Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: HelloSam666 on March 28, 2023, 01:26:36 PM
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Hi everyone,
I currently have a problem with my ear in that it's constantly blocking, sometimes all day. It's the same sensation when flying & you need to hold & blow your nose to try and clear it. I've seen a nurse twice now as this problem started before Christmas and hasn't resolved itself. One morning as i got out of bed, i was so dizzy with it, i couldn't walk properly. I have been prescribed a steroid nasal spray - didn't work and latterly, Amoxicillin, although i stopped this after 3 days as it made me feel awful.
Has anyone had this issue and is there anything that worked or is it a case of letting sort itself out? I know it's not the most serious of health issues but it's really dragging on and impeding on day to day life at times.
Thank you, Sam
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If you have a bad reaction to amoxillin I'd ask for an alternative. If you're getting dizzy it may have spread to the inner ear so IMO needs treating ASAP. I have permanent inner ear damage and still have spells of dizziness from an infection years ago. Mine started as a cold not eustachian problem though.
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Hi Sheila, thanks very much. Luckily I only had the dizzy spell once which is what prompted me to ring the surgery. I did have a minor bug before Christmas and the nurse thinks it stemmed from there and it's causing the dysfunction in that area of the ear. To be honest, at first she didnt want to treat it all and suggested it was a wait & see scenario :'(
I'm off to see the doctor tomorrow re menopause but will mention this and see what she says, maybe an alternative antibiotic might do the trick. I never thought of that.
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As oestrogen levels drop so the Eustachian tubes may narrow. Not many surgeries are doing wax removal. Apparently. 1 now has to seek private treatment >:( though recommended by surgeries >:( :(
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At least i can cross wax being the culprit as the nurse said my ears were sparkling clean - i wanted a gold star for that comment ;D.
In terms of menopausal symptoms all is okay at the moment but does that not mean oestrogen can still affect our ears? I was told it was from when i had a short virus.
Thanks Sam
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It mayB that the medics aren't aware that loss of oestrogen can cause ear problems :-\
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I have this as a result of surgery. I do a lot of exercises based on a couple of Youtube videos. They haven't fixed it but have helped. Hope this is the right way to post a link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-SZ1r1dnho (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-SZ1r1dnho)
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Thanks so much for this, I wasn't aware of any exercises that could be done to help this problem. I've just run through the exercises in the video and will continue with it and see how how i get on.
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Just an update, the doctor today has prescribed Avamys nasal steroid spray - it looks like a stronger spray than the one I had originally tried.
Anyway, i'll give it a go but combine it with the exercises on the Youtube video - thank you getting-old.
Sam
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Just an update, the doctor today has prescribed Avamys nasal steroid spray - it looks like a stronger spray than the one I had originally tried.
Anyway, i'll give it a go but combine it with the exercises on the Youtube video - thank you getting-old.
Sam
If you haven't been told already.... you need to bend over when using nasal sprays. Bend forward and aim the spray to the back of your nose.
Have also tried steaming? You can get steamimg cups, they look a bit like toddlers cups but with an attachment. It may help :)
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Thank you Losttheplot that's very helpful as the GP never mentioned this nor is it in the instructions. I'll start tomorrow as i've done today's spray. I hope with all these actions i start seeing an improvement soon :)
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Sam. You need a little balloon utensil called otovent. Google it. Works brilliantly for clearing the tubes.
As hormones have been mentioned, I will say, my initial peri symptoms started with vertigo and blocked ear! Now I just get full ears. For me, it's too much estrogen.
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well that's a new one for me too Crispy thank you. So glad i posted this symptom now, feel more positive i'll get it sorted. Just had a look, i guess it's a similar thing to holding your nose and blowing but in a safe way. When it first happened to me, i held my nose and put my hand over the un-blocked ear and blew so hard i burst a blood vessel in my eye. That was frightening!
Coincidentally, i'd started using the estradial / estriol cream in the morning as well as evening - not even sure why i did that but it absolutely coincides with getting this ear problem. Now might be a coincidence but does make me think. I'm stopping that today and going back to just 1 evening dose with the progesterone.
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Never put anything larger than the little finger in the ear!
All those exercises on the link I do anyway :-\.
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Glad I could be of help.
Unfortunstely, with everything at this stage in life, it's best to at least consider hormones.
Yes, the otovent is a gentle way of doing just that. Burst blood vessel sounds horrible. :o. I take the otovent when flying now. Works a treat!
CLKD - the otovent does not go in the ear - in case you were thinking that, and, rightly so, horrified by the thought. ;D. Its a little thing you attach a balloon to. Then you blow it up through your nose, which gently opens the ear tubes.
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I had this problem and went to the doctors last week . He said my ear was very inflamed and prescribed an ear spray called Otomize . Wow , inflammation gone and no more blocked ear after 3 days xxx
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Hi Rosie, Otomoize is brilliant. I was plagued with middle ear infections when i was younger and my ears itched like crazy. The spray sorted it out very quickly. If only it could resolve this problem :)
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I just thought it it would be helpful to give you an update on my blocked ear which as I'd mentioned has been ongoing since before Christmas.
I've been using the Avamys nasal steroid spray prescribed by the doctor and also undertaking the exercises, thank you Getting Old. Although these have helped, it hasn't cured it completely.
A week ago, I had to get a prescription for Nitrofurantoin due to a UTI. It was only a 3 day course and i finished it a couple of days ago. It sorted the UTI but coincidentally it seems to have sorted my ear! Talk about killing 2 birds with one stone ;D. From what i have read, it is an antibiotic only prescribed for UTIs so it's either a coincidence or did actually resolve it. I knew something was happening when i had a day of my ear popping and a weird feeling back of my throat - felt full and I had to keep clearing it.
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You could have something called BPPV. Usually starts when waking up and getting vertigo. Not life threatening but scary! If your dizziness has not gone yet you can get a proper diagnosis with a physio who will do a head movement with you and then an Epley maneuver. All takes a few minutes. It may not be this but it is a very common illness which is often misdiagnosed.
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Tnx CrispyChick.
HelloSam - ABs will improve any inflammation in the body - might be worth telling your GP about the ear improvement.
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Thanks Emma, although it's definitely not that as i had only one brief episode of feeling dizzy when my ears first blocked up. I am aware of BPPV as my partner's mother had it and had to undertake those exercises.
Anyway, i spoke too soon, the antibiotics did not work for the ear. Sods law as soon as i posted on here, they blocked up again :(.
I have now bought the Otovent system that Crispy recommended. First time using, my ears popped for a while but then blocked again. However, you have to use it for a week or so and then maintenance. Currently, it's only blocking for a few minutes a day so a massive improvement - makes a huge difference. From the reviews i've read of people using this, they have been on a similar journey as me with GPs; antibiotics, steroid nasal sprays etc - nothing works.
I'm staying positive that this might do the trick. No point going back to the doctors if it doesn't so i guess next step would be to make an appt with an ENT consultant.
Thanks everyone, Sam
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Fingers crossed, it is very annoying! I got it after having BPPV (so said the doctor without seeing me) pollen makes mine worse or having a cold, anything really ;D