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ear tubes to relieve pressure a mistake?
mkgf77 posted:
I am a 34 year old female, 18 weeks pregnant and starting to wonder if getting ear tube in my left ear was the biggest mistake of my life. About a month ago I had a sinus infection which caused my ears to become plugged and unable to "pop" to relieve the pressure. Mostly my left ear was affected. After my infection went away the left ear still didn't clear. Went to the ENT and tried Allegra D. Still problems. ENT says to see an allergist but earliest appt was the end of this month. I became so anxious (already something i suffer from) that I called my ENT last Tuesday and asked for some help. He offered a medication where I take 6 today, 5 tomorrow and so on. But I had to remind him I was pregnant. I approached the subject of ear tubes and pretty much begged him for it. He said okay and that afternoon i went in to the office for the procedure.
Boy was I in for a let down. I thought it would be an instant fix...sure the pressure was gone but now my hearing was off. It's muffled, feel's like i'm talking in a barrel w/an echo. ENT says to give it a couple of days. So Friday I go back and ask him if he should take it out he says wait over the weekend it will be better. Today is Monday, tomorrow makes 1 week since the tube and it's not better. I wish i hadn't been so quick for the tubes. Maybe I could have tried some more medication and the ear popper? I've recently learned about it and it seems like it could have worked. I have NEVER had an ear infection in my life, no fluid in my ear and the only reason for these tubes was to open the eustachian tubes that he felt were blocked. Have I made an enormous mistake?
This has caused my anxiety disorder to blow up. I have been in a severe depression since and am unable to care for my 3 children. I have been prescribed xanax for anxiety but i'm cautious because of my situation and because I don't want to become addicted. I walk around with ear buds in my ear to help mask the echo/muffled sounds. I don't talk too much because it is emphasized. I just want some advice or help. If i take them out am i just causing a bigger problem? I give birth in 20 wks or so and i KNOW i cannot handle my life like this for that much longer. I need some hope. HELP!!!!!
Boy was I in for a let down. I thought it would be an instant fix...sure the pressure was gone but now my hearing was off. It's muffled, feel's like i'm talking in a barrel w/an echo. ENT says to give it a couple of days. So Friday I go back and ask him if he should take it out he says wait over the weekend it will be better. Today is Monday, tomorrow makes 1 week since the tube and it's not better. I wish i hadn't been so quick for the tubes. Maybe I could have tried some more medication and the ear popper? I've recently learned about it and it seems like it could have worked. I have NEVER had an ear infection in my life, no fluid in my ear and the only reason for these tubes was to open the eustachian tubes that he felt were blocked. Have I made an enormous mistake?
This has caused my anxiety disorder to blow up. I have been in a severe depression since and am unable to care for my 3 children. I have been prescribed xanax for anxiety but i'm cautious because of my situation and because I don't want to become addicted. I walk around with ear buds in my ear to help mask the echo/muffled sounds. I don't talk too much because it is emphasized. I just want some advice or help. If i take them out am i just causing a bigger problem? I give birth in 20 wks or so and i KNOW i cannot handle my life like this for that much longer. I need some hope. HELP!!!!!
3 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:ear tubes to relieve pressure a mistake?I am a 34 year old female, 18 weeks pregnant and starting to wonder if getting ear tube in my left ear was the biggest mistake of my life. About a month ago I had a sinus infection which caused my ears to become plugged and unable to "pop" to relieve the pressure. Mostly my left ear was affected. After my infection went away the left ear still didn't clear. Went to the ENT and tried Allegra D. Still problems. ENT says to see an allergist but earliest appt was the end of this month. I became so anxious (already something i suffer from) that I called my ENT last Tuesday and asked for some help. He offered a medication where I take 6 today, 5 tomorrow and so on. But I had to remind him I was pregnant. I approached the subject of ear tubes and pretty much begged him for it. He said okay and that afternoon i went in to the office for the procedure.<br /> Boy was I in for a let down. I thought it would be an instant fix...sure the pressure was gone but now my hearing was off. It's muffled, feel's like i'm talking in a barrel w/an echo. ENT says to give it a couple of days. So Friday I go back and ask him if he should take it out he says wait over the weekend it will be better. Today is Monday, tomorrow makes 1 week since the tube and it's not better. I wish i hadn't been so quick for the tubes. Maybe I could have tried some more medication and the ear popper? I've recently learned about it and it seems like it could have worked. I have NEVER had an ear infection in my life, no fluid in my ear and the only reason for these tubes was to open the eustachian tubes that he felt were blocked. Have I made an enormous mistake? <br /> This has caused my anxiety disorder to blow up. I have been in a severe depression since and am unable to care for my 3 children. I have been prescribed xanax for anxiety but i'm cautious because of my situation and because I don't want to become addicted. I walk around with ear buds in my ear to help mask the echo/muffled sounds. I don't talk too much because it is emphasized. I just want some advice or help. If i take them out am i just causing a bigger problem? I give birth in 20 wks or so and i KNOW i cannot handle my life like this for that much longer. I need some hope. HELP!!!!!
