Anyone get ear tubes as an adult?

madsquopper

madsquopper

Recycles dryer sheets
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Had to fly last week during allergy season and ended up with fluid in the ear. Both flights were pretty uncomfortable, bordering on painful. Supposed to fly to England on Sunday (but could cancel if need be). ENT said that if the steroid pack didn't help by Friday, he could do the tubes.

I know kids get these all the time. I'm a medical procedure wuss, and even though the procedure seems to be straightforward I'm a little concerned about any complications (seems to be very low, though). Thanks,

Larry
 
I think I might try another way than surgery. I've had trouble with my ears since the time I was a child and last year I found the solution to my problem. I did some research and found that the US Navy did a study of their divers and came to the conclusion that a 50/50 mixture of isopropyl alcohol and vinegar instilled in the ears will solve most problems. The alcohol displaces the water and vinegar film that remains makes the environment inside the ear too acidic for bacteria or fungus to thrive. Recreational divers know this and call it "ear beer", also I read that the US swim team makes this mixture up by the gallon.

Another help was a device I found was Mack's ear dryer that I found on Amazon, I think a blow dryer for hair would work too, but if you saw my hair style you'd understand why I don't have one.
Lastly, I read an article that said most ear infections are fungal not bacterial and recommended using Clortrimasole. Clortrimashole is commonly used to athletes foot, normally in lotion form. I found it in liquid form on Amazon and most of the comments were talking about using it for ears. I've used all this information to heal my ears. Hope it helps.
 
DW did, just a year or so ago. She'd been having problems with her ears for about a year, infections and ruptured ear drums and something like eczema in the ear. The doctors in or plan at the time didn't seem to know what to do, and tried a number of things, including tubes. She said they were painful to put in, but only at the moment of popping them through. They didn't do any good, though. We changed plans around then due to being snow birds and our old plan didn't cover FL. She found a new otolaryngologist, he checked her out, put a whole bunch of cream (I don't know the name*) in her ear, and it cleared right up.

Like I said, the procedure was mildly unpleasant, but once they were in there was no side effects of them being there. At some point they fall out and heal up.

Edit: *Probably Clortrimasole, like Oldbidness said.
 
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I have a narrow canal in one ear and the eustachian tube would be clogged up frequently. Over the span of the last 30 years I have seen many ENT doctors. I have done a lot of hearing booth testing, MRI scan to check brain tumor, etc.

One doctor 20 years ago said that I needed a tube inserted to drain the fluid. So I went along with it. My memory is vague now but there was no pain and was quick. They put me under? The tube dropped out in few month's time. The ear drum healed by itself. I have no side effect. No hearing loss other than the original diminished hearing from narrow canal.

But, this only solves the temporary symptom, not the real issue for narrow canal. I have learned to live with it. Each time it happens, I know it will clear up by itself in 3-4 months.
 
OP thank you for this thread. I've been suffering and really was stuck. I've got some ideas to try.
 
I had an ear tube put in about 4 months ago due to excess fluid in one of my ear canals. Before they put the tube in, they sucked out the excess fluid. That was the most uncomfortable part of the procedure. For the placement of the tube they used a local anesthetic and that was less uncomfortable.

I've experienced the pain you described during flying. That discomfort is more painful than the ear tube procedure IMO. So if there is a high level of confidence that the ear tube would solve the flying problem, I'd go for it.
 
I had a tube put in my right ear probably 10 years ago. It worked for probably a year or so, but fell out and eventually the problem came back. Right now, I'd say my right ear is probably 60% clogged. I've tried Sudafed and Steroids, but nothing seems to help. The fluid eventually turns so thick that it can't make it's way out of the eustachian tube. I probably need to go back to the ENT and have them do another tube and suck the stuff out of my ear. I recall that it was quite painful and really loud when they were vacuuming out the gunk.

If I make the appointment now, I might get into the doctor in 6 months - but that's another story.
 
madsquopper said:
Had to fly last week during allergy season and ended up with fluid in the ear. Both flights were pretty uncomfortable, bordering on painful. Supposed to fly to England on Sunday (but could cancel if need be). ENT said that if the steroid pack didn't help by Friday, he could do the tubes.

