Feeling of Fullness in the Ear?

[Louise]

Hi,

Along with my tinnitus came a feeling of fullness in my ear. It feels sort of full and blocked. There isnt anything in it (that's visible) as I've had it checked a few times now. During my research (endless trawling of the Internet) I've only seen one or two mentions of this feeling.

Does anyone else have it? Does anyone know what it is?

 

[click]

Yes - I had it really badly. Now it comes and goes. Sometimes it feels so full that it will explode. Mainly my right ear. Ears totally clear when checked. I suspect that it's the fluid in the eustachian tubes... doing something it shouldn't - could be totally wrong though!

 

[DezDog]

I had this for weeks. I was convinced it was fluid, but I found out in the end it was the sheer amount of attention I was giving to my ears (coupled with some serious work-related stress). Once I was able to distract myself properly, the sensation went away. For a while, when I would think about it, they would start doing it again, which to me was proof that it was attention-related.

That's just me, but I really was convinced they were full of something, or that I was going deaf. Horrible

 

[BOB3000]

Yeah I have that too. Feels like a "pressure".

 

[Karen]

Same here. I have it less often than I used to, since I've been trying to ignore the T whenever possible. It is a feeling of pressure, or fullness, in the ears, as if you've been on a plan or something.

 

[Karen]

Oops! I meant to say,.....on a plane, or something!

 

[erik]

Yes I have it to but not as bad as I did the first few months. I think most T sufferers do on some level but many don't mention it because it gets overlooked by the more distressing symptoms of T.

 

[carlover]

Hi all ,I am convinced I have Eust. tube issues but tests say not.I have the fullness ,pressure feelings.

But I have slight to moderate High freq hearing loss ,(I can hear ok ,I didnt realise till tests) and the Ear doc toldme Hearing aids would reduce the T noise ...I didnt believe him but he was right....plus when I put them in the fullness pressure eases off as well. He said it was because the ears are straining to hear properly and that also would ease and he was right.

Good Luck,keep fighting ,Pete

 

[Molan]

Hi,

Along with my T came a feeling of fullness in my ear. It feels sort of full and blocked. There isnt anything in it (that's visible) as I've had it checked a few times now. During my research (endless trawling of the Internet) I've only seen one or two mentions of this feeling.

Does anyone else have it? Does anyone know what it is?

Hi Louise, I did not have this when I first got my Tinnitus. However after repeated further infections in my ear in the 18 months after that I began to experience the sensation you describe.

I thought I was going crazy because the Doctor kept looking in my ears and telling me nothing was wrong. ''But I can feel it'' I insisted and my tinnitus became even worse (There was now a new noise whenever I yawned) I was told I was mistaken.

I'm not a medical professional and this is just my opinion but I believe this fullness comes from the Eustation tubes not being drained properly. I believe the reason for that is because someone can become very tense in response to the noise and can tense their diaphragm, throat and small muscles near and around the ear. I believe this can prevent the fluid being completely drained from. Most of the time I also experience a sensation similar (but not the same) as ear popping whenever I swallow. However occasionally when I am relaxed I can let out a big yawn and afterwards my ears feel completely clear for quite a while and there is no popping when I yawn.

Again I must stress this is only my take on the issue.

 

[mock turtle]

yep, had that feeling of fullness in the ear constantly during the first few months of T...seemed to go along with the hyperacusis...both diminished in time

hang in there...you are not alone

 

[Louise]

Hi all, thanks for these posts. I've only just seen them as I had neglected to 'watch' my own thread! D'oh.

So, it seems most of us have/have had this feeling of fullness. I find it makes me even less able to ignore the T because I can feel it as well as hear it. In fact, there are times Im in noise and cant hear the T but because of this full feeling Im aware of it.

It does seem to come and go so maybe it is the tubes draining.

What Carlover says is interesting too, about the ears straining. I spoke to a Hearing specialist last week and she said that a hearing aid would help and that my ears will be straining to hear the high frequencies at the moment (I have a 30db hearing loss at 6000hz). She also said a hearing aid can sort out tinnitus and that she has personally seen it work for people.

