Question:
Possible answer to clogged ear question.

I posted a question a while back to see if anyone had a similar problem with sounding like they were talking in a tunnel in the mornings. I had been to two doctors and was told they couldn't find anything wrong. I received several responses from folks that they too had this problem, but had no solution. I recently received an email from Lisa (one of the respondents) and she said she solved her problem with increasing her fluid intake. Just a guess, but we may be a bit dehydrated in the morning, which might hamper drainage. Just wanted to pass on the information. It just may be one more reason to drink up.    — Jilda H. (posted on July 8, 2000)

July 8, 2000
I also posted a reply to the ear problem before but had no suggestions, but sense then I started takeing ALLEGRA-D for sinus's and that solved my tunnel ear problem. Not to discount the water intake, anything is possible.
   — BECKY M.

September 27, 2004
I have just today returned from seeing an ear, nose and throat specialist. I was told that my clogged ear and popping in out sounds (as if on an airplane) was caused by my weight loss. The name of the diagnosis is patulous Eustachian Tube disorder. You can read about the problems associated to weight loss at this web site. http://www.emedicine.com/ent/topic208.htm I was so frustrated when I found out this problem because I have been waiting to see an ENT for two months (insurance issues) and the first thing he asked me is Have you lost weight recently. I told him I had lost 200 pounds over the last 15 months and he said..that is the answer. He told me that the fat and muscle no longer support the Eustachian tube like they did before the weight loss. He said eventually my body would adapt, but that it would take over a year. It is good to know I am not having problems with my hearing, but it is not good to find out that there is no cure for the problem, other than to regain the weight..which I will not! Anyway, I was looking on this site to see if other people had this problem and this was the only EAR problem I saw. I wanted to post this in case anyone else has the problem with their ears popping or feeling like you are hearing through a funnel tube. It can be very annoying, but not painful. Mindy
   — himindy64

February 15, 2005
MindyP I also had the same problem you had. I went to an ent and he told me the exact same thing yours told you. I could not stand it. It was driving me crazy. He said i could live with it or put a tube in my ear. I had the tube put in my ear and that cleared it up. LaShoneP
   — lashone