Dr House? Now that name sounds familiar. I think he has a walking stick though and is now in the 9 o'clock time slot.
I have a similar problem that I have been experiencing for a while. Mine was inner ear and eustation tube related.(haven't got a clue how to spell it).I finally got an answer. My doctor gave me this recipe.I have copied it word for word.
Saline-Bicarbonate Nasal Spray to moisten thick nasal mucus-safe to use long term. In a nasal spray bottle (which can be recycled) (1/2 to 1 heaped teaspoon of salt+ 1/2 teaspoon of bicarbonate soda in 500mls of boiled, cooled tap water. 2 squirts into both nostrils 6 times a day. If it stings, decrease salt.
It is important you use a nasal spray bottle. The chemist said humourously, that the only way it could do damage yourself was if you drowned.
It is mostly my right ear, so I spray about 6 sprays up my right nostril and lay with my right ear down. When I turned my head over, there was a really strange noise the first couple of times I used it.
Just as an aside, Doc said that he would like to see nose blowing and tissues banned. He said that in countries where people suck and swallow their boogers, there is little prevalence of problems of these kinds. This is a pressure issue that pertains to the practice mute question.
In defence of the previous answer by Dr House, I wouldn't use a practice mute given my ear problems.
Food for thought: My Dr said that some of these problems can also be the result of a Phalangeal Pouch ( spelling????) This is quite a common occurrence amongst trumpet players and older males. A weak pocket develops in your throat that can make your throat work 'unnaturally' which can lead to tension.
Symptoms: If you feel food being caught in your throat when you try to eat whilst laying down.
Diagnosis-Can only be diagnosed using a Barium X Ray.