Fluid in middle ear post radiotherapy

AndrewP16nose
AndrewP16nose Member Posts: 23 Member
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

About 2 weeks before I finished my 7 week radiotherapy course I noticed my right ear felt blocked. I was hoping it was just wax but apparently I have fluid in my middle ear. This is a radiotherapy side effect and I'd like to hear(pardon the pun) if anyone can tell me if this goes away by itself. The specialist was already talking about putting ventilation tube in my ear. Thanks

Comments

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #2
    Oh yes....

    it certainly can be from side effects of rads.  My ear did the same thing....well, it kinda feels plugged, but more like pressure on the side that got the most rads.  The outer ear also gets slight pins and needles type feeling, too.  The very first thing they did when this started was test my hearing, and make sure it wasn't fluid.....if it had been fluid, the ENT was talking about tubes in my ears.  My hearing was fine....so he wasn't worried about fluid.  He said this is side effects, so check in with your ENT....get your hearing checked...  All the weird stuff with my ear is due to the bone thickening behind my ear from rads.

    p

  • wmc
    wmc Member Posts: 1,804
    #3
    Welcome to the H&N Group

    I'll like to say Welcome to the H&N group, and of corse, sorry you need to be here. A lot seem to have that problem from the RADs. I never had radiation or chemo so I will let the others in the group who know about it explain. I only had surgery for my SCC. Best to you and keep us posted on your progress.

    Bill

  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    #4
    Andrew, I'm sorry you need to

    Andrew, I'm sorry you need to be here but I'm glad you found us and I want to welcome you to our family.  I didn't have a problem with my ears but others did so I'm sure you'll get all the info you're looking for.

    God bless you,

    dj

  • jackflash22
    jackflash22 Member Posts: 524 Member
    #5
    Ear

    I have gone deaf in my right ear, the side of the radiation. I had perfect hearing before that. I'm told it's from the radiation. They talked about a grommet being put in but haven't heard anything since. I had all the tests and they suggested a hearing aid but I said I'd wait and see if the hearing improved in time. It hasn't I'm even more deaf. I was so fed up with treatment...surgery, radiation etc that I couldn't face any more ops. I'm now waiting for an appointment for more hearing tests. It's got one advantage though , my partner snores and if I roll over on the good ear I cant hear him ha ha.

     

     

     

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #6
    Hi Anderw

    Sometimes it is possible for the fluid to drain down by itself but the problem mostly is that the treatment may have you swelling on the Eustachian tubes. If this is the problem you might need temporary tubes to help reduce the pressure on the ear drum. I had the same problem and had to get tubes put in both ears because of the pain and dizziness I was having.

     

    PS: Like many of you I too had good hearing on the things I wanted to hear before C, what the first radiation did not kill the second did. I now have a total hearing lost of 85% in my right ear and 90% in my left. I have hearing aids now but I hate them and love them all at the same time, but it is all a part of my new normal me.

     

    PS: Welcome to CSN H&N hope you stay and be a part of the family

     

    Hondo

  • Meegs
    Meegs Member Posts: 14
    #7
    Hi, I had this happen too and

    Hi, I had this happen too and it drove me mad! But thankfully it just cleared one day- did take a bit of time after I finished radiation to clear though.

     

    all the best!

  • Moki
    Moki Member Posts: 53
    #8
    Same issue

    I have the same issue, I am 10 weeks from radiation and I still have it. When I blow my nose very hard, I can feel my ear clearing for few secs and than back to fluid. My ENT and my radiologist both told me it will take 6/9 months for the fluid to clear. Hang in there

  • lornal
    lornal Member Posts: 428
    #9
    fluid

    I didn't have the problem w/ the radiation - but I did lose some hearing in 2007 from the chemo.

    And then this time, my right ear lost hearing - and it turned out to be fluid.

    Got a tube in the ear - it is nice to hear out of that year again.  3 times since then it clogged back up and started draining again.

    Not so bad getting the tube - only hurts for a few seconds, and then feels wierd for a few days while it drains.

    Lorna 2007 & 2014

  • AndrewP16nose
    AndrewP16nose Member Posts: 23 Member
    #10
    thanks for your feedback

    Thanks. Looks like I'll just wait and hope my ear clears. It's now been 2 months. At least it's not sore, just annoying. 

  • nurse_claire
    nurse_claire Member Posts: 1
    #11
    Hello everyone:) As a

    Hello everyone:) As a radiation oncology nurse I sometimes hear my lovely patients with nasopharyngeal cancer complain of blocked ears accompanied with pain post radiation therapy. I dont really have any answer for them apart from "it takes time". Im wondering if anyone here is able to share their first hand experiences with blocked ears-how you dealt with it, what treatment (if any) you recieved and how long it took to pass? Any advice would be appreciated as so many are suffering long term side effects post RT. 

  • corleone
    corleone Member Posts: 312 Member
    edited November 2019 #12
    NPC survivor

    The treatment for NPC ended 7 years ago. I had Serous Otitis Media occurring now and then, but with no effective treatment; it just comes and goes away by itself. One thing that helps a little bit is saline lavage; at least it helps keeping the nasal passages open; it also decrease the local inflammation. I use a tad higher saline concentration, seems to make a slight difference.

    This becomes a problem during flights (I travel almost weekly by plane), cold weather, and (common) cold. Serous otitis can easily become infected; I had once a nasty bacterial middle otitis, that was very painful (pressure due to fluid and pus being trapped inside); I didn’t have access to antibiotics right away (it happened during weekend), and my right eardrum punctured (by itself) due to increased pressure. Well, another blow to my already damaged hearing (cisplatin).

    In some cases the sensation of fullness (in mild serous otitis) can be alleviated using Valsalva maneuver. I do that especially during longer hour flights. In more difficult cases can be used myringotomy with tympanostomy tube insertion (but I haven’t had done – so far).

    Most of the time, however, it doesn’t bother me.

  • Joe Rock
    Joe Rock Member Posts: 9 Member
    #13
    Middle Ear Blockage

    I am 1 month short of 3 yrs since surgery/chemo/radiation. I have been dealing with middle ear blockage, outer ear blockage due to exfolliating skin and I have significant hearing loss in my higher frequencies. I almost fainted due to vertigo when gaining elevation on the way to the Grand Canyon last spring. Same sensation when landing in commercial plane and same senssation again when I attempt the Vaslsava maneuver too aggressively or repeatedly. My ENT said drain tubes are short term. Gave me a nasal steroid and said "don't over use it". My pharmacist sister-in-law suggested saline rinse of nasal passages. My conclusion, grin and bear it.

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