First, thank you very much for taking the time to read this message.

For the past 15 years I've been suffering from a series of symptoms affecting my ears. This has brought an immense amount of suffering to my life and has rendered me severely incapacitated; impacting all aspects of my life. From what I've been able to learn the problem appears to be related to the functioning of the Eustachian Tubes. However, it does not appear to be patulous eustachian tube dysfunction based on the fact that some symptoms differ quite significantly.

These are some of my symptoms:

• My ears feel 'open' as when one performs the Vassalva Maneuver. My head feels 'hollow' and 'unsealed' from the exterior environment.
• My sinuses are completely dry all of the time.
• I often have difficulty swallowing. It goes down the wrong 'pipe' and provokes a prolonged coughing attack. This happens most frequently when drinking water.

The following things make these symptoms worse

• Straining as when going to the bathroom or lifting heavy objects.
• Swallowing while holding my nostrils closed with my fingers is extremely unpleasant. I feel a strong sensation of 'suction' in my ears and sounds becomes muffled.
• Yawning
• Being in the supine position or standing with my head between my legs.
• Blowing against resistance as in blowing up balloons.
• Exercising
• Speaking loudly or yelling (due to the increase in strain in the head).

I also suffer from these related and diagnosed symptoms
• Hyperacusis
• Tinnitus
• TMJ

Any feedback, suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.....

Hi, I am new to this forum. I too have ear problems. Mine do not seem as bad as yours but ears are only a part of my issues. I have constant earaches for the past ten years, double earaches. Ever since I let someone borrow my ear drops for their swimmer ear. I seem to have this infection now. I think they touched the dropper to their ear in using them. My immune system is constantly being bombarded from what appears to be from old root canal infections. I don"t know if this helps you but I use colloidal silver this helps quell the pain.
I have due to what seems like an infection. Mine gets worse under stress. Doctor are no help they only say everything I fine. Constant pain is not fine though. your ear problems sound completely different. what have the doctor's told you? Anything? I had a broken ear drum a child they put a splint it it and said I would out grow it. I was told to not blow my nose or get water in them. I don't worry about this too much anymore doesn't bother me in that way. It was so long ago, (40 years). I have no idea how my ear drum got broken. The doctor asked me who hit me. I couldn't remember anything like that happening. I wish you luck in your quest to finding solutions.

Read up on Superior Canal Dehiscence Syndrome this may help.

Thanks for the valuable feedback! However, I've had a CT done of the semicircular ear canal to check for this and it turned out OK.