Anyone have problems with fluid in the ear?

[gshoemate]

This is the second time that I have been getting over a head cold and feel terrible. I have so much pressure in my ear but the bad thing is it is making my TMJ act up. My jaw is killing me and I have the pinched feeling that goes from my ear to my temple......and no pain medication will take it away. Last time this happened was in December and the doctor gave me some decongestant to take. It took about 2 weeks but finally went away. I guess i'll have to call and go back in Monday to get some more medication. Does anyone have problems with this and no anything that I can do for it until Monday? The head pain and pressure is making me just miserable. TIA

 

[grinningghost]

Me!!!!! I had an ear infection in late January, and I STILL have fluid sloshing around in my ear. The doctor said it's normal to have fluid hang around for awhile - but I'm starting to think she was giving me a line.

Any medical people out there who can help us "fluidy ear people"?

 

[mom2boys]

I know what you are talking about - I had so much fluid in my ears from Oct - Jan that I could not hear half of what was said to me - with DH being half deaf - it was a real challange communicating around here.
One doc recommended I try Afrin nasal spray - it opens the sinus and theoretically allows the ear to drain.

Bottom line for me is live with it or have sinus surgery. Some choice

 

[grinningghost]

What exactly IS the fluid? Where does it originate? And why does it STAY?

I know - alot of dumb questions, but I'd love to know.

 

[gshoemate]

No idea grinningghost. The first time I had it was in December....never had a problem before. And the doctor (not my usual doctor, he was on a Disney Cruise) said I had the fluid in my ear and that it would drain by itself (not sure where it would drain to) but if I took decongestant it would drain faster. She just said it was from my cold that I was getting over.

 

[lsyorke]

"What exactly IS the fluid? Where does it originate?"

The fluid is formed as a protective mechanism by the body in reaction to an inflammatory process ie, infection. Usually in adults is goes away by itself with time since the eustachian tube(it connects the middle ear to to the sinuses) is usually large enough to drain once the swelling goes away. that being said, sometimes it doesn't drain(think vapor lock!) and tubes need to be inserted through the eardrum to relieve the pressure(yes just like the kids) The procedure is much more common in adults than most people realize. Sometimes the nasal drops can help decrease the swelling enough to allow the fluid to drain, but if that doesn't work another visit to the MD is needed to determine if tubes would help.

 

[JoenAdamnErinnSam]

I've had tubes twice-once when I was about 7 months old and again when I was 14-and still to this day,when I get a cold-it goes to my ears.Many ear infections,a burst eardrum,it is very important to keep draining them as best you can with decongestants and or nasal spray such as Flonase when you get a cold-however the Flonase takes a couple of days to take hold-so my best suggestion for the weekend is to find the strongest decongestant you can find,and take Advil or equivalent,to reduce the swelling-it ought to get you through.Good Luck.

 

[grinningghost]

Thanks guys - there's always a DISer who knows something you need to know.

 

[crazelion]

Yes I know what going through. I am having the same problem with my ears. My sinus is playing on my ears and I can't here a thing either. I going to the Doctor Monday to see what he can for it.

I can't take the pressure in my ears.

I hope all us that have this problem get better.

 

[letfuller]

I also seem to end up with ear infections when I have a cold. Three years ago, my doctor put a tube in my ear and well, it was only suppose to last about 6 months. I am glad it is still in place working. It has been so nice to be able to hear and not have to be in pain. I may have just turned 38, but my ears react to illness like a kid!!!!


Linda

 

[Towncrier]

I feel your pain. I went to the doctor at noon today and was diagnosed with an ear infection. I woke up this morning and the pressure in my left ear was unbearable. When I was a child, my eardrum ruptured due to an ear infection and I have to say that I have never since experienced such pain.

The doctor gave me a strong antibiotic to hopefully kill the infection and I asked for a prescription decongestant (Musinex) to hopefully open up my sinuses enough to allow the fluid to drain. I'm at the point in my life where I would almost be willing to go through the procedure to have tubes put in my ears to keep the passage open.

Good luck at the doctor's office on Monday.

 

[Figment22]

DS14 just had a bad back up of fluid in his ear a couple of weeks ago. It also became infected so, like TownCrier mentioned he was given a very strong dosage of antibiotic and a prescription decongestant (EntexLA). The antibiotic got rid of the infection but we had to renew the decongestant.

One thing the doctor said: Don't take any antihistimine. Sometimes you might take a decongestant/antihistimine combo. Not a good idea. You want the fluid to be able to flow not be dried up by an antihistimine.

Hope you feel better soon

 

[Daisimae]

I've been going thru this too.

On my trip to Fla last year the plane experienced a sharp decrease in pressure on takeoff. I always have a problem with my ears when landing, but, this pain and pressure was something else! Anyway, after a while my left ear drained out but my right ear was very slow. It was noticiable because I couldn't hear as well in it. Thought I was going deaf.

It was feeling better, then I caught the flu in December. All the fluid came back and my hearing was worse than ever. I had DH repeating everything twice. As soon as I got over the flu completely, I went to a ENT Dr. who spent 2 seconds looking into my ear and told me there was fluid behind my ear drum. She did a procedure in the office that poked a hole in my eardrum so the fluid would drain. She also gave me some Flonase to use daily for a week and earplugs to use while showering/washing hair.

That was two weeks ago. My hearing is better, but the ear still feels blocked. I have to go for a check-up soon and will find out how the ear really is.

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

My chiropractor taught me a little trick a while back- if you hold on to your ear lobe and kind of rotate it gently for a few seconds, and then give it a little tug, it will sometimes get your ear to pop, and the fluid to drain. Given that he used to be an MD, I feel safe passing it on It's always worked well for me!

(sorry if the next part is a little too-much-info-ish!)
I've also found that when the fluid builds up in my eustachian tubes (not sure if I spelled that right- you know, the tubes that run from your ears down to your throat!), if I stick my little finger in my mouth just behind my back teeth, I can feel where the tube ends, and a lot of times gently rubbing there will unclog it, and the fluid will drain out (ewww!)

Hope that helps!

 

[llebrekniT]

I couldn't believe when I saw this thread because I have been having an unusual pain in front of my ear the last two days. I had many ear infections when I was a child and have ear aches from time to time, this pain is different. It also moves around, sometimes right by my ear and then up the side of my head just a little, then back down by my ear again. Wonder if it is pressure? It's not my usual ear ache, but I have had a cold. Hmmmmmm.

 

[Mskanga]

My dd has been fighting this battle since right before Christmas, she was on 3 different medications to combat the nasty ear infection she had, she was on cefzil first, then zythromax, neither one did anything, as a matter or fact the infection got worse as she was taking the second one, which is very unusual. Then she was put on something Erothrymicin or something like that and that wiped out most of it , but she still has some fluid . The doctor put her on Claritin and Nasonex all the time , apparently her problem is also due to allergies and now he wants her to keep taking it.
It was only in one ear and she did get her eardrum ruptured before the third medication. I felt bad, I felt like I had let her down but it just couldn't be brought under control. Now she has a bit of fluid in her right ear, not infected but it's there. We have a follow up appointment in a couple of weeks, hopefully we will get good news.