Patulous Eustachian Tube

Coupe35
Coupe35 Member Posts: 45
edited November 2022 in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Have any of you had radiation to the head which cause Patulous Eustachian Tube. That's where the "E" tube does not close and you can hear yourself talk, breath, etc.

Comments

  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #2
    No

    Haven't experienced that but it sounds very annoying. Can it be treated?

  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    #3
    what is an E tube?
    dj

    what is an E tube?

    dj

  • KTeacher
    KTeacher Member Posts: 1,103 Member
    #4
    Curious

    I looked the condition up.  Seems to be many of the things that I have commented to my doctor's about.  Unknown.  Does it feel like air is escaping from your ear when you blow your nose?  I have to use a nasal rinse daily, sinus just doesn't work like it used to.  Frequently feels like something is in my ear.  For me it comes and goes along with the ringing in the ear.

  • Coupe35
    Coupe35 Member Posts: 45
    #5
    KTeacher said:

    Curious

    I looked the condition up.  Seems to be many of the things that I have commented to my doctor's about.  Unknown.  Does it feel like air is escaping from your ear when you blow your nose?  I have to use a nasal rinse daily, sinus just doesn't work like it used to.  Frequently feels like something is in my ear.  For me it comes and goes along with the ringing in the ear.

    yes

    Yes, that's pretty close to mine . And oh yes, the tinnitus is just about the worst part.

  • KTeacher
    KTeacher Member Posts: 1,103 Member
    #6
    Coupe35 said:

    yes

    Yes, that's pretty close to mine . And oh yes, the tinnitus is just about the worst part.

    Ear plugs

    I haven't found much to help but I do keep ear plugs handy, some sounds and loud noises hurt!  Thanks for a name to go with the symptoms, I will talk to my doctor(s) at next visits.

  • Hard12Find
    Hard12Find Member Posts: 218 Member
    #7
    I have those same symptoms

    I have those same symptoms but blamed it on the cisplaitin chemo treatments, as I have significant hearing loss in both ears, my ears "pop" very easily like when blowing my nose, and also get water in my ear from just a shower, and the tinnitus is enough to make you crazy. I do have a more nasal voice than before and I can hear it in my head, not through my ears, I will do some further research...I am 14 month post treatment, and still struggling with dysphagia (swallowing), but all in all recovering well, this damned disease took just about everything from me, but in the end I won.......

    Jim

     

  • Coupe35
    Coupe35 Member Posts: 45
    #8
    Hard12Find said:

    I have those same symptoms

    I have those same symptoms but blamed it on the cisplaitin chemo treatments, as I have significant hearing loss in both ears, my ears "pop" very easily like when blowing my nose, and also get water in my ear from just a shower, and the tinnitus is enough to make you crazy. I do have a more nasal voice than before and I can hear it in my head, not through my ears, I will do some further research...I am 14 month post treatment, and still struggling with dysphagia (swallowing), but all in all recovering well, this damned disease took just about everything from me, but in the end I won.......

    Jim

     

    symptoms

    Tell you a little more about my condition. I have lymphoma but posted here because of the location of my problem. A lymph node grew into my eustachian tube blocking it off. Had a scan and it was found. I had 20 rad treatments on the node in my nasal area and a node that was on my collar bone. Before the treatment I could not get that ear to pop because of the enlarge lymph node. After about treatment # 8 the node got smaller and I was able to pop the ear. After the last treatment had a scan and the node was gone. But, it left the tube to where it will not close. This was either due to the radiation or maybe some left over scar tissue. Anyway that's where I'm at. As I stated, the tube not closing leaves me with tinnitus, hearing myself talk thru the ear and breath thru it. After searching the internet I found that other folks had this problem and they were calling it PET. Can not get a firm answer from the ENT about this. He just says it's out of his paygrade. I believe there is an operation they can do to add more fat to get it to close but I will just live with it before getting cut on.

  • NeoTheron91
    NeoTheron91 Member Posts: 75
    #9
    eustachian tube trobule

    Post 24 months  for stage 4 NPC and still problem with hearing loss, middle ear fullness and ear infection. Hopefully one day all of them will go away or it's new life style for me now. I couldn't complain much for titinus from both ears.

  • Joe Rock
    Joe Rock Member Posts: 9 Member
    #10

    Hello NeoTheron91,

    I was treated nearly 6 years ago and, for the last 2 yrs I have had similar middle ear issues.

    I have not had much success with ENT's and have resorted to pills. Prednisone used to be effective but now I have a bone density issue. Muscinex and Sudafed work a bit.

    Have you managed to get treatment that works,

    Joe

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