 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2023-09-08 21:53
My left Eustachian tube is blocked, and my middle ear is full of fluid. No pain, but there's significant conductive hearing impairment. The otolaryngologist I saw didn't fill me with optimism. It's uncommon in adults. If the (few) usual recommendations don't clear it, it appears an operation will be necessary.
Playing clarinet with this happening is like wearing a non-musician earplug in one ear. I hate it. Hate. Hate. Our fall band season is about to begin, and they're counting on my participation.
Anyone here have any experience with this ailment?
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Author: SunnyDaze
Date: 2023-09-08 23:57
Hi Philip,
I'm sorry to hear that you have that. We went though years of struggle managing childhood glue ear here, and it was blessed relief when nature finally sorted it out.
We did try a few non surgery things.
There is a thing called the "nose balloon". It's properly hilarious:
https://www.otovent.co.uk/buy-otovent/otovent/
You can also do something called ear massage:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22072-eustachian-tubes#:~:text=Eustachian%20tube%20massage&text=Using%20firm%2C%20steady%20pressure%2C%20slide,side%2C%20three%20times%20a%20day.
We have an adult in the family who had the surgery but was left with a small degree of permenant deafness, so I'm a bit in two minds about that. It's nowhere near as bad as living with glue ear though.
We've got a USB camera for looking at the ear drum and it is a lot of fun, if you fancy it. It doesn't help with glue ear, but it does let you keep an eye on the ear canal without having to ask a doctor. https://www.amazon.co.uk/MDYNI-Cleaner-Endoscope-Earpick-Otoscope/dp/B0BTYMXY5F/ref=sr_1_44?keywords=ear%2Bcamera%2Botoscope&qid=1694202435&sr=8-44&th=1
If you do need surgery, it is probably not so bad. You could ask a about conscious sedation, or even local anaesthetic, if you don't want a general anaesthetic. I believe that the surgery is so minimally invasive that it is not much more work than having dental work done.
There is a leaflet here explaining the sedation options:
https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Adult-grommet-surgery.pdf
Good luck with it, and I hope you can sort it out soon.
Jennifer
Adult learner, Grade 3
Equipment: Yamaha Custom CX Bb, Fobes 10K CF mp,
Legere Bb clarinet European Cut #2.5, Vandoren Optimum German Lig.
Post Edited (2023-09-08 23:58)
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Author: ruben
Date: 2023-09-09 00:01
I've had this twice before. When I played the clarinet, it was like having a kazoo buzzing away in my left ear; not painful, but most unpleasant. From what I have been told, it would seem to be a viral infection. As such, it eventually goes away, but takes time. The only other official cure is cortisone, taken orally or in the form or ear drops. I personally can't take cortisone because I have glaucoma (don't ever get old!). I had acupuncture treatment and it greatly helped me in just two sessions. Somehow, it boosts your immune system that destroys the viral infection. Couage et bonne chance mon ami!
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
Post Edited (2023-09-09 00:03)
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Author: spikey1973
Date: 2023-09-11 20:19
Just a few recommendations:
First see if you can to find the cause, either allergies, infectious (viral / bact.) vs sudden airpressure changes (diving, swimming, airplane travel). All of these will be the cause of inflammation which clogs the tube.
If there is a (current) infectious cause, that needs treatment first.
From your story this seems unlikely though.
So for you it seems to be most likely the latter, unfortunately with adults this is often long lasting, with chances of bacterial surinfections. When an surinfection occurs, damage in the structures in the middle ear can occur, which will impact you hearing permanently, so this a is something to obviously avoid.
Any medical treatments would target to decongest the Eustachian tube by decreasing the inflammation in the nasal area.
- Auto-inflation of the Eustachian tube combined with steroids (nasal or oral) or antihisamine.
Auto inflation of the tube can be gentally tried by blowing while closing your mouth and nose, till you "pop" your eardrums but do this carfully!!
It is best to try this only after a pre-treatment like a long lasting HOT shower / bath or Sauna experience. The usage of Ibuprofen can also help as wel, but steroids would be more effective.
This kind of treatment would also need to be applied repetively, for the tube to actually stay open enough to drain the middle ear.
Hope this does help a bit, but always confer with you MD first!
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Author: ruben
Date: 2023-09-11 22:58
It would seem to me that this gentleman is a physician. He gives you pretty sound advice.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: Gregory Williams
Date: 2023-09-12 18:30
Consult your own doctor, but mine recommended the Otovent mentioned above, and it has helped on occasion.
Greg Williams
MN Orchestra
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Author: SunnyDaze
Date: 2023-09-12 19:43
Thanks so much for that great response spikey1973. It's brilliant to see you back.
I just remembered another thing from our experience.
We found at one point that the inflammation that spikey1973 mentions above was being caused by food intolerance. In our case it was wheat and dairy that was the problem.
We have found that taking away the food trigger sorts out the inflammation after only 10 hours, and reintroducing it rapidly brings the inflammation back. In that case there was clearly trouble in other parts of the respiratory system though, and in both ears.
It really strikes me in this case that it's only one ear, which seems like a good thing, and maybe suggests that it is a very localised problem?
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2023-09-12 21:10
The cause in my case is thus far unknown. It doesn't appear to coincide with any respiratory infection or particular incident.
I don't think the tube is totally blocked; sometimes it feels fuller than others. Twice in the last several days, I "popped" through the block while gently applying the Valsalva maneuver, the air pressure technique described by spikey1973 above. Some random times I think hear liquid squelching through.
I call the otolaryngologist back next week. If the symptoms haven't relieved, he'll schedule the tube surgery, which he says has a long lead time.
Practice has been going good, dammit. Even with the lopsided head, which feels like there's a dead animal embedded in that side. First band practice tonight should be interesting.
Thanks to all for the helpful response.
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Author: SunnyDaze
Date: 2023-09-12 21:24
Hi Philip,
I think if your ear pops then that is a really really good sign.
That was a sign of things getting progressively better here. I think it takes quite a lot of those pops to make it resolve though, because the fluid in the ear is quite thick and takes time to drain.
It sounds from spikey1973's post above as though it's a good idea to combine that popping with steamy heat to soften the fluid in your ear. Then maybe do it twice a day to see if you can shift things along.
Maybe this is why people used to stick their head under a towel with a bowl of hot water with menthol in it.
I'm not a medic btw, just a Mum.
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