HELP! Has anyone ever experienced this ear issue?

July 19, 2011

This past January I was listening to music with my noise-isolating ear buds and

reading a magazine while exercising on an elliptical machine. At one point, I

took a drink of water out of my bottle's straw and my left ear and left side of

my throat immediately plugged up causing me to choke. Ever since then it feels

as if my left ear is under water. Depending on what I am doing, the symptoms

get worse. My left ear also plugs and unplugs all of the time. It will

fluctuate from hearing myself breathe (it sounds like the noise I hear scuba

divers make on tv) to hearing normally. I haven't been able to exercise since

that time because it goes into overdrive when my breathing intensity increases.

Honestly, I have a horrible time with 4S and I developed tinnitus over a year

ago, but I learned to deal with both of these things. In my life this is the

worst because I cannot get away from it like I can sounds, and I can't do any

form of cardio which I really require to deal with the chronic pain of

Fibromyalgia. I learned to embrace the rinning in my ears, but I just cannot

live with this continual popping and plugging. Oh, and when I plug my nose and

blow - not too hard - my left ear plugs but my right ear never does; I don't

know if this matters.

I have talked to my doctor and an ENT specialist. My doctor sent me for a

barium swallow test and it showed nothing was wrong. The ENT said that there

was nothing he could do and to come see him in three months if it persisted. I

asked if it could be an allergy but he said that it wouldn't just affect one

side of my throat/ear. I don't have any wax in my ears. I have perfect hearing.

It feels like my throat and ear are clogged.

Does anybody have any idea what could be wrong with me, or better yet, how I can

get my old left ear back? I sincerely appreciate any help that you are able to

offer. Also, if you know of any specific professionals that could help me I

would be willing to do what it takes to see them.

With Gratitude,

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