ENT Issue - what is wrong with me?

[CallMeEvelyn]

Please help diagnose me (not formally, of course). I have a private ENT consultant and I'm waiting for a CT scan. I've searched everywhere online and can't find the right answer.

• Feeling of cold liquid running I think from my nose, by my left ear and into my throat. Really horrible.
• Postnasal drip (GP diagnosed) - might be the reason for the above but unsure
• Feeling like there's liquid gathering in a pocket under my jawline, top of my neck and between my ear and throat area
• That area feels heavy. Not in pain, but it's really uncomfortable and previously looked swollen (not for a while though)
• Poorer hearing, feels muffled on left side
• Sometimes louder noises feel extra harsh, sharp on my left side
• I need to clear my throat a lot because there's mucus
• No obvious lump
• Throat and ear look fine ENT said, no signs of infection
• No vertigo
• Occasional headaches and dizziness
• Brain fog
• Fatigue
• Struggle to concentrate
• Irritability
• Had pulsative tinnitus in my right ear some time ago, might be unrelated. Also had tinnitus in both ears previously, induced by post C-section meds. This has passed though.
• Had endless ear infections 30ish years ago as a child with some minor hearing loss as a result.
• I'm pushing 40, feels like I'm peri. I have anxiety and a stressful job. I'm reasonably fit now and recently lost 2st.
• I had my ears cleaned, no wax buildup
• Got tested, no hearing loss and hearing test results normal, the same on both sides
• Neck ultrasound didn't show any abnormalities.

I now need to wait but things are driving me mad. Some things above may be unrelated, but I thought best to be comprehensive. I've had this for over a year. Does anybody have an idea what this is and how to make it better? ENT wasn't overly talkative as to what CT might show. I hope nothing sinister. I also really need this to improve while I'm waiting so I need some thoughts, please. Thanks

Bump

Sinus blockage perhaps? I'm not a clinician, but I did have a FESS in my early twenties due to bone spurs and now it appears the problem might well be back. I an on an NHS pathway with plenty of antibiotics over the past six weeks due to the potential for a significant infection that was impacting my heart (I have LBBB as it is) and copious other tests. Now I need a spirography exam and after that is the referral to secondary care on the NHS pathway which will either be a nasal endoscopy (it was 20+ years ago and I know they still do them) or a CT scan. I sympathise because a lot of your symptoms sounds similar to mine and I am also on HRT so things are overlapping too. Hope you get the answers soon.

I did wonder about a sinus issue @Arlanymor. If you google it's straight to sinus cancer though, I really wouldn't want to get freaked out. I don't think it is sinus blockage for me as no puffiness in the face and no blocked nose (it feels like it's draining backwards into my throat IYSWIM). But could be a different sinus issue. I hope you get better soon, sounds miserable. ENT issues are a bastard to live with and also to diagnose!

I honestly wouldn't jump to cancer, really and truly - I don't have puffiness and can breathe through each nostril (although it's not perfectly clear). Blockages can be small or larger - with mine it's worse on my right than my left... which almost screams 'bone spurs' because they don't grow symmetrically! Yes I get what I can 'back throat' drainage, it's crap and once in a while makes me cough up stuff. Also I have pressure behind eyes (worse on the right!) and recently have started getting what almost feels like toothache on my upper jaw - again classic sinus. I think that's the thing with sinuses, lots of symptoms that can overlap with others but also once the sinus is identified as the culprit then there are so many sinus issues that can be there. As I said, for me it was bone spurs and I had FESS to sort those out. But you can have fungal issues, a deviated septum... the list goes on and on, and sinus cancer is incredibly rare. Hope that you get better soon - totally agree, horrible to diagnose and to live with, it's so much more debilitating that people realise. Get well soon!

My GP said Eustachian Tube Dysfunction, I've been on loads of nasal sprays that are steroid based and antihistamines. Helped a bit, but never fully went away and it's coming back all the time. So I don't think it is that.

Also had two rounds of antibiotics for middle ear infection. Seems to have helped for a bit, but didn't cure it.

ENT says he doesn't think it is ETD or an ear infection as everything looks normal in my ear.

I don't know what else to think, an immune system issue, GERD, a tumour somewhere - if not cancer then benign?

Oh I've also had all the tablets and sprays in the world - I totally sympathise. I am currently on low level steroids (they gave me the strong stuff twice for two weeks but didn't want to mess with my heart condition too much) and the last of the antibiotics and another spray... I just have to keep things on an even keel until I get the ENT referral appointment. So crap waiting isn't it? But honestly googling in the meantime won't help - no point trying to second guess the next stage of diagnostics it will just drive you mad mate, honestly. Just focus on the symptoms and how you can mitigate them. Then wait for the tests and the outcomes. I totally get it's frustrating and make you a bit anxious, but much less anxious than googling potential issues that may not be an issue at all. I send you so much love though as it is so crappy, shit sleep, coughing up crap, weird eye pressure and headaches, feeling overall UGH! I do sympathise so much. Fingers crossed you get an answer really soon.

