Eustachian Tube Dysfunction

The Nightmare and How I Resolved it

Symptoms:

  • fullness in the ears
  • feeling like your ears are “plugged”
  • changes to your hearing
  • ringing in the ear, also known as tinnitus
  • clicking or popping sounds
  • ticklish feelings in the ears
  • pain

I have been dealing with this dilemma for over 10 years. It started after I moved to Colorado. The dry climate, mixed with cycling, and some allergies, developed the perfect storm, my first ear blockage that wouldn’t go away. I would love to hear your feedback, comments and solutions if you’ve found any. There is really no treatment for ETD, there’s only temporary remedies that seem to seldom work. Comment and let me know that I’m not the only person suffering from this.

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Sometime back in 2010, my ear plugged up. I had no idea why. It had plugged up in the past when I was sick, but, usually resolved itself on its own. This time, it did not. I tried nasal sprays, decongestants, inhalers, but, nothing cleared my ear. 

After about 3 weeks of suffering, I went to the doctor. She told me that my ear was infected, prescribed Flonase, steroidal anti-inflammatory pills and antibiotics. The Flonase did nothing, but, within a day, the antibiotics kicked in and my ear finally cleared. I continued existing thinking this had been a one time fluke, but, it wasn’t. Six months later it happened again. I received the same treatments and had the same results. 

However, after it happened again and again and more frequently, I knew I had a problem. The antibiotics had to be changed up as each stopped being effective. I saw an ENT and he diagnosed me with a deviated septum. He said that the likelihood of surgery resolving this was 80%. So, I got the surgery. Alas, the blocked ear came back. I saw a different ENT and he advised tubes, but, these make your hearing worse, echo, like your ear against a tin can. When my ear was clear, my hearing was totally normal. I didn’t want to screw that up with another surgery. 

By this time, I was using all sorts of sinus rinses, the neti pot, the NeliMed, I had tried steam and even asthma mists. While these offered some relief, it was very temporary and generally ineffective for clearing my ear. 

When I ride hard, my nose is always running. So, this added to the congestion and sometimes the pressure in my ear was so powerful that the pain was agonizing. I’d just lay in bed and wait for some relief. Doctors, surgeons, no one seemed to offer any relief other than a new antibiotic that eventually stopped working. 

When I saw an ad for the Navage system, I was hopeful and bought it. It worked like a neti pot, offered some relief, worked better, but, still my ear remained blocked. Then, I found a stray blog, like the one you’re reading now, that suggested that the antibiotics can only kill so much of an infection and are ineffective in areas with poor blood flow that are contained within the nooks and crannies of your sinus pathways. The fact is, the infection is still there after the antibiotics, but, not enough to inflame your passageways, so, your ear clears, but, within a few months, the infection reasserts itself and, bam! Another ear infection. 

While most external infections can be self treated, like washing your wounds with soap and applying antibiotic ointments and liquids, you can’t do this internally. Or can you?  I have been clear for over 2 years, and when my ear begins to plug, I can clear it by the morning. This works, has been the only thing that works, and I haven’t taken antibiotics since I started doing this.

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Part 1 – First, get the Navage system (Ad above).

You will also need to have available:

  • isopropyl alcohol, 
  • baby shampoo, 
  • salt.

The Navage system is clever, it pressurizes your sinus pathway and reduces the internal volume, so, the saline solution covers more territory. Then, it moderates the flow speed and pushes fluid through your passageways. Even if you are completely congested, the fluid will push its way through.

Typically you just add warm sterile water to a saline packet and pump that through, but, I do something a bit different.

  • 1. Fill the Navage reservoir with warm tap water.
  • 2. Add a half teaspoon of salt.
  • 3. Add a cap of isopropyl alcohol (1/2 tsp).
  • 4. Add 2 drops of baby shampoo. Then, shake vigorously for 30 seconds.
 

The alcohol makes sterile the water. It creates a warm sensation when it’s pumping through. At first, it will be a little uncomfortable. You need to be careful because, too much and it hurts. If it hurts, your sinuses produce more fluid and that doesn’t help with congestion.

The baby shampoo breaks down the natural oil barrier that bacteria forms around itself. When that barrier is gone, the saline and the alcohol can go to work on it. The baby shampoo is fairly gentle, so, it doesn’t hurt, but, it is a little irritating. I use about 2 drops.

The salt produces the saline solution. What you’re doing here is simply changing the pH of the water to match the pH of your body. Water alone burns, water with a balanced pH feels perfectly comfortable. Too much salt lowers the pH too much and that can sting. You can buy saline solutions from Walgreens, or you can buy the Navage refills, but, this adds up and you need a place to store it. With experimentation, you’ll find a mix that’s comfortable. With a little more salt than what’s comfortable, assists in killing bacteria more quickly.

So, now the solution is prepared. Next, with the Navage, start by holding the button half way until you feel your ears pop as the air is being sucked out, then press the button fully and pump the fluid through. When the Navage reservoir is empty, stop pumping, pinch your nose and go lay on your back. You want to pinch your nose so that the saline solution is still in your sinuses. When you lay down, it will disperse to other sinus pathways that aren’t reached when you’re standing. Once on the floor, you can actually let go of your nose. Open your mouth, yawn, let the fluid move around. The fluid may start to drain into the back of your throat, this is a good thing, the junk in your nose is clearing out. After a minute or two, plug your nose, go to the sink, and blow out as much as you can.

If your ears were plugged, they’ll still be plugged, so, don’t panic. The saline needs to breakdown the thick phlemmy stuff that’s been plugging your ears.

Part 2. We’re not done yet. After you’ve blown your nose, we’re going to mix another concoction. Take a small glass (shot glass). If you’re using a shot glass, fill 1/2 with isopropyl alcohol and 1/2 with hot water. Then, pour in salt (about 2 tsp). We’re making this mix super salty. Now, we’re going to gargle this horrific tasting melody. After rinsing my nose, I always feel a little tickle that the saline doesn’t quite reach. Gargling this seems to hit that spot. So, gargle, do not drink! I gargle 3 or 4 times before I spit this out. After a week of this, I can usually stop, it’s when the gargling stops burning and that tickle goes away and my ear is clear from day to day!

While laying in bed, maybe an hour later, I’ll start feeling better. Sound begins equalizing. My head starts feeling lighter. By the morning, I can hear out of my ear. My energy is back, my gloom is gone.

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Other useful ear clearing devices:

Ear popper

 

The other ones are really expensive. This works like a charm

Neli Med

 

This is a good alternative to the more expensive Navage system.

Get in your next killer workout!