Anyone Know What This Condition Is?

[Irish]

As my last visit to an ENT consultant didn't help much (was diagnosed as having Hyperacusis & Recruitment), but the other symptoms I had, the consultant had no real answer to.
I've done some research online and it seems like it could be any of the following, but still it doesn't quite fit fully with any of these: Patulous Eustachian Tube, Glue/Sticky Ear, TTTS or Stapedial Myoclonus

I don't have Tinnitus anymore apart from very occasionally and only for a short time when it does occur.

My H is still present albeit reduced by 20-25% over the last twelve months but the other ear problems are what I find quite debillitating.

I have an almost daily tenderness in my ear canal in my left ear (occasionally in my right ear too), I also have clicking/crackling again mostly in the left ear, it feels like the eustachian tube is a bit blocked but by 'flexing' the muscles around my left ear and left side of my neck, I can force it to unblock temporarily, but it generally returns to the blocked feeling again very soon afterwards. I also get some clicks/pops when I do these flexing motions and it gives me temporary relief.

Also by pressing/pushing the muscles on my neck just under my left ear, I can also temporarily unblock my ear. I sometimes get a 'shluck' sensation in my left ear as it tries to unblock but doesn't quite get there, that would indicate there might be fluid in there (even though my ENT said no to that previously), and perhaps that points to 'Glue Ear'?

I've tried the Neti Pot but didn't have much joy with it, but admittedly I didn't stick at it for too long once there was no improvement in symptoms in the short term.

It varies from day to day, some days worse and other days it's less of an issue and I can get on with daily life for the most part, but it's a bloody nuisance and affects my mood sometimes and my motivation. If my ear(s) are troublesome, I'm less inclined to be sociable, I'll usually lie low on those days and not interact much with other people until the situation improves.

Eating seems to provide temporary relief, as does a hot shower, which would indicate that the problem might be more to do with the eustachian tubes rather than the tiny structures bones/tendons/muscles in the ear itself, or at least that's my amateur prognosis of it.
If anyone can shed any light on this, I'd be grateful.

Funds are low right now so I can't shell out the couple of hundred euro I would need to see another ear specialist at the moment, so maybe some of you her can help in the interim. Thanks!

 

[Juan]

Maybe the trigger points of your neck and shoulders are giving trouble. You say "eating seems to provide temporary relief, as does a hot shower"; this may hint to a problem related to your jaw and neck. Eating would provide relief because you are moving your jaw, and a hot shower can also help to relax neck and shoulder muscles just a bit. These specific two things also work in my case.

I bet if you go to doctors most of them are going to say these symptoms are not clinically relevant, that they cannot really tell you what's the problem, unless they look at your ear channel with an otoscope, or have a look at your nose or throat and they see something very obviously mechanical, or inflammation etc.

 

[glynis]

Try steam inhalation and taking a mucous linctus tike Sudafed or bechams do one also or mucodine.
Use a extra pillow at night ....hope that helps...lots of love glynis

 

[Irish]

Thanks to both of you for replying.
I've just bought some Flixonase and will try it for a number of weeks to see if it helps (with the eustachian tube issues).
I think a doctor prescribed me some early last year but didn't tell me how to use it to get maximum benefit:
http://fauquierent.blogspot.ie/2011/05/study-suggests-incorrectly-steroid.html
So let's see if it helps now that I will be using it as intended.

 

[Paul10]

Always get a 2nd opinion. My 1st GP dismissed me, my 2nd GP was much more sympathetic and got the ball rolling for other healthcare professionals to get involved. If I had stuck with the 1st GP, I'd be no further than I was day 1. The way I see it, there is someone out there that can help - it can just take a little bit of searching to find them.

 

[Irish]

So I have another ENT appointment tomorrow in Dublin.
Am hoping this guy will be better than the last one who offered little in the way of help or diagnosis beyond which I already knew myself.
At this stage, I think it has to be some level of ETD going on and the 'schluck' sensation I sometimes get when tensing/untensing my ear/head muscles on the left, surely indicates there's some fluid in there (despite previous tests showing none was present), and that would point to Glue Ear.
Fingers crossed this guy is a bit better informed and more knowledgeable than the last one.

 

[Juan]

So I have another ENT appointment tomorrow in Dublin.
Am hoping this guy will be better than the last one who offered little in the way of help or diagnosis beyond which I already knew myself.
At this stage, I think it has to be some level of ETD going on and the 'schluck' sensation I sometimes get when tensing/untensing my ear/head muscles on the left, surely indicates there's some fluid in there (despite previous tests showing none was present), and that would point to Glue Ear.
Fingers crossed this guy is a bit better informed and more knowledgeable than the last one.

Be careful with the eustachian tube. When it closes too much it may be also a way in which our hearing defends. Try to observe it over a long time, because all those nasal sprays may interfere with this protection mechanism and make things worse..

 

[cspc]

Be careful with the eustachian tube. When it closes too much it may be also a way in which our hearing defends. Try to observe it over a long time, because all those nasal sprays may interfere with this protection mechanism and make things worse..

Closed eustachian tube as protection mechanism? Is there any paper that discusses that? I am interested in reading.