Eustachian tubes and Smoking

[Guest guest]

Hi Folks

Saw my ENT today. He wants to wait a little longer before committing

to which type of operation he performs on my right ear, but so far

there's no retraction pocket in the left.

What was interesting though was a study he's recently read regarding

poor eustachian tube function and smoking. He was quite surprised to

read that smoking can impede the eustachian tube function - he was

expecting quite the opposite due to something or other I didn't quite

understand ;-)

So, I'm going to try giving up smoking (again), but I was wondering if

anyone else had come across this nugget of information? Perhaps

someone would know where to track down the actual report?

--

Pete

pete@...

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[Guest guest]

Pete- I found that what your doctor says is very true- I started

smoking when I was 15 and have quit twice in my life- both times when

I was pregnant, and I definitely notice a difference in my ears when

I don't smoke and when I do- case in point I had my doc tell me I

needed surgery for the c-toma last January-I went to see him cuz my

ears hurt- and I was smoking at the time- then I found out I was

pregnant, so I had to wait for the surgery. I quit smoking and I

swear my whole pregnancy my ears never bothered me. Then of course

after my son was born 4 months ago- I started smoking agian ( stupid

I know ) and 2 months later I'm back in the docs office cuz my ears

hurt and I can't hear out of them. Maybe I'll start trying to quit!!!!

[Guest guest]

OK, I know it's bad form to reply to yourself, but I've turned up a

few links via Google -

This one agrees with my ENT about smoking:

<http://www.ent.com.au/Smoking%20page.htm>

This is an interesting one - it contains an article which recommends a

method of improving eustachian tube function that I'd not come across

before:

<http://members.shaw.ca/kierse/pdf/newsletter/dec01.pdf>

This one is about second hand smoke (also called sidestream smoke),

and briefly mentions the effects on the eustachian tube:

<http://www.ricehospital.com/healthinfo/articles/2ndsmoke.htm>

And finally, here's one which talks about relieving Tinnitus,

including the use of Ginkgo Biloba (which we just happened to have

some of in the house, so I'm giving it a go, and will report back in a

few weeks as to it's effectiveness):

<http://www.lef.org/protocols/prtcl-105.shtml>

--

Pete

[Guest guest]

pete,

we're seeing our ENT on wednesday...he never mentions any of the gems info,

but if i ever ask him, he always seems to have heard of them. so i shall ask

him when i see him on wednesday...unless i have to " argue " my case for

frankie strongly...in which case smoking isnt an issue.

any idea what country this " report " originated from?

julie

[Guest guest]

pete...

a quick note re: giving up smoking and the NHS.

generally what happens....to qualify for patches or zyban on the NHS you have

to join one of the new style " giving up smoking clinics/clubs " .

once you have the pep talk from the nurse who runs the clinic...she'll give

the OK to the doctor for the treatment. they also help decide whether they

think that patches or zyban will be most effective for you.

another good one.... is the pretend ciggarette that you insert a nicotine

capsule into. each time you take a puff on the plastic tube it delivers a

small amount of nicotine. the beauty of it is....that it looks ridiculous,

so there's a hint of embarassment using it, so you dont use it much,

......that it doesnt deliver an carbon monoxide so is healthier than a

ciggie,......it tastes horrible and make you cough, so it's not something

you'll want to suck on for any length of time, but it take care of that

" need " to actually inhale something whilst giving up.

try it in conjunction with whatever therapy youre trying....and the very best

of luck to you.

julie

[Guest guest]

" jenherr2002 " <jenherr2002@...> writes:

> Pete- I found that what your doctor says is very true- I started

> smoking when I was 15 and have quit twice in my life- both times when

> I was pregnant, and I definitely notice a difference in my ears when

> I don't smoke and when I do- case in point I had my doc tell me I

> needed surgery for the c-toma last January-I went to see him cuz my

> ears hurt- and I was smoking at the time- then I found out I was

> pregnant, so I had to wait for the surgery. I quit smoking and I

> swear my whole pregnancy my ears never bothered me. Then of course

> after my son was born 4 months ago- I started smoking agian ( stupid

> I know ) and 2 months later I'm back in the docs office cuz my ears

> hurt and I can't hear out of them. Maybe I'll start trying to quit!!!!

Good luck if you do decide to give it a try (you've already succeeded

twice by your own admission!).

I'm going to try using nicotine patches this time, as I'm told they're

now available on the NHS (meaning they'll cost UKP6.10 per week,

instead of UKP20 - I only spend UKP10 a week on tobacco and papers).

--

Pete

[Guest guest]

juliequill@... writes:

> pete,

> we're seeing our ENT on wednesday...he never mentions any of the gems info,

> but if i ever ask him, he always seems to have heard of them. so i shall ask

> him when i see him on wednesday...unless i have to " argue " my case for

> frankie strongly...in which case smoking isnt an issue.

> any idea what country this " report " originated from?

Hi

I went searching more extensively today, and think I may have turned

up the particular report. It's on <http://www.laryngoscope.com>, and

was published in October 2001 - It's the same report mentioned in the

first link I posted yesterday (now also in the Bookmarks section).

I've tried to access the article itself, but it costs $20, and as I'll

likely not understand most of it I've not bothered to buy it ;-)

The country is the USA.

--

Pete

[Guest guest]

juliequill@... writes:

> pete...

> a quick note re: giving up smoking and the NHS. generally what

> happens....to qualify for patches or zyban on the NHS you have to

> join one of the new style " giving up smoking clinics/clubs " .

Thanks - I've just emailed the center in our area.

> another good one.... is the pretend ciggarette that you insert a nicotine

> capsule into. each time you take a puff on the plastic tube it delivers a

> small amount of nicotine. the beauty of it is....that it looks ridiculous,

> so there's a hint of embarassment using it, so you dont use it much,

> .....that it doesnt deliver an carbon monoxide so is healthier than a

> ciggie,......it tastes horrible and make you cough, so it's not something

> you'll want to suck on for any length of time, but it take care of that

> " need " to actually inhale something whilst giving up.

That sounds like 'fun' ;-) My biggest problems come with the

withdrawal, so hopefully the NRT or Zyban will help.

> try it in conjunction with whatever therapy youre trying....and the

> very best of luck to you.

Thanks :-)

--

Pete

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

I've heard that smoking increases the probablility of ear problems and

allergies but I don't know where. I heard it a long time ago. I have never

smoked but both my parents were smokers the whole time I was growing up.

Funny, I have 3 older brothers and they havent' ever had any ear trouble of

any kind!

Jane

>From: Pete Jewell <morph@...>

>Reply-cholesteatoma

>cholesteatoma

>Subject: Eustachian tubes and Smoking

>Date: 22 Feb 2002 22:05:40 +0000

>

>Hi Folks

>

>Saw my ENT today. He wants to wait a little longer before committing

>to which type of operation he performs on my right ear, but so far

>there's no retraction pocket in the left.

>

>What was interesting though was a study he's recently read regarding

>poor eustachian tube function and smoking. He was quite surprised to

>read that smoking can impede the eustachian tube function - he was

>expecting quite the opposite due to something or other I didn't quite

>understand ;-)

>

>So, I'm going to try giving up smoking (again), but I was wondering if

>anyone else had come across this nugget of information? Perhaps

>someone would know where to track down the actual report?

>

>--

>Pete

>

>pete@...

>-------------------------------------------------------------

>MaVerick - Open Source MultiValue Database Management System

>Check out the website -> http://www.maverick-dbms.org

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