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Doublereed Archive - Posting 000029.txt from 2006/07

From: William Dawson <w-dawson@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [DR-L] inner ear fluid problem
Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2006 10:44:50 -0400

Not being an ENT specialist, I can't comment on advisability of a surgical
procedure to open up the Eustachian tube (between the middle ear and the
back of the throat/pharynx). The other postings seem to have good ideas,
especially to use medication for a full course. The Valsalva maneuver is
something we all do to clear our ears during flying, when the airplane is
descending. If you still can't clear things up, a second ENT
consult/opinion is always a good consideration.

Dr. Bill Dawson
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

At 10:30 PM 7/10/2006, you wrote:
>Maybe our Dr. Dawson can give some advice on this one, too.
>
>I have had fluid blocking my inner left ear canal for over a month. My
>regular MD said I'd have to wait for a full month before I saw an ENT
>specialist. So I did. The ENT said I should take decongestant pills (like
>Sudafed) for two more weeks and see how that went before outpatient
>surgery to unblock it. He also said I have a small canal (which I knew
>already) and a bend in it.
>
>I don't hear as well as I do normally; it's like wearing a foam ear plug
>all the time in one ear. Needless to say, I can't judge dynamics or tone
>quality very well, although with teaching beginners, that can be an
>advantage! Fortunately, it's not painful and not infected, just annoying.
>
>I'm thinking of getting a second opinion from another specialist.
>
>I've never had this before, at least as an adult, and don't remember
>having ear problems as a child either.
>
>Might there be any other way to clear this besides surgery? Or perhaps an
>extra delicate way to puncture the ear drum? There is no garuntee the ear
>drum will heal over, I was told. And there would be some risk of
>infection. The decongestants don't seem to be doing anything.
>
>Thanks,
>Miriam

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