I had already asked one of the audiologists at the Tinnitus Clinic if a hearing aid would help and he said not and that you would just get lateral inhibition (which is only temporary relief).

I tried lymphatic drainage massage on my self last week (from a vid on Youtube) and my ear felt less full the next day I think. I'm going to get it done professionally and see if that works.

 

[click]

hi Louise - whilst searching for mention of silence as the cause on the TRT site I found this about the fullness:

I am 32 years old, I have tinnitus and often get feeling of pressure in the ear (one or other) which causes me more of a problem than the tinnitus itself. One doctor said I had Eustachian tube problems, another said it might be Ménière's disease. My hearing is normal and I don't have any vertigo. What might this be?
This could easily be due to Tensor Tympani syndrome. The original article on this condition is available in the download area (as it is now out of print). A small muscle in the middle ear is attached to the ear-drum via the malleus bone. The muscle contracts normally if the face is touched, or air is blown on the eyeball. It seems to be equivalent to the blink reflex for the eye, but now no longer useful as a protective reflex for the ear. The appendix is an example of another body part that has lost its use due to time passing. Nevertheless the muscle often does contract if we are tense and reactive (perhaps due to increased autonomic activity in tinnitus or misophonia). Sometimes it can 'flutter' like having an insect in the ear, or give a feeling of drawing the eardrum inwards (which it does!). While the symptoms can be worrying and distracting, contraction of this muscle is harmless, and a common occurrence in the general population. Worrying about it makes it worse, just like tinnitus! The symptoms always improve as the tinnitus or misophonia improves following TRT, or simply with reassurance. Eustachian tube dysfunction, common in children, is very rare in adults nowadays. It can be excluded by a simple test (impedance eudiometry). Ménière's syndrome is also very uncommon compared to tinnitus and misophonia on their own, and is often wrongly diagnosed.

 

[DezDog]

> Tensor Tympani

That's what I was talking about! For me, that muscle becomes ultra-sensitive when tired and it feels like it swells up when I'm stressed and focusing on my T

 

[Louise]

hi Louise - whilst searching for mention of silence as the cause on the TRT site I found this about the fullness:

I am 32 years old, I have tinnitus and often get feeling of pressure in the ear (one or other) which causes me more of a problem than the tinnitus itself. One doctor said I had Eustachian tube problems, another said it might be Ménière's disease. My hearing is normal and I don't have any vertigo. What might this be?
This could easily be due to Tensor Tympani syndrome. The original article on this condition is available in the download area (as it is now out of print). A small muscle in the middle ear is attached to the ear-drum via the malleus bone. The muscle contracts normally if the face is touched, or air is blown on the eyeball. It seems to be equivalent to the blink reflex for the eye, but now no longer useful as a protective reflex for the ear. The appendix is an example of another body part that has lost its use due to time passing. Nevertheless the muscle often does contract if we are tense and reactive (perhaps due to increased autonomic activity in tinnitus or misophonia). Sometimes it can 'flutter' like having an insect in the ear, or give a feeling of drawing the eardrum inwards (which it does!). While the symptoms can be worrying and distracting, contraction of this muscle is harmless, and a common occurrence in the general population. Worrying about it makes it worse, just like tinnitus! The symptoms always improve as the tinnitus or misophonia improves following TRT, or simply with reassurance. Eustachian tube dysfunction, common in children, is very rare in adults nowadays. It can be excluded by a simple test (impedance eudiometry). Ménière's syndrome is also very uncommon compared to tinnitus and misophonia on their own, and is often wrongly diagnosed.

Hi Click,

Thansk for this. Very interesting. So, its stress then? Strange how its only happening in my T ear and not the other one! Tensor Tympani Syndrome, that's something else to spend hours researching then

 

[click]

sorry Louise

 

[carlover]

Hi all ,try this one for size
There is a condition called Cochlear Hydrops ,google yourself to death and have a look at the symptoms which include Fullness ("mistaken for Eust. problems") and tinnitus.
Hi louise your audiologist is right hearing aids do nott cure but when in they reduce my symptoms by a good 50%.
Best ,Pete

 

[Louise]

Thanks Pete, more researchng coming up

The audiologist I spoke to said she'd seen hearing aids stop/reduce T I thought she meant 'cure'
At least some relief is better than none though.

