To preserve his anonymity, names have been changed – however, this is a TRUE LIFE story, and IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU TOO!!

----Original Message-----

Hello, I just came across your web site through a search engine, as my GP suspects that I may be suffering from "glue ear". I always thought that this condition affected only children, but I happen to be 37! The symptoms developed after a mild cold, and have now persisted for over 6 weeks. I would be very interested to know if I should expect it to correct itself spontaneously or, if surgery is necessary, if there is any subsequent hearing impairment. The condition so far is affecting only one ear, but the sensation of "stuffiness" accompanied by hearing loss is not only uncomfortable but is adversely affecting my work as a musician. My GP prescribed some antibiotics (Klacid 250mg) and a nasal spray (Nasacort), neither of which had an appreciable effect. Any comments / advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Regards,

Well yes you are in a small minority if you’ve never had glue ear as a child and develop it at 37 - at least it’s not in both ears. Haven’t had any specific problems with your nose like breaking it etc? Sometimes nasal blockages can cause one-sided glue ears - or perhaps you were just very unlucky and got such a bad one that it’s refusing to budge! All you can do apart from nasal decongestant (could go 6 more weeks or change to Actifed type oral decongestant - glue ears do sometimes improve after 3 months but not usually any longer) and antibiotics (and if they don’t work after 6 weeks you might as well give up on those I think or try something homeopathic instead) is:

If none of these things work, the good news is that myringotomy (drainage) is literally a five minute job (straight down the ear canal with the suction tube!) and some ENT surgeons will do it without general anaesthetic if you’re a well-behaved subject!! And the chances of it recurring unless you have predisposing factors (like nose/sinus trouble) are pretty low. I’m away for a week in Cork testing adults for a research study – have to admit not many glue ears turning up although anyone who has had middle ear surgery in the past tends to be perfect again afterwards). And actually, the glue ear will protect your ear from loud noise quite effectively (just like an earplug!) while it’s there. So good luck with your problem - I SAID GOOD LUCK!! Let me know what happens.

> From: Theresa Pitt <pitta@tinet.ie> To: "gluey" > Subject: Re: glue ear >>

I’ve been following your advice as regards clearing the damn thing and have found a marked improvement, by sticking a finger in the good ear, holding my nose and blowing hard. By this means I have managed to unblock the eustachian tube, and have now reverted to the early symptoms of "sloshing" sounds accompanied by intermittent deafness. There is still a marked hearing loss, even during "improved" episodes, but it’s a hell of a lot better than it was. When I tilt my head back and forth, it makes some very entertaining noises indeed! Pehaps if I got out the drill........ I’ll keep you informed of any new developments.

> Rather you than me - but at least if it’s sloshing you’re about halfway there - by summer you should be fine!!

>>OK but which summer? 99? 2000?

>1999 - by which stage if it’s not gone you will have adapted your listening style - i.e. ‘just come round here and talk in the good ear’ etc. Also, suggest that someone buy you a infra red listening device for Xmas which you can put on the TV (you get headphones which are very obvious) and thus ignore everyone else when they speak to you. Seriously, it almost certainly will go within a few months and if not the surgeon is always an option – I don’t think I’d tackle it as a do-it-yourself job though as your eardrum is

mighty sensitive. Really grommets are pretty effective in adults. Now you know how 10% of young children feel in the winter! Send me another progress report next week won’t you?

A little progress report on the fluid-filled ear: it’s clearing up quite nicely now, thanks to a lot of huffing and blowing as per your advice. I can even hear the rest of my band now. There is still the odd episode of mild discomfort, but these are far and few between, and getting rarer as time goes by. I have found, though, that one or two stimuli seem to have a

detrimental effect - the main one being drink. It may be something to do with increased blood pressure in an area that is already engorged with fluid, I don’t really know enough about it to comment. Anyway, thanks for the advice etc. and have a happy and sibilant

New Year. I SAID HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR! Regards,

>From: Theresa Pitt <pitta@tinet.ie>> To: "gluey", Date: 21 January 1999, 21:04

I had another musician who was complaining of bilateral glue ear and I was just thinking maybe I could put the narrative of my chats with you onto my website....

By all means use our previous chats on the site. We’ll be building a web site at the music archive where I have my day-job sometime in the distant future, though, so maybe you can put a link in. I’ll let you know what happens, if it ever happens!

The ear has now returned to normal, apart from the odd strange noise, but at least the deafness is gone. All of the usual decongestants are, to be frank, quite useless - even the steroid spray. I once knew a poor sod who poured Dettol in his ear to try and clear up an infection - that didn’t work either. This character was also a musician. I’m glad I found you in time........ Thanks for the help,

<ADDENDUM: I've been told in November 2000 that this page is the ONLY ONE discussing adult glue ears on the entire world-wide web to surface in searches!! I've also been told interesting snippets about the dangers of snorting coke - causing nasal AND Eustachian tube damage apparently leading to a Glue Ears. (I'm sure some solvents are similarly dangerous although I don't personally indulge.) So my advice on that one is: DON'T!! And THANKS to anyone who has corresponded on the subject. I would like to advise you that a person I know, aged about 83, has just had a second grommet fitted (AND without a general anaesthetic) to good effect. ANYONE OLDER THAN THAT OUT THERE with a grommeting experience??

Regards,

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