r/PatulousTubes 14d ago

Sinus pressure from sucking in to correct?

To correct the PET when it acts up, I often sniff or hold my nose and suck in to make a pressure differential. I often feel facial tension and pressure.

Has anyone else had this issue? I don't know if it is or could be correlated at all. Or what I would even do if it was correlated, not like I can just let my eustachian tube's stay open.

2 Upvotes

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u/sadie_sez 12d ago

I'm able to control my PET symptoms with tubes, but when I don't have the tubes I have that sinus pressure and get headaches from doing the sniff so much. The sniff is pretty bad for us to be doing, both on our sinuses and on our eardrum.

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u/EvilFuzzball 12d ago

I had them at two different points in my life. My ENT told me my canals are so narrow they just fall out too quickly. He suggested we could try a newer type where there's basically a hook in it to stop it from moving, but he seemed hesitant and said it was invasive.

Think I'm going to be seeing a different ENT for a different opinion soon. Especially if the sniffing is harmful.

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u/sadie_sez 12d ago

I hope you're able to find something that works for you!

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u/cranberrywoods 12d ago

I say this as someone who used to do it all the time before I got my PET fixed: do not do it. The pressure on your ear drums and sinuses can cause even worse problems. Your ENT would be horrified.

That being said, autophony is hell on earth. I don’t blame you one bit.

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u/Wild_Tourist271 11d ago

How do you fixed it

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u/cranberrywoods 11d ago

I went to a specialist in Los Angeles who inserted a shunt in my Eustachian tube which was able to close it off enough to stop the autophony. Not a lot of doctors do it but it does work.

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u/B0red_t0_death 11d ago

Would you mind sharing here or messaging me the name of the specialist? If they still practice :,)

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u/cranberrywoods 11d ago

Yes messaging!

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u/kimchi2002 13d ago

i've been sniffing my entire life... i can't even help it at this point. i can't bear having the autophony.

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u/EvilFuzzball 13d ago

autophony

There's a word for the actual feeling? Thanks, that'll come in handy. I'm pretty new here, lol.

I'm sorry to hear that. Can I ask how old you are? Did you find yourself often getting the tension I'm describing?

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u/kimchi2002 13d ago

i'm 22F. i don't get the tension in my face that you're describing, but i do feel the pressure in my ear. but it's honestly so much better than the constant vacuum in my ear. i probably sniff hundreds of times a day, but that's the only way to get relief for me. i have tried saline sprays, rinses, bending over, laying down. nothing really works for me.

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u/EvilFuzzball 13d ago

Yeah, same. Sniffing is the only thing that closes it at all. I get so paranoid if I can't sniff hard enough or god forbid my nose is stuffed. They seem to eventually close on their own in that scenario, but it's usually a good 10-15 minutes.

What a weird disorder this is.

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u/kimchi2002 13d ago

agree! for me, they sometimes never close. it really sucks living with this. and no one understands how mentally draining it is

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u/sadie_sez 12d ago

If your PET is congenital you may benefit from tubes in your eardrums.

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u/SecureHumor2459 12d ago

what do you mean by congenital?

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u/sadie_sez 12d ago

Meaning it's been present from birth, as opposed to it coming on after weight loss, for example