PS. I had a great aunt Evelyn and she was lovely - so your username kind of make me think that you are too. Come on sinus buddy - we'll get through this!

Wonder if it could an allergy related issue that GP hasn't tested for . Maybe an ordinary thing that just doesnt work well for you . Hope you get some answers and more importantly some treatment soon .

Sounds very much like I’ve experienced for last 2 years I’ve been diagnosed with eustachian tube dysfunction after being worried it might be something else I’ve got ent/neuro issues with my other ear but scan was clear on right side

I didn’t find any help with nasal sprays I’m in a group online some suggest jaw issues like tmj can heighten symptoms and I’ve got that and have noticed it’s better when I’ve done jaw exercises from the dentist.
I’ve also been told after ENT put a camera up my nose I’ve got deviated septum that imbalances air flow and can cause similar problems I’m waiting for an operation hoping that will help. I do steam aswell which Gp suggested find some relief but nothing is a cure sadly

Awww thanks all! 💐

Your experiences confirm what I thought, once you start having ENT issues nobody bloody knows! And they're so uncomfortable.

I've never been tested for any allergies. Not sure what you need to do be tested? Does anyone know? I have sporadic eczema, but rarely. I am definitely lactose intolerant (or rather, have low tolerance of it) since my pregnancy with DS. I probably have other issues too because my tummy feels funny after some foods but I've never considered this to be particularly bad, as in that it would require a diagnosis.

Anyone heard of silent reflux? That's another thing that I saw come up alongside TMJ and ETD. No idea how to identify it though? I mean...it's silent?!

Someone on here in previous threads mentioned to limit dairy. I already have. Helped a bit, but didn't clear it. Arrrrghhhh 🙈

@Denimbee27 what jaw exercises do you do? I do clench my jaw when stressed 90 percent of the time so this could be an issue here too. I was singing in the car tonight and doing yodelling which sounded in part German, in part Japanese. Don't ask. Been to yoga to de-stress. Feeling a tad better tonight, but it still there.

Quite a few comments online suggested anxiety as the root cause. Well that's me done for the rest of my life if so 😬

I do these my dentist advised it I have clicks from my jaw sometimes or just very tense feeling and I clench and tense at night they think.

These exercises aim to strengthen, stabilize, and increase the flexibility of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

• Relaxed Jaw Position: Place your tongue on the roof of your mouth, just behind your upper front teeth, allowing your teeth to come apart while relaxing your jaw muscles.
• Controlled Mouth Opening: Place your tongue on the roof of your mouth and slowly open and close your mouth, ensuring the movement is vertical and does not cause a click. Do this for 5 minutes, twice daily.
• Goldfish Exercises:
• Partial: Place one finger on the TMJ joint and another on your chin. Open your mouth halfway, then close it. Repeat 6 times in one set.
• Full: Similar to the partial, but open your mouth fully. Perform 6 sets, twice a day.
• Resisted Mouth Opening: Place your thumb under your chin and apply light pressure while trying to open your mouth.
• Tongue-to-Palate Stretch: With your tongue touching the roof of your mouth, slowly open your mouth as wide as possible, hold for 5 seconds, and close.

• Look in a Mirror: Ensure your lower teeth move straight down and do not deviate to one side.
• Pain-Free Zone: Exercises should never cause pain. If you feel pain, reduce the range of motion.
• Heat Treatment: Use a warm compress to relax tense muscles.
• Avoid Triggers: Avoid chewing gum, hard candy, or tough foods.

Have you a date for a Ct? do you know what they are looking for?
From looking online since this all started for me these type of problems don’t seem to go away easily once you have them unfortunately.
it’s never been suggested anxiety could be the cause by the doctors I’ve seen.

No confirmed date for the CT yet, it will be around 5 weeks though I was told. The ENT explained there's an area around the ear/jaw/neck sort of at the back of the ear that an ultrasound wouldn't see, it needs a CT scan. They want to check it and he said sometimes there may be some benign tumours in there and that his gut feeling is that this isn't anything sinister. But he said this to a person with anxiety, so obviously my brain has run wild. When I actually pause and ground myself, my instinct is also this isn't anything sinister but I really need somebody to finally tell me what the issue is and I need to get better. It's been a real struggle for a long time and I feel really down about it, it's affecting me every day mood-wise, hearing-wise, I'm not as sharp in my thinking either because I'm distracted by this constant discomfort.

I asked because I have lots of other ear issues opposite side that was eventually diagnosed as a space occupy lesion thought to be acoustic neuroma that starts In inner ear but later found to be cholesteatoma I was worried this was starting in my other ear but thankfully my mri was ok for that.
If they have any further concerns you’ll be asked to have an mri the images I have now are excellent so clear. the ct can be done quickly though 10 minutes to rule things out like that they did that for me in A&e more recently to check for regrowth
it’s good they are ruling things out though so they can plan and treat the problem it’s such a debilitating problem that’s not really well understood by others without it, my ENT agreed with me on that.
I hope you manage to get some relief of your symptoms soon and they to the bottom of what’s causing it

How are you feeling? Any news?