Rod Moser, PA, PhD responded:
I see several factors....
First, it was probably your anxiety of your stuffy ears that pushed your ENT toward the tubes. Like you said, you begged him to do it. It is not uncommon for pregnant women to have Eustachian tubes issues because of those raging hormones, so in retrospect, perhaps the tube was not the best approach at that time.
Second, you have anxiety issues that were exacerbated by the stuffy ear, and again, worsened when the tubes did not immediately fix the problem. As a matter of fact, the tube make some symptoms more annoying and increased your anxiety. Removing the tube is not to give you an instant "fix" either, since the hole in your eardrum will remain for several weeks or longer until it heals.
Now that you do have a tube, you have a dilemma. That echo sound is really normal, but your brain will get used to it in time, but due to your anxiety, you may not be able to wait. If you have the tube removed, your symptoms will remain for several more weeks (unpredictable as to how long it will take), so you will still have to find ways of coping.
You have not other choice but to handle this situation in the best way that you can. You have three children who need you and one on the way that probably doesn't appreciate the Xanax as much as you do. My suggestion? Get some immediate psychological help. A good therapist can help you cope with these symptoms, just the way other people learn to cope with pain....or reduced mobility....or dizziness....or any other bodily symptoms that cannot be instantly fixed, if at all.
Using the ear buds and masking noise is fine, but you may need more help. There were just too many explanation points after your last "HELP"....
First, it was probably your anxiety of your stuffy ears that pushed your ENT toward the tubes. Like you said, you begged him to do it. It is not uncommon for pregnant women to have Eustachian tubes issues because of those raging hormones, so in retrospect, perhaps the tube was not the best approach at that time.
Second, you have anxiety issues that were exacerbated by the stuffy ear, and again, worsened when the tubes did not immediately fix the problem. As a matter of fact, the tube make some symptoms more annoying and increased your anxiety. Removing the tube is not to give you an instant "fix" either, since the hole in your eardrum will remain for several weeks or longer until it heals.
Now that you do have a tube, you have a dilemma. That echo sound is really normal, but your brain will get used to it in time, but due to your anxiety, you may not be able to wait. If you have the tube removed, your symptoms will remain for several more weeks (unpredictable as to how long it will take), so you will still have to find ways of coping.
You have not other choice but to handle this situation in the best way that you can. You have three children who need you and one on the way that probably doesn't appreciate the Xanax as much as you do. My suggestion? Get some immediate psychological help. A good therapist can help you cope with these symptoms, just the way other people learn to cope with pain....or reduced mobility....or dizziness....or any other bodily symptoms that cannot be instantly fixed, if at all.
Using the ear buds and masking noise is fine, but you may need more help. There were just too many explanation points after your last "HELP"....
Report This| Share this:ear tubes to relieve pressure a mistake?I see several factors....<br /> <br />First, it was probably your anxiety of your stuffy ears that pushed your ENT toward the tubes. Like you said, you begged him to do it. It is not uncommon for pregnant women to have Eustachian tubes issues because of those raging hormones, so in retrospect, perhaps the tube was not the best approach at that time.<br /> <br />Second, you have anxiety issues that were exacerbated by the stuffy ear, and again, worsened when the tubes did not immediately fix the problem. As a matter of fact, the tube make some symptoms more annoying and increased your anxiety. Removing the tube is not to give you an instant "fix" either, since the hole in your eardrum will remain for several weeks or longer until it heals.<br /> <br />Now that you do have a tube, you have a dilemma. That echo sound is really normal, but your brain will get used to it in time, but due to your anxiety, you may not be able to wait. If you have the tube removed, your symptoms will remain for several more weeks (unpredictable as to how long it will take), so you will still have to find ways of coping.<br /> <br />You have not other choice but to handle this situation in the best way that you can. You have three children who need you and one on the way that probably doesn't appreciate the Xanax as much as you do. My suggestion? Get some immediate psychological help. A good therapist can help you cope with these symptoms, just the way other people learn to cope with pain....or reduced mobility....or dizziness....or any other bodily symptoms that cannot be instantly fixed, if at all.<br /> <br />Using the ear buds and masking noise is fine, but you may need more help. There were just too many explanation points after your last "HELP"....
