Hey all, new here but have been researching symptoms a lot so I've read several threads here already! Sorry if this is the wrong place for this message.
My ear problems started back in December 2015 I think, a kind of heavy, deep thumping in my right ear. It's a sensation as well as the sound, and after a lot of googling I believe it is probably tensor tympani spasm, or perhaps the eustachian tube, I don't know... initially it was just the right ear before it seemed to completely switch across to the left only, and this last month it's been happening in both, although thankfully not simultaneously. I've been to countless GPs, ENTs, a dentist, an oral surgeon (who surprisingly seemed to be the most knowledgable and sympathetic, but nevertheless couldn't suggest to me any treatment apart from jaw exercises/reducing stress), and a hearing therapist, who was absolutely useless. It's getting to the point where it's happening almost every day and I just can't cope with it at all. Once it starts it's generally non-stop for the next 12-24 hours, and there's nothing I can do to interrupt it. I often end up having panic attacks, and feel as if I'm totally spaced out from reality. My whole mood is just going downhill and as yet the best I've got out of medical professionals is that I need to reduce stress and essentially 'just ignore it', which is nearly impossible.
Although my right ear in particular does seem to start thumping of its own accord, what I've noticed is that usually burping, stretching or yawning triggers it. I think I have some sort of reflux problem, as I often have the feeling of a lump in my throat which I can't clear, or pain in my chest, and this often makes me do these weird 'internal hiccups'. I can't quite describe it but that is the gist of it. I tried to raise this with the GP but they dismissed it because it was 'unusual for someone to present with an ear problem as a result of reflux', despite the fact this literally causes the ear spasms. So basically it's got to the point where there's no-one else I can really go to for answers, and it seems to be getting worse. I just can't face the prospect of living with this indefinitely, especially as I'm supposed to be going off to university later this year and I have no idea how I'll be able to cope.
I guess I'm just wondering whether there's anyone else who at least is experiencing something similar to this, or who has any coping mechanisms they find useful. I know by now there's probably no way of just 'curing' this, but I'm hoping it'll settle down if I can stop obsessing about it so much. Guess I'll be seeing you around!
My ear problems started back in December 2015 I think, a kind of heavy, deep thumping in my right ear. It's a sensation as well as the sound, and after a lot of googling I believe it is probably tensor tympani spasm, or perhaps the eustachian tube, I don't know... initially it was just the right ear before it seemed to completely switch across to the left only, and this last month it's been happening in both, although thankfully not simultaneously. I've been to countless GPs, ENTs, a dentist, an oral surgeon (who surprisingly seemed to be the most knowledgable and sympathetic, but nevertheless couldn't suggest to me any treatment apart from jaw exercises/reducing stress), and a hearing therapist, who was absolutely useless. It's getting to the point where it's happening almost every day and I just can't cope with it at all. Once it starts it's generally non-stop for the next 12-24 hours, and there's nothing I can do to interrupt it. I often end up having panic attacks, and feel as if I'm totally spaced out from reality. My whole mood is just going downhill and as yet the best I've got out of medical professionals is that I need to reduce stress and essentially 'just ignore it', which is nearly impossible.
Although my right ear in particular does seem to start thumping of its own accord, what I've noticed is that usually burping, stretching or yawning triggers it. I think I have some sort of reflux problem, as I often have the feeling of a lump in my throat which I can't clear, or pain in my chest, and this often makes me do these weird 'internal hiccups'. I can't quite describe it but that is the gist of it. I tried to raise this with the GP but they dismissed it because it was 'unusual for someone to present with an ear problem as a result of reflux', despite the fact this literally causes the ear spasms. So basically it's got to the point where there's no-one else I can really go to for answers, and it seems to be getting worse. I just can't face the prospect of living with this indefinitely, especially as I'm supposed to be going off to university later this year and I have no idea how I'll be able to cope.
I guess I'm just wondering whether there's anyone else who at least is experiencing something similar to this, or who has any coping mechanisms they find useful. I know by now there's probably no way of just 'curing' this, but I'm hoping it'll settle down if I can stop obsessing about it so much. Guess I'll be seeing you around!
Member