I'm really fed up today, had to listen to it all night when trying to sleep and then each time I woke up. Then I had a 3 hour drive to work and I had to listen to it for that time too as I now wear earplugs whilst driving due to the hyperacusis and the fact that my car is actually very loud. Trying not to do any more noise damage.

Have a good day everyone.

 

[Louise]

That's it Pete - mine is Secondary Endolymphatic Hydrops (SEH). It comes as the result of some preceeding trauma. An imbalance of the fluid in the inner ear. I'm going to follow the advice on the site. Good find, thankyou.

http://vestibular.org/secondary-endolymphatic-hydrops-seh?gclid=CO6Am42DzrICFcdlOgodPGEAIA

 

[DezDog]

Louise, how about a talking book for your 3 hour car journey? If you can't bear to listen on the car stereo, stick it on your ipod and listen to that instead of just ear plugs. You'll mask yourself from the car's noise, and also have a great chance of distracting yourself from the T.
DD

 

[Louise]

Louise, how about a talking book for your 3 hour car journey? If you can't bear to listen on the car stereo, stick it on your ipod and listen to that instead of just ear plugs. You'll mask yourself from the car's noise, and also have a great chance of distracting yourself from the T.
DD

Thanks for that DezDog. It would be a lot of noise in my vulnerable ears I think. I'd prefer to wear earplugs and put up with the ringing because at least I know they are not going to get any further damage. That trip to the theatre 3 weeks ago has taught me that previously acceptable noise can damage them further.
When I can afford it Im going to change my car. This one's an (old) convertible and they are very noisy on a motorway.

 

[erik]

Audio books helped me immensely the first few months. I got an Audible.com subscription, downloaded the app on my phone and listened to audiobooks all the time and still do, although not as much. I only really mask with white noise at night and during the day I am not a fan of listening to sounds and white noise, so the audio books were a great distraction- I highly recommend it.

I did wear ear plugs when driving on the highway for a while because the road noise was so loud, but it affected my ability to hear "normal" sounds around me. I hate the feeling of ear plugs and I thought wearing them might also be a safety issue, so I looked to reduce the road noise in my car instead. Consumer Reports does extensive testing on tires and also rates them for quietness. I found a good all-season tire that rated high for quietness and that made a huge difference on my car. Of course for you Louise, that might not make as much of a difference since most convertible road noise comes from the soft top.

 

[Molan]

It seems to be equivalent to the blink reflex for the eye, but now no longer useful as a protective reflex for the ear. The appendix is an example of another body part that has lost its use due to time passing.

Actually the Appendix was found a few years ago to have fucntion afterall! It houses and stores good bacteria until they are needed apparently and can help make, direct and train white blood cells.

http://www.livescience.com/10571-appendix-fact-promising.html


This is what I was saying on the other thread about so called experts being anything but. I'm always cautious about anything medical professionals say if it doesn't sound right to me.

 

[DezDog]

Thanks for that DezDog. It would be a lot of noise in my vulnerable ears I think. I'd prefer to wear earplugs and put up with the ringing because at least I know they are not going to get any further damage. That trip to the theatre 3 weeks ago has taught me that previously acceptable noise can damage them further.
When I can afford it Im going to change my car. This one's an (old) convertible and they are very noisy on a motorway.

Fair enough. Try to make sure you don't start over-protecting them. You're right to not want to damage them, but you also don't want to deprive them of everyday noise. I used a soundmeter app on my phone to see what the loudness of various environments was, to reassure myself that I wouldn't be damaging them.

 

[erik]

The rule of thumb that the tinnitus clinics/experts use is that if the noise is so loud you have to raise your voice to speak then it is probably too loud for your ears. You should also wear them if you work around loud machinery, mow the lawn, go hunting etc. But Dez is right, overprotecting them will slow the healing/adjustment process for tinnitus and hyperacusis. Everyday normal sounds will not make your ears worse. I only wear plugs to events I know will or might be loud and that's it. I keep a back up set of Etymotic ear plugs in my ear.

