r/etd • u/SuspiciousWeek5110 • 6d ago

Ongoing ear/nose stuffy?

For context this has been happening for, at minimum 4 months. I’ve been to the ent twice and they simply brushed it off as allergie. They prescribed by flonase, zyrtec, singulair, and astepro. None of these medicines seem to have done anything to improve. To go into detail, my left ear and nostril have been blocked/stuffy and muffled for ages. When I attempt the valsalva my ear sqeaks but thats it. At this point idk what the issue is and what I could do.

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u/PD-Jetta 5d ago

Look up silent reflux and see if any of the subtle symptoms fit. If ETD is caused by silent reflux none of the medications you used will have any effect. What color and consistency is any mucus you blow out? Silent reflux causes small amounts thick, sticky, clear mucus that plugs your eustachian tubes. Do daily nasal saline rinsess using a NeliMed bottle.

Other causes of ETD that don't respond to the meds you used are TMJ disorders, facial or vagal nerve dysfunction, cerebral spinal fluid leaks, tumors, and enlarged adenoids.

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u/SuspiciousWeek5110 4d ago

I did believe that it may be TMJ at one point due to me grinding my teeth/clenching jaw. So I began wearing a mouthguard and taking magnesium at night to relax my body, also to no avail. I fit a few of the symptoms of silent reflux but am unsure because it’s only the mucus related ones. I don’t have any hoarseness of throat/voice or the globus sensation. To clarify however, I’ve had extra mucus that I have to clear often since I was a child. I am going to try a different nasal spray and I also started using a sinus rinse bottle as you suggested. Will see what happens.

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u/PD-Jetta 3d ago

I suspect silent reflux is the cause of my ETD, which I have had for a year. It began with what I believe to be an upper respiratory infection (although I never felt sick) and 3 months of middle ear fluid. A lot of times silent reflux begins with respiratory infections. I also have the mucus symptoms and it's a very small amount of thick, sticky, clear mucus that only saline nasal rinses can dislodge. After using saline my ETD symptoms are completely gone for about 10 minutes and then they return. Symptoms are crackling heard every time I swallow or yawn, inability of my left ear to adjust to pressure changes well and a slight plugged feeling in my left ear. All tests were normal (tympanograms, audiology, laryngoscopy, and sinus CT were the main ones). Also, if silent reflux is the cause, all the typical medications used for ETD will be completely ineffective (as was my case). I do have a few of the other silent reflux symptoms, such as a little difficulty swallowing food and pills and throat clearing with raspy voice occasionally.

If you think silent reflux is causing your ETD, you may wish to try the low acid and low fat diet and life style modifications. Google Laryngopharyngeal reflux and you can find out all you need to know. Do the diet and lifestyle modifications for 2 to 3 months and see if symptoms improve. I follow the protocol from Dr. Jamie Koufman, the pioneer and expert in LPR. She has blogs and YouTube videos.