I know kids get these all the time. I'm a medical procedure wuss, and even though the procedure seems to be straightforward I'm a little concerned about any complications (seems to be very low, though). Thanks,

Larry
Click to expand...

Larry, I have the same problem, much of the time. I use the guaifenesin as needed, 400 mg twice a day. I use the generic but you can also use the Mucinex.

Gets me through season. My doctor said could also do the ear tubes but this works well for me. And quickly.

PatrickA5-suggest you try the above. The Sudafed dries you out, you need thinning and drainage.

Hope it helps. As always, your results may vary, not a doctor, don't play one on TV,etc.
 
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Montecfo said:
Larry, I have the same problem, much of the time. I use the guaifenesin as needed, 400 mg twice a day. I use the generic but you can also use the Mucinex.

Gets me through season. My doctor said could also do the ear tubes but this works well for me. And quickly.

PatrickA5-suggest you try the above. The Sudafed dries you out, you need thinning and drainage.

Hope it helps. As always, your results may vary, not a doctor, don't play one on TV,etc.
Click to expand...
Yes I use guaifenesin and think it helps some. Make sure you read the label the most common type I can find has a whopping 1000mg of acetaminophen in a dose.
 
Darn, thought I put this under the Health and ER thread (where it belongs). If it can be moved by a moderator, feel free.
 
Montecfo said:
Larry, I have the same problem, much of the time. I use the guaifenesin as needed, 400 mg twice a day. I use the generic but you can also use the Mucinex.

Gets me through season. My doctor said could also do the ear tubes but this works well for me. And quickly.

PatrickA5-suggest you try the above. The Sudafed dries you out, you need thinning and drainage.

Hope it helps. As always, your results may vary, not a doctor, don't play one on TV,etc.
Click to expand...

Try the time release version it's a little more pricey but it really works for me..usually one an hour or so before bed. Depending on the season I use either a 600 or a 1200.

Forgot to mention if you fly, I highly recommend using Ear-planes it's a great product...
 
I’m early 30’s and have had 6 sets of tubes in one ear, and 7 in the other. I currently have a long life T-tube in my right ear which was placed 9 years ago(verified its still there by ENT three weeks ago), and that ear is still chugging along great. My left ear is showing signs that it is going to need another tube. My ENT said there is a procedure where they insert a balloon like tube in your Eustachian tube, then inflate the tube ever so lightly which theoretically should help the ear drain fluid/balance pressure. Dunno if I’ll go the normal tube route or try the Eustachian tube balloon thing
 
I've had three or four tubes put in over the years. Thirty years ago it was like going to the dentist in that the ENT used needles to numb my inner ear. The last time I had it done he squirted something on the ear drum to numb it, then pierced the drum and stuck in the tube. Didn't feel a thing. You do HEAR it though 😁
 
Olbidness said:
I think I might try another way than surgery. I've had trouble with my ears since the time I was a child and last year I found the solution to my problem. I did some research and found that the US Navy did a study of their divers and came to the conclusion that a 50/50 mixture of isopropyl alcohol and vinegar instilled in the ears will solve most problems. The alcohol displaces the water and vinegar film that remains makes the environment inside the ear too acidic for bacteria or fungus to thrive. Recreational divers know this and call it "ear beer", also I read that the US swim team makes this mixture up by the gallon.

...
Click to expand...

I once had a black fungus infection in my ear, it was painful, and regular doctors had no clue about it. I got antibiotics from them but of course they didn't work.
Eventually due to the pain, in the middle of the night I went to emergency at hospital. There the doc looked, called in another doc to teach him what it looked like.
He then washed out my ear, and referred me to an ear specialist, who over weeks worked on my ear scraping out the fungus (very painful).

The ear specialist recommended the 50/50 mix of vinegar and alcohol to use as drops into the ear as well.

I will on occasion if my ears are bugging me, use it and it clears up whatever was there. I keep an eye out for the black fungus, as it literally eats the ear drum :eek:
 
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