I was told I had eustachian tube dysfunction due to allergies. Its where you tubes dont drain properly. I guess your ET's are very small and if they dont drain properly can make your ears ring. I sometimes think they say you have ETD for lack of knowing anything else! LOL

Yeah I know what you mean. Ear doctoring is still in medieval times. Thanks for the reply.

Have you seen a specialist?

Ive had ETD for years. I was told by my ENT specialist that the only way to cure it involved putting a hole in my ear drum which would result in a significant loss in hearing. These days i manage it by using nasal inhalers and by keeping myself well hydrated.

I am contemplating ear tubes. But I would hate to make the T worse. I have scheduled an appointment with another ENT. This will be the third that I have seen. I want to ask more about tubes and if they will help if I do in fact have ETD. My mother in Law had tubes put in for her ETD and they helped her tremendously. She however did not have T, just clogged ears. Anyone out there with tubes? Any thoughts?

Hello,

My daughter had several ear infections starting from a baby - 5 years old, she is now 26 years old. She was in the hospital several times.

Tubes were quit the "new" thing for children to have placed back then, if they suffered ongoing ear infections. She saw a few specialists, and had tubes placed. She was diagnosed with ETD. But honestly, who knows.

We were told by one doctor, she might lose her earing, her ears were so bad. This was very upsetting, due to she was very active in music, singing, and played the piano.

By the age 7 she had 4 sets of tubes placed in her ears, because tubes only last a short period of time. This is due to they move, fall out, or get plugged and do not funtion even with "normal" ear wax.

My daugher's ear infections improved slightly however not drastically.

When told she was to yet again have tube placed in at approx age 7 we sought out a new ENT, for opinion. We learned at that time having so many tubes placed caused her more distress than goodto her ears, due to the scar tissue from having the tubes placed in over and over caused. Her cochlea in one ear was compeltely damaged.

With that said, there is a different type of tubes, a longer lasting tube, that she should of had after the second set. Sorry, I do not remember all the medical details or names of the tubes, since this was years ago.

Of course my daughter young at the time, did not mention if she experienced "ringing of the ears" nor did any of the specialists she saw ask her.

She ended up, not having additional tubes placed, by the advise of this doctor, however was treated with antibotics for ear infections, if needed. And then she grew out of having the ear infections. If she gets a very bad cold, that leads to her ears, she does not mess around if she thinks she has an ear infection.

With tubes, she could not swim under water, and could not get water in her ears.

Due to the severity of her ears, she was advised not to fly, or swim. The flying due to the doctor feared her ear drum bursting from pressure.

Chelsea never lost her hearing and grew out of having ear infection, but does suffer from tinnitus. She also completed her goals in music ministry.

The past year she was even given the "ok" to fly and flew overseas on a missions trip, her ears were ok.

If her T. is due to the several ear infections, or several tubes, we don't really know.

Approx 2 year ago she had a severe sinus infection, her ears got very plugged, she did take antibotics, however after the sinus infection went away her tinnitus got much worse.

She cried often to her husband at night, due to it bothered her the most then. Her ENT, stated that the sinus infection, and congestion that settled in her ears most of triggered her T., and maybe it would get better, maybe not. They tested the degree of T, she has. She has slight hearing loss her one ear. She still has it, but trained herself to not let it get to her. She prays often too.

Chelsea has a one year old little boy, Stuart Michael, unfortunately he appears to have been passed down the "bad" ears. The poor little guy has already had approx 4 ear infections, one time in the hospital, but not advised to have tubes as yet.

I am not advising you to have or not to have "tubes" placed but thought you would like to hear of my daughters experience with tubes, even though child verses adult might make a differece as well.

Possibly you might want to ask the doctor how long the "tubes" he would place are expected to funtion.

Since my daughters tubes were approx 20 years ago, possibly there have been medical advances, as well as studies on their benefits, verses disadvantages.

Wishing you the best.

Pattylyn

Pattylyn- I just wanted to thank you for your story about your daughter and her experience with ear tubes. I certainly hope hers and your tinnitus and ear troubles diminish and dissipate. I am on the fence with the ear tubes and will be better able to decide after posing some hard questions to the ENT. Also, after viewing some ear tube procedures on You Tube my ambivelence has even increased. Thanks again, your insight is helpful. Wishing all the sounds of silence.