 

[Louise]

Thanks DD & Erik. Dont worry I dont overprotect. In the office where I am I'm sat in with Customer Services and they are LOUD! The one next to me actually shouts over the room to her colleagues. So sometimes I do plug up. Anyone in my car has to raise their voice to be heard so Im right to plug up there too. Its good to know that rule about raising your voice means its too loud.

These sounds didnt bother my ears the way they were before. Noise-damaged ears must respond differently to sound after the damage. Hence my experience with the theatre. I've been to the theatre regularly for years, never been a problem. I went 3 weeks ago expecting the same and it had a catastrophic effect on my T.

Whilst I'm working away this week I'm staying in a B&B on a farm. Its surrounded by trees. It was windy last night and I just wished I could listen to the gorgeous rustling of the leaves without this electric-sounding screeching going on I know we all feel the same.

Thanks everyone for all the info and support.

 

[chetan]

Though I am not expert on ENT issue. Feeling of fullness is probably due to high salt intake in diet which causes excess water retention in ear.

 

[erik]

I had fullness, sore jaw and tension headaches daily for the first three and a half months. I believe mine was caused entirely due to stress and anxiety about T. I carried this stress in my shoulders, neck and face which were very tense and stiff. Now after nearly 5.5 months, my stress and anxiety about my T has improved immensely and so has the tension and fullness I no longer have headaches. I still have some jaw tension and pain but only about 30% of what it was. I occasionally experience fullness but not nearly to the extent I did the first few months. So give it some time and I bet it will improve with you also.

I talked to people I work with who have had long term T about whether they experience fullness and none of them do. So I don't think this is a symptom of the T itself just the reaction from the stress/anxiety it causes.

 

[click]

Erik,

Yours began 9 days after mine and I had the same thing... extreme stress (caused by fear & anxiety from getting T) that I believe caused real pain at the start.

Now (it's coming up to 6 months) I still have some earache, some jaw ache & some fullness every so often. I no longer have the headaches and yet they were so bad before.

I'm still stressed on bad days but I now usually have up to 5 'ok', 'good' or' excellent' days a week and only up to 2 'bad' or 'terrible' ones - I keep a track so I can say... "hey that week wasn't so bad". Of course this could change!

One thing I think I've almost accepted is that when it disappears or goes down to barely audible - that it's not over. I used to be so disappointed that it came back. Now I'm expecting it back & I'm not so stressed that it has returned. I just hang my ear buds over the back of my ears & try to carry on as normal - and if I can't, I hide under the duvet

So sorry to hear that you've got something else. I hope you're ok.

Click

 

[Louise]

I only have the fullness in one ear, none at all in the other. If mine was down to stress it would be in both. I did the lymph drainage massage again last night and the feeling of fullness has reduced today. Its something to do with inner ear fluids or the content of the fluids (the potassium and other salts concentrations).

No sleep again for me last night. About two hours I got. Its a relentless high-pitched ringing. There all the time. Never leaves me alone. And I have to sit here and work. Just dont feel like going on. Dont know how people cope with this for years.

 

[click]

Hi Louise

I used to feel exactly the same. I was convinced that it was fluid & that something should be done. I had mild labyrinthitis years ago & I kept doing the test for it when I went dizzy. So I spent about 2 or 3 weeks (in month 3) believing the same as you do now. But then it changed. The dizziness went away.. the feeling of fullness came and went and the headaches started to dimish & now they've gone.

Your T could be exactly what you think it is though because we could all have different causes and we're no experts. All we can do is share our own experiences.

I'm so sorry you're still not sleeping. Have you tried having white noise mixed with rain playing right beside your head at night? It's the only thing that works for me when it's bad at night. Having slept the night before can really help when trying to cope during the day.

Mine is buzzing today - I prefer it when it tinkles.. so much easier to cope with.

Stay strong.. maybe yours will change too.

Click