HELP HELP HELP!! I'm at my wits end. I had sinus surgery June last year, which went OK but it left both ears feeling blocked. After a period of watchful waiting my consultant inserted grommets into both ears. Unfortunately one of ears still hasn't cleared, that was over 3 months ago and I now have a terrible muffled sensation which is driving me crazy. I have been referred for hearing tests but just feel like I'm being fobbed off with tests and ear/nosedrops. Has anyone else had this? I am at a loss as to what I can put into my ear safely due to grommets. I have also tried acupressure and Sound Therapy. I really am at the end of my tether and dread waking up because it just won't go. Any help much appreciated.

First - what was the purpose of the Sinus surgery? What symptoms did you have prior to the operation and whether you had on and off blockage of the ear prior to surgery? I ask this because the sinus condition has a an effect on the eustachian tube which connects your nose and ear. At present you seem to be having some problem with the functioning of the eustachian tube. Hence the grommets.

Hi, thanks for your reply. The reason for surgery was ongoing sinusitis which I suffered with regularly over the years. Last April I had a severe about that just wouldn't clear, I had loads of antibiotics prescribed but nothing worked. I was referred to consultant who did CT Scan and I had a Septoplasty and FESS procedures to relieve symptoms. This worked but left the ears feeling permanently blocked. Note I have never ever had trouble of any kind with my ears until now. My consultant did a period of 'watchful waiting' before resorting to grommets. But this has obviously had a negative effect. I hope this is enough info for you to get some sort of picture. Many thanks.

I do have an idea as to what is wrong but cannot figure out what triggerred it. You have eustacian tube dysfunction, plainly put - fluid in the ears, behind the drums. Thus the muffled hearing. The grommets are a means to drain the fluid from the ears. As I mentioned in the previous post that the eustacian tube connects your ear to the back of your nasal passage. That being blocked causes this problem. Sometimes nasal and sinus problems themselves cause the tube block. FESS is usually a part of treatment for blocked ears and not the other way round.
I am sure your consultant must have performed an hearing test. If it is fluid in the ears I am afraid nasal drops and grommets are the way to go.

Thanks for your time, I have had 3 courses of nasal drops and also antibiotics and ear drops and 2 hearing tests. Guess I'll just have to wait and see what he comes up with next! Thanks again

You are welcome

madcapmonty... if you get this message, please let me now how things worked out for you. I am a classical trumpet player and I am living the same hell that you lived through... I cannot find a solution and am struggling to hold onto my career. Did you ever find a solution? I had grommets put in my ears last about a week ago and my hearing and tinnitus is the worst ever now. I am end the end of the line. Please let me know how things worked out! Many thanks!