Treatment
Historically, to temporarily alleviate symptoms, patients have tried positional maneuvers, such as tilting their head to one side or upside down, lie down on their backs, or sit in a chair with their head between their knees. Similarly, a routine of lying down four times per day with legs elevated to around 20 inches for at least two weeks has been attempted as well. Depending on the underlying cause of the disorder, the individual may need to remove caffeine from their diet, reduce exercise, or gain weight.
Estrogen (Premarin) nasal drops or saturated potassium iodide have been used to induce edema of the eustachian tube opening. Nasal medications containing diluted hydrochloric acid, chlorobutanol, and benzyl alcohol have been reported to be effective in some patients, with few side effects. Food and Drug Administration approval is still pending, however.
In extreme cases surgical intervention may attempt to "bulk up" the Eustachian tube tissues with fat, gel foam, or cartilage or scar it closed with cautery. These methods are not always successful.
More recently, Canadian doctors have found that applying a pea-sized dollop of Blu-Tack to the eardrum reduces vibrations and may provide relief. Trials are said to be starting soon and the procedure itself can be performed in under a minute without anesthesia by an ear nose and throat doctor. The Blu-Tack has to be replaced at regular intervals.
Read more about this topic: Patulous Eustachian Tube
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—Raymond Chandler (1888–1959)
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—C. John Sommerville (20th century)