Tinnitus After a Plane Flight with Cold

[Giuseppe90]

Hi everyone,

1 year and 4 months ago while I was on a plane, my left ear filled up with phlegm. Once I got off the plane, I tried to pop the ear using the Valsalva manoeuvre and the following day tinnitus set in.

I had no pain, just this annoying noise in my ear. After a few days the feeling of a plugged ear disappeared.

At the first check-up after a couple of weeks, the impedance test was fine and the eardrum was of type A. Then (after 3 months) I had another visit because of the autophony I was perceiving and the impedance test was flat.

The doctor told me it was due to the presence of mucus inside the middle ear and said I had a so-called "glue ear".

I did cortisone therapy, Prednisone (Deltacortene) 25mg for a few days, and the autophony disappeared, but not the tinnitus.

At the follow-up visit, the impedance test was improved, the phlegm seemed to have disappeared from the middle ear and the audiometry test was perfect (type A eardrum).

The doctor advised me to continue to train the eustachian tube given the possibility of ETD. In doing so, my tinnitus popped up in the other ear as well (I only perceive it sometimes). I think I have pushed too hard and caused damage, is this possible or is it just my impression of hearing it in the other ear as well?

In my left ear I hear a crackling sound when I swallow, and when there is a change in pressure it closes up. Is it possible it's ETD?


In the meantime I try to ignore the tinnitus. Lately it's a bit better, but in the beginning I had a terrible time. It has changed my life and my lifestyle a lot. I'm afraid to even train (crossfit) so as not to put too much pressure on my ears. My life has slowed down and sometimes I find it difficult to do the things I used to do, like reading a book or listening to music on the bed and thinking. I'm finding relief with some binaural sounds, playing them on my AirPods and trying to concentrate in meditation or reading.

I hope this torture will end sooner or later.

 

[Matchbox]

Try some nasal steroid sprays and Sudafed. That'd fix any extra fluid issues up in there.

 

[Giuseppe90]

I've been using Nasonex for a few days + irrigation with water and salt. Is it possible that repeatedly doing the Valsalva maneuver to pop the left ear has also damaged the right ear?

 

[mohn]

@Giuseppe90, do both of your ears pop when doing Valsalva? Was nasal spray useful?

There is advice on the forum not to use AirPods.

Also, steam inhalation might alleviate the symptoms. Lots of threads recommend personal steam inhalers.

 

[Giuseppe90]

Thanks for answering me.

When I do the Valsava maneuver, the left ear compensates slightly later than the right. Also, when I swallow, sometimes it causes strange pops.

I am now doing hot steam inhalations (I did them a few months ago with more regularity). When I used to do them, the tinnitus would go quiet for about a couple of minutes, which also happened to me a couple of days ago.

I don't have any hearing problems, maybe a bit of hyperacusis; some noises such as the noise of clashing plates bother me.

I use the AirPods at a maximum of 50 dB. When I listen to the binaural sounds, the volume is on 35 dB (or even less).

 

[Ed209]

In my left ear I hear a crackling sound when I swallow, and when there is a change in pressure it closes up. Is it possible it's ETD?

Sounds like ETD as I suffer from the same problems.

I've been using Nasonex for a few days + irrigation with water and salt. Is it possible that repeatedly doing the Valsalva maneuver to pop

This is pretty much what I do when it gets bad. Don't overdo the Valsalva, and when you do do it, be very gentle and know when to stop. I have to do the Valsalva sometimes as it's the only way I can potentially unblock my ears when they get really bad, but I wouldn't recommend it to people who are unsure what to do as there are risks associated with it. I wouldn't repeatedly do it, either. Sometimes it can take weeks if not months for the mucus to clear, and if it's that bad, the Valsalva is pointless.

Try breathing in mentholated steam as well. It may help to loosen some of the mucus up.

 

[Giuseppe90]

Is it possible that some residual mucus is still there after a year and 4 months?

Another thing I have noticed is that sometimes I lose sensitivity in the mouth and the left upper part of the teeth. Do you think it is related to the fact that I have ETD?

Treating tinnitus is frustrating. Every doctor either gives me treatment without examining me (based on symptoms that I have) or tells me if it goes away, it will go away on its own. My grandma could do better!

 

[Giuseppe90]

I finally had another visit to the ENT. He checked my eardrums and they were OK. He did an impedance test which showed normal values. I also insisted on a camera inspection to check the condition of the Eustachian tube. He told me that the Eustachian tube is fine. He prescribed two types of tests, ABR (Auditory Brainstem Response) and an MRI of the petrous bone. He told me that the problem could be traced to a mandibular bone, so he advised me to see a maxillofacial surgeon. (I will have the exams in the next 2-3 weeks).

Now my question is, is it possible that the tinnitus arose after the ear filled up with phlegm on the plane and persists because of the jaw problem? I'm confused, I don't see any connection.

 

[Giuseppe90]

I performed ABR (Auditory Brainstem Response). The results show normal values in both ears.

In a few days I will have the MRI and the maxillofacial check. Now I'm starting to take 30 mg/day of Cyclobenzaprine for 12 weeks, my ENT told me that could help.

I have a forceful crackle/pop every time I swallow my saliva. Is that part of tinnitus? Is it connected to tinnitus? Eustachian tube dysfunction has already been ruled out through fibroscopy and impedance testing. I hope these two visits help me find the cause.

A few days ago I had 3-4 days of quiet, the tinnitus was much lower than usual. Those 3 days I seemed to have found the old me again, I was joyful and full of energy.

Unfortunately it is back to normal levels although for example today it seems to be slightly lower.

 

[Giuseppe90]

I did the MRI and after it the tinnitus got worse.

Is it possible that the noise from the MRI made the tinnitus worse?

After the MRI, I went back to the ENT doctor to explain my problem. He told me that there was nothing to worry about and that it was impossible that the MRI had caused any damage. I'm cursing the day I decided to have the MRI.

I was making a lot of progress and my tinnitus seemed much more bearable, now it is very high and also disturbs my sleep. By the way, the MRI didn't show any problems

 

[Ken219]

Is it possible that the noise from the MRI made the tinnitus worse? Did you wear ear protection? MRIs are very loud.

The simple answer is yes.