I think I have Patulous Eustachian tube
Dec 04
There’s a rare physical disorder called Patulous Eustachian tube, and I think I have it.
I sometimes hear my own breathing in right ear– very loudly– along with my voice, when I speak.
Here’s the Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patulous_Eustachian_tube
It describes my symptoms exactly.
The symptoms are intermittent, but I’m experiencing them right now. When it occurs, I hear my own breathing and voice directly in my ear.
It feels and sounds drier than normal congestion. All breaths echo in my eardrum, and they don’t seem muffled much. And external noises, including the voices of other people, are not muffled. Furthermore, there is no clogged feeling– although there is a “fullness” feeling in the ear– and no sinus pressure. No pain, either. And it’s only in my right ear, not my left.
Perhaps my case may not be too severe, which is why I never thought to Google it until now. And I seem to function okay, despite having the problem. Fortunately, it doesn’t happen too often. Most of the time, though, it’s caused by exercise. It is probably one of the major reasons why I don’t exercise more, though. And it is probably one of the reasons why I hated PE and I don’t like playing most sports.
So don’t get me wrong: it is a major annoyance, and I would like to take action to get rid of it.
I thought it was more common. In fact, I thought most people experience it. But Wikipedia claims it’s “rare.” Wikipedia says it’s even “frequently misdiagnosed” due to the “rarity of the disorder.”
Supposedly, weight loss could be a cause of the disorder because “fatty tissues hold the tube closed most of the time in healthy individuals.” I used to be slightly overweight. Because I didn’t like being fat, and was often made fun of due to my slight obesity, I decided to eat less. Once I started eating less, I discovered I felt a lot better when I ate less. I overcompensated. Now I’m underweight. I eat when I’m hungry, but my limit seems to be pretty stiff. After a certain point, I simply can’t eat any more. I’d get sick and have indigestion if I eat too much. But, apparently, I have to somehow eat more in order to gain weight.
One way to relieve symptoms, according to Wikipedia, is to place my head between my knees. I’d never heard of that before. I tried it just now. And it worked. My ear felt clear and I didn’t hear my breathing or voice. But it was temporary. Once I straighten up, the symptoms shortly return. I wonder why this treatment method even works at all.
“Depending on the underlying cause of the disorder, the individual may need to remove caffeine from their diet, reduce exercise, or gain weight.” It does seem that exercise aggravates my condition. But I already don’t exercise much, so that’s not too much of an option. Gaining weight might be possible, but it might require significant effort. Eating fattening foods just doesn’t sound very appealing to me anymore. And I’d be concerned about the negative effects of cholesterol.
Do you have any hearing disorders?
Can you relate to my experience of having a “full” feeling in one ear, and hearing your own breathing and voice?
RSS
Dec 19, 2009 @ 02:26:42
I have PET also, and it usually just comes at its worse when I am exercising. When I hear from wikipedia and any other medical website that the diagosis is weight gain and reduce exercise it makes me very frustrated because I am 10 pounds over weight and am trying to get back into shape. When I play basketball, I usually can block it out of my mind but when I exercise like run or go to the gym I get extrmely frustrated with the discomfort it brings when I breath, talk, or make a humming kind of sound. Ive heard some medicine online has helped but it doesnt seem that legit or credible. One is this kind of Chinese drink you can drink to possibly help the PET. Also ive heard of these ear drops from Santa Barbara, but they are very expensive and they are targeted for the more severe type. Also Canada is inventing something but it is in the trial stages (probly be 30 years before U.S. picks up on it). This whole thing sucks and I wish it would go away.
Dec 23, 2009 @ 17:45:28
Elliot,
I read your blog re:patulous eustation tube PET but was not able to responde on the blog. I had it since May this year. I tried everything including snorting fine My ear specialist prescribed an estrogen spray (did not work) and some librium for my stress!!
The Ear foundation in Santa Barbara has a spray that finally worked for me within a week the beginning of December, I still get it sporadically (once a week) but gone with one spray. It costs $48+ shipping…worth every penny for the relief. I am not associated with them but am a believer and very thankful!
You can go to the website and read up http://www.earfdn.org You can also call…they are very informative.
Please try this as, I know what you are going through…email or call me with any questions 720.280.7486 (Colorado).
Good luck,
Bob L.
Jan 13, 2010 @ 19:59:39
So I only get this when I am exercising and I found out that what causes this for me when I am exercising is the occasional movement of my jaw … So try exercising and keep your mouth open only to breath…. It works for me and I hope it will work for you too
Feb 21, 2010 @ 13:29:14
I have the exact same thing/situation as you do! Oh it feels good to know I’m not the only one. Only difference is that I get it in my left ear. I have it right now in fact. I’m going to the doctor soon and I’ll be sure to write my update here.
Feb 28, 2010 @ 20:58:52
Bob L,
Could you please provide your e-mail address? I would really like to get in contact with you about this nasal spray. I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks,
Chris
Mar 05, 2010 @ 07:56:50
Hi Elliot,
I’ve set up the website http://www.patulouseustachiantube.net following diagnosis last year (Ive had it for approx. 9 years). There is an e mail group and facebook group if you are interested. Surgery is intermittent with its results. There is this study in Canada with a clay that reduces vibration of the drum, the study ends July 2010.
There are lots of alternative therapies that can be tried that increase health generally. I’ve probably tried them all and it feels like chipping away at a real physiological problem, for some reason I have experienced atrophy in the left middle ear and I have no idea why…..
Information sharing seems to help me, if any one has any info particularly success stories, please let me know!
Thanks
G
Mar 08, 2010 @ 17:41:44
Hello again,
I went to the doctor and described all my symptoms without mentioning that I think it’s patulous eustachian tube so he wouldn’t think I was crazy.
He didn’t seem to know what it was but said he wasn’t concerned. He is referring me to a specialist just to make sure it isn’t anything serious.
When I go to the specialist I plan to ask him if it could be PET since it’s rare and maybe it won’t come to mind.
Anyways I’ll update after the appointment (they haven’t called with the scheduled time yet) and hopefully it isn’t anything serious! Aaaaa!
Mar 16, 2010 @ 04:40:10
initially when it started happening i never thought of it as a problem, i thought it’s normal and will go on it’s own but one day i seriously got irritated wile exercising and searched on internetand came to know about PET. i have stopped exercsing or doing anything which causes me to hyperventilate. i am thin and no matter how much i eat , i never saw the difference.
all my friends are going to learn swimming next month, i also want to but don’t whether it will worsen the situation. please give advice
Mar 16, 2010 @ 11:53:44
Aaa still haven’t gotten a call from that Specialist. Although my symptoms sound exactly like those for PET I’m still really worried it’ll be something else more serious. Although it is annoying (especially after exercising) if I knew what it was, I’d be able to live with it (I think). I’ve forbidden myself from looking into it more on the internet to prevent more worrying. All I can do now is wait I suppose.
Easier said than done.
apoorva, if I have PET when I’m talking to the specialist I’ll try to remember to ask if swimming is ok (since the eustachian tube is left open I can’t see your concern). Hopefully that’s sooner rather than later!
Jun 19, 2010 @ 00:04:50
When I play basketball, I usually can block it out of my mind but when I exercise like run or go to the gym I get extrmely frustrated with the discomfort it brings when I breath, talk, or make a humming kind of sound.