On August 1, 2013 I flew from Europe to LAX. I had developed a cold and during landing, the plane suddenly dropped and everybody on board felt excruciating pain in their ears, the worst pain I have ever experienced. Soon after landing, the eustachian tube in my right ear closed, but not the one in my left ear. The first weekend it still was open and I began to worry. Not long after, the worry esculated into a panic attacks I was diagnosed with patulous eustachian tubes.
Over the next eight months I was emotionally paralyzed. Over the next five years I saw both private and university-based otolaryngologsits. One operated on me five times, but after every surgery, the eustachian tube would open, adding to my dismay. By the fifth year, I was running out of options.
Then in early 2018 I made an appointment to see Dr. Nazarian at Cedars Sinai. It required three surgical procedures to get the eustachian tube to close. It is much better now and I am still praying that this long nightmare is coming to an end, thanks to the wonderful physician who didn’t give up on me, unlike all the other doctors whom I had seen. I thank the lord for leading me to Dr. Nazarian-the best physician I have ever had.
-D.M.
