Anyone else have Patulous Eustachian Tube?
socalprincess1
Posts: 52 Member
Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this in their weight loss journey?
I really hope once I've reached my goal weight, my body finds a new balance with the body fat I still have left and relocates some of it in my ear so that this goes away!
Over the past few years since I've gotten to within 15 lbs of my ideal weight, I've noticed it during periods when I've consistently lost for several weeks - and it drives me crazy. I am constantly hearing the inside of my head - breathing, echoey voice sounds, body/bone clicking - and unless I sniff in hard or tilt my head to get that flap to close, it just continues. It comes back every 30 seconds or so though anyway. Nuts!"Patulous Eustachian tube, also known as patent Eustachian tube, is the name of a physical disorder where the Eustachian tube, which is normally closed, instead stays intermittently open. When this occurs, the patient experiences autophony, the hearing of self-generated sounds. These sounds, such as one's own breathing, voice, and heartbeat, vibrate directly onto the ear drum and can create a "bucket on the head" effect.
Causes
Patulous Eustachian tube is a physical disorder. The exact causes may vary depending on the person. Weight loss is a commonly cited cause of the disorder due to the nature of the Eustachian tube itself. Fatty tissues hold the tube closed most of the time in healthy individuals. When circumstances cause overall body fat to diminish, the tissue surrounding the Eustachian tube shrinks and this function is disrupted. Activities and substances which dehydrate the body have the same effect and are also possible causes of patulous Eustachian tube. Examples are stimulants (including caffeine) and exercise. Exercise may have a more short-term effect than caffeine or weight loss in this regard."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patulous_Eustachian_tube
I really hope once I've reached my goal weight, my body finds a new balance with the body fat I still have left and relocates some of it in my ear so that this goes away!
0
Replies
-
Wow! I've e never heard of this, but I have experienced something similar. I tilt my head too so it can go away, the feeling to me feels like I'm hearing under water, and need to tilt my to let the water out...but of course there's no water there, it happens on and off.0
-
Sorry to hear you're having trouble with this. It must be awful.0
-
I'm familiar with it, and have interacted with folks with it. It doesn't sound fun. I have menopause induced tinnitus, and along with that I currently hear every swallow, every head turn etc. I hear every step on my run in my head, and my tinnitus frequency changes with every step. I hear every heart beat in my ears... Every swallow includes the clicks in my ear etc. I know that's just a hint at what you hear, but wanted you to know that I get what you're experiencing. Toynbee swallow maneuvers work for me, at least briefly, but probably wouldn't for you.0
-
It's weird, it's only my left ear, and it definitely comes and goes. I think it stopped yesterday around 2pm (or at least I don't remember it after that), and I haven't experienced it yet. Something obviously triggers it, but I'm not sure what it is. I did go for a walk right before I noticed it, so maybe it can be induced by exercis or physical activity of some sort.0
-
So thats what that is. Hate it.0
This discussion has been closed.