Ear Stuffiness, to deafness

[Atripla_User]

I only just started my meds a week ago, so this problem is not med related. I have had ear stuffiness for 2 and a 1/2 years and only found releif by having the ent doctors lance and drain and vaccum my ears out, the mucus and fluid was gelatinous. I have had two sets of tubes installed this year alone after being deaf alot of 2004 and 2005, cold season and allergy season really made it all worse.

So the last doctor to work on my ears said hiv patients tonsils and adenoids get bigger because they are trying to fight off the hiv and that is why they grow so big that they block the estachian tube openings in the nasel cavety, sinus area. I am wondering, if anyone else has had this problem, and what are they doing.

I will have to keep getting drained and tubed if I don't get my tonsils and adenoids out i fear. Will the hiv meds reverse the swelling that blocks my estachian tubes so my ears can naturally regulate air pressure? Right now the tubes in my ear drums are the only way, if they come out my ears can't regulate air pressure, feel stuffy, and then get thick with mucus and fluid, and then i am deaf until the doc lances and drains my ears again.  Its a vicious circle.

Any help? Any info?

[blondbeauty]

I had my tonsils removed at the age of seven. It is nothing to worry about and you have to eat plenty of icecream.
Regarding the swollen lymph nodes (in this case tonsils) the do reduce in size once you start meds. Mine reduced a lot but not completely. But I donīt know if that was their normal size before infection because I never payed attention to them.

[Atripla_User]

I hope the meds help them reduce, as i really don't want to have surgery, and also don't want to keep having to get tubes and drained every 6 months. Thanks for the info. Anybody else go through this since getting hiv?

[Ralffey]

Before I started meds my left ear would always be clogged and I could barely hear out of it.
At first I was treated for sinus infection after sinus infection - but once the antibiotics ran out the ear became clogged again with accompanying hearing loss.
ENT doctors implanted a tube in my ear to help drainage, but that only lasted a short while (a year).
Then my primary care physician realized it was partly due to my HIV infection which causing the blockage and swelling in the eustachian tube.
They informed me that thi is not uncommon among some people with HIV.
Long story short, once I started taking meds, swelling in the eustachian tubes shrunk, ear infections were non existent and my hearing became became clear as a bell. 

So, yes taking meds will help a lot with ear stuffiness and deafness.

[suzieque]

        My experience has been much the same. Off of meds I had constant sinus infections and congestion, back on the meds and it is clearing up, I am beginning to be able to hear again!! Yippee!!
          Hope all goes well for you,
                       Best wishes,
                               Suzie

[Atripla_User]

it's true, i notice a difference, now if only the tubes would fall out, we can call it a day, they should fall out by Feb....if not sooner.