mkgf77 replied to Rod Moser, PA, PhD's response:
Hi Dr. Moser! Thank you so much for your insight 
I am trying to be optimistic about my situation. My family told me that maybe it will get better once my ear drums heal from having the surgery since it's kind of an invasive thing to have done. I am curious as to whether or not other people who have had the echo/muffled sounds after ear tubes returned to normal once the inflammation subsided? Or did it only help once it fell out after 5 months? today makes one week and i'm hoping it's all looking up from here. The past 2 days that ear has been slightly itchy so I'm optimistic it's a sign things are healing.
I am working with a psychiatrist for my anxiety and hopefully we can address this recent set back i have had. What is your take on the ear popper? My right ear still get's plugged sometimes and I don't want to do another ear tube thing for it so I"m looking into other options. I've read some good things about it but I don't know anyone who has used it.
Thanks you again for your time and insight into this issue. I wish you an awesome rest of the day!!!
I am trying to be optimistic about my situation. My family told me that maybe it will get better once my ear drums heal from having the surgery since it's kind of an invasive thing to have done. I am curious as to whether or not other people who have had the echo/muffled sounds after ear tubes returned to normal once the inflammation subsided? Or did it only help once it fell out after 5 months? today makes one week and i'm hoping it's all looking up from here. The past 2 days that ear has been slightly itchy so I'm optimistic it's a sign things are healing. I am working with a psychiatrist for my anxiety and hopefully we can address this recent set back i have had. What is your take on the ear popper? My right ear still get's plugged sometimes and I don't want to do another ear tube thing for it so I"m looking into other options. I've read some good things about it but I don't know anyone who has used it.
Thanks you again for your time and insight into this issue. I wish you an awesome rest of the day!!!
Report This| Share this:ear tubes to relieve pressure a mistake?Hi Dr. Moser! Thank you so much for your insight <img src="http://img.webmd.com/community/images/smile.gif" align="top" border="0"> I am trying to be optimistic about my situation. My family told me that maybe it will get better once my ear drums heal from having the surgery since it's kind of an invasive thing to have done. I am curious as to whether or not other people who have had the echo/muffled sounds after ear tubes returned to normal once the inflammation subsided? Or did it only help once it fell out after 5 months? today makes one week and i'm hoping it's all looking up from here. The past 2 days that ear has been slightly itchy so I'm optimistic it's a sign things are healing. <br /> I am working with a psychiatrist for my anxiety and hopefully we can address this recent set back i have had. What is your take on the ear popper? My right ear still get's plugged sometimes and I don't want to do another ear tube thing for it so I"m looking into other options. I've read some good things about it but I don't know anyone who has used it. <br /> Thanks you again for your time and insight into this issue. I wish you an awesome rest of the day!!!
The Ear Popper is effective for Eustachian tube problems in an INTACT ear, but not one that has surgical tubes.
If you read through many of the posting on this site (I know there are many) you will find a long string of postings about this subject...start with the Popular Discussions link to the right.
Most people get better over time and the annoying changes in hearing, tinnitus, etc. will resolve in time, but again, this can not be predicted.
If you read through many of the posting on this site (I know there are many) you will find a long string of postings about this subject...start with the Popular Discussions link to the right.
Most people get better over time and the annoying changes in hearing, tinnitus, etc. will resolve in time, but again, this can not be predicted.
Report This| Share this:ear tubes to relieve pressure a mistake?The Ear Popper is effective for Eustachian tube problems in an INTACT ear, but not one that has surgical tubes. <br /> <br />If you read through many of the posting on this site (I know there are many) you will find a long string of postings about this subject...start with the Popular Discussions link to the right.<br /> <br />Most people get better over time and the annoying changes in hearing, tinnitus, etc. will resolve in time, but again, this can not be predicted.
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