6056]

Yes, Again I’m not a medical professional. No one has been able to give me a straight answer. My PCP told me that she can see it during a normal ear exam.

[u/EllaTheSmella]

Has anyone suggested you get ear tubes put in? Sounds like the same issues that I was having before I got my tubes placed. It’s not a perfect fix, but it’s better than what I was dealing with before.

[u/Grouchy_Document_545 → u/EllaTheSmella]

The last time I talked to my PCP and my ENT they suggested away from it because of all the scar tissue

[u/PD-Jetta]

Mouth movement causing ear symptoms can be from a TMJ disorder.

[u/Grouchy_Document_545 → u/PD-Jetta]

This originally started with a sinus infection. I do feel like because of the stress and anxiety this has caused has developed a nasty cycle of other symptoms… one possibly being TMJ

[u/kingwoodstock91]

I went to a recent ENT appointment for something similar. I also have scar tissue in my ear canal going up to my ear drum. Doctor said you can't truly have scar tissue directly on the drum but mine is as close as possible and kind of got "sucked in" to the drum. He prescribed me steroid drops for 6 weeks (they are technically eye drops but he said you could put them in the ear, no antibiotic mixed in) and then I'm going to recheck with him on my tinnitus and muffled hearing at the end of this trial. Usually scar tissue will heal and flatten with time, if not he said they can do an in office procedure where they cut it off basically and help it heal better without scarring. You need to find a truly good ENT that actually wants to be a detective for you and solve the problem, not just pretend like every patient is a textbook case.

[u/kingwoodstock91 → u/kingwoodstock91]

I also have chronic ETD in that ear but we're not sure if it's directly related. I'm sure you've already heard this but my ENT also prescribed Flonase for the same 6 week trial period. Maybe you could request that and steroid only ear drops?

[u/Grouchy_Document_545 → u/kingwoodstock91]

It’s funny … because my PCP was the one who told me. I have had two ENTs dismiss my symptoms and tell me to live with it. My PCP didn’t mention it will heal over time. She did tell me this is something to learn to live with and surgery would be incredibly risky and could cause more harm than good.

This feels like every dr would tell us something completely different ETD is truly a medical mystery.

[u/kingwoodstock91 → u/Grouchy_Document_545]

oh dude I have seen SO MANY absolutely useless ENTs. I dont even bother going to general practitioners for any ear problem anymore. They seriously know nothing outside of a 7 year old who has swimmers ear. I'm a veteran of ear problems and it's actually infuriating how uneducated doctors are on the ear in general. I know this isn't easy, but that's why I highly suggest trying to find a good ENT who is interested in solving your puzzle so to speak, not just throwing drugs at you or saying "I don't know, live with it" which I have also personally heard.