Crackling & Squishing in Middle Ear ...

Kirsty, this has bothered me ever since you posted it.

How did they diagnose your Otitis Media?

Do you see an ENT? Have they ever discussed a potential relationship between Otitis Media and your MAV? Just seems odd that you have both MAV and Otitis Media since both are pretty rare. Could they be part of the same condition?

Having mostly recovered from MAV, my main remaining physical symptom is an apparent semi-periodic ā€œstickinessā€ of (I’m guessing) my Eustachian Tube. If I move my jaw enough it occasionally ā€˜unsticks’ with a snap or crackle and then I can get a squishiness for a little while as if there is a small amount of bubbly fluid inside. Can you relate to that? Do you get this and did you get it worse when you were diagnosed with Otitis Media? I’ve had doctors look at my ear drum and they’ve done a pressure test and never said I’ve had Otitis Media even though I definitely have something really weird happening on my left side of my face, something which sadly hasn’t improved much in the last few years (despite almost everything else bar tinnitus improving).

Very very very occasionally I get a similar symptom on the healthy side of my face, so I know it’s not completely unnatural. But the left side ā€œsticking togetherā€ so often is not something I’ve experienced before in my life until MAV struck, so it’s definitely related.

I’ve also noticed a potential improvement to my tinnitus after ā€˜unsticking’ whatever is stuck inside the left side of my face.

(I may move this Post and related replies so we remain on Topic here).

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Hey James

Hope you’re well?

I was diagnosed by the GP with Otitis Media as the ear drum appeared to have green fluid inside but this kept happening. Before this though I had Eustachian tube dysfunction twice in a matter of months and yes I did have the crackling with the otitis media but not entirely as my right ear always has a bit of a crackle.

So I do think there is an ear issue (although I’ve seen ENT before to no avail) I am going to see them again at a different hospital in March. The only issue is if Otitis media isn’t present at the time they will probably fob me off having had normal pressure in them in the past the did the same thing. I’m using a Saline nasal spray off the counter at boots to try and keep my tubes clear daily. I think this is helping as I’m not having as much crackle right now.

Migraines are off the scale though the ven is well and truly in my system and wreaking havoc!! Trying to hang in there :disappointed_relieved:

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Thanks for your reply, so sorry you are having a rough one again :frowning:

Eeek, poor you, not pleasant!

I had my ears looked at on more than one occasion and they could never see this fluid (nor could I when they had a camera) but I know it’s there and it dries up for sure, maybe it’s lower down than the drum for me?

Yeah, my pressure test was normal too. But I think it’s not normal and that’s what causes the tinnitus…

Thanks Kirsty. A musician friend of mine does that and swears by it.

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James - I need to say this to you…

My migraine symptoms have started to get worse for just over a week now and as of two days ago my right (bad ear) has started aching, fullness and pressure. I wonder if either the otitis media has some back and that’s why I’m having such a crap time again…. Last time I was so bad then too. I’m going to have to have it investigated again. I’m trying to say this might not be the Venlafaxine alone…

Let’s hope it is the ear issue and it can be fixed :woman_facepalming:t3:

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Sure it will Kirsty, hang in there, and get the help you deserve! :heart:

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I’m going to see if sweating helps any of this by doing a bigger workout more regularly.

I recall my ear blocking up a bit when sweating but know that sweating can condition skin (and Eustachian Tubes?!!) very nicely (it’s an excellent cure for eczema I’ve found)

Perhaps the steam room or sauna are also helpful?

If anyone has experience of this I’m all ears! :rofl: