Ear Congestion

[mckryan]

Last Thursday, my ear started feeling funny like it needed to pop. I had that congested feeling on one side. By that evening, it was worse, but it wasn't hurting. The next morning, it was like I had bionic hearing in the opposite ear and the one ear was still congested feeling. I saw the doctor on Friday who said there wasn't any fluid behind the ear but that the drum was a little red. He put me on Cefzil antibiotic. By Sunday, my ear was feeling normal again.

I got up in the middle of the night and noticed my ear was starting to feel congested again, and by the time I wok up this morning, it was back to the full feeling I had last Thursday night. I'm on the antibiotic and haven't missed any doses. Why is this coming back? I hate walking around yawning because I feel like I need to pop my ear, and I hate that it doesn't help.

I tried taking Sudafed on Thursday to see if it would help, but it didn't do anything. I don't have a cold, and I haven't been sick, so I'm not sure what is going on here.

Has anyone had something like this before? If so, what did you do to help it?

Christa

 

[Pop Daddy]

did you try one of them ear wax removal kits

 

[mckryan]

Ha! No, I didn't try a kit. The doctor said there wasn't much ear wax in that ear when he looked last Friday.

 

[Serena]

It sounds like the germs were winning there, hopefully the antibiotics will get rid of it for good.

 

[browneyes]

Have you put cotton in your ear? That'll help take some pressure off your ear. When it does open up, it'll throb really bad if you don't have something to cushion the pain.

 

[mckryan]

Originally posted by Serena
It sounds like the germs were winning there, hopefully the antibiotics will get rid of it for good.

It would come back even though I've been on the antibiotics since Friday? I would think since it was better it would stay better. This is so aggravating.

Christa

 

[mckryan]

Originally posted by browneyes
Have you put cotton in your ear? That'll help take some pressure off your ear. When it does open up, it'll throb really bad if you don't have something to cushion the pain.

No, I haven't done that. I didn't have any pain on Saturday and Sunday when it was starting to get better.

Christa

 

[Serena]

Originally posted by mckryan
It would come back even though I've been on the antibiotics since Friday? I would think since it was better it would stay better. This is so aggravating.

Christa

I don't know, it's just what it sounded like. That's one reason they say to take the full amount of medicine. So the germs don't get stronger and fight back.

 

[Gary M]

Christa, in 1986 I had both ears with the full feeling and everything sounded muffled. I can't remember the medical term for my situation, but in lay terms it was called "glue ear". I believe my ear drums were filling with fluid. I went to a ear, eye and nose doctor. He prescribed a medication that cleared up the problem in a few days. If the medication hadn't worked he was going to drain the ear with a needle.

If the doctor you saw wasn't a specialist, I would suggest you see a one that specializes with the ear. Your condition may be completely different than mine. I had no pain just a full feeling and everyone sounded like they were in a barrel.

 

[browneyes]

Try some cough decongestant. My ds has had many, many, many ear infections (and tubes in his ears). When he's in a lot of pain my SIL (who's a NP) told me to give him some cough decongestant to get the nasal cavity to drain (something about the ears and the nose being so close together that when they get infected, they push against each other when fluid builds).

 

[mckryan]

Originally posted by Serena
I don't know, it's just what it sounded like. That's one reason they say to take the full amount of medicine. So the germs don't get stronger and fight back.

I'm still taking the meds and haven't missed a dose. It's so aggravating. I'll definitely be calling the doc's office at 9 to see what we can do.

Christa

 

[browneyes]

Do they make Zythromax in adult strength? That stuff is amazing when it comes to ear infections.

 

[mckryan]

Originally posted by Gary M
Christa, in 1986 I had both ears with the full feeling and everything sounded muffled. I can't remember the medical term for my situation, but in lay terms it was called "glue ear". I believe my ear drums were filling with fluid. I went to a ear, eye and nose doctor. He prescribed a medication that cleared up the problem in a few days. If the medication hadn't worked he was going to drain the ear with a needle.

If the doctor you saw wasn't a specialist, I would suggest you see a one that specializes with the ear. Your condition may be completely different than mine.

Thanks for that info Gary. The doctor didn't see any fluid on Friday, just a slightly red ear drum. I believe if the antibiotics don't take care of this problem they will refer me out to an ENT. You have to love HMOs.

Christa

 

[mckryan]

Originally posted by browneyes
Try some cough decongestant. My ds has had many, many, many ear infections (and tubes in his ears). When he's in a lot of pain my SIL (who's a NP) told me to give him some cough decongestant to get the nasal cavity to drain (something about the ears and the nose being so close together that when they get infected, they push against each other when fluid builds).

I tried decongestant last week, but it didn't do a thing. I'm going to try it again today in case something has changed. Either way, I'm contacting the doc to see what to do next.

Christa

 

[mckryan]

Originally posted by browneyes
Do they make Zythromax in adult strength? That stuff is amazing when it comes to ear infections.

They do, but the doctor decided against it because it was only for 5 days and he felt I needed 10 to make sure we got whatever this is knocked out.

Christa

 

[helenabear]

Christa, I would call your doc again at this point. He may be able to prescribe a decongestant that will work better than just plain old Sudafed. I have had to take something before to help with ear congestion (common for me). I hope you feel better soon.

 

[mckryan]

Originally posted by helenabear
Christa, I would call your doc again at this point. He may be able to prescribe a decongestant that will work better than just plain old Sudafed. I have had to take something before to help with ear congestion (common for me). I hope you feel better soon.

I am definitely calling at 9 am, and hopefully I can get back in today or tomorrow and have them take another look.

Christa

 

[FOJMO]

Welcome to the club! My right ear has been "blocked" for 2 weeks now. I've been through the whole "Z-Pak" (Zithromycin) antibiotic and it's still blocked. I keep swallowing/yawning, etc. trying to get it to open up.

It IS aggravating! I can't even hear the phone ringing! My hearing isn't the best as it is anyway, and this is just compounding the problem!

I don't want to have this when we fly to PA next month. Don't want the added pressure on my ear. So, if it isn't better by next week, I'm off to the dr. again.

Good luck to you!

 

[mckryan]

Originally posted by FOJMO
Welcome to the club! My right ear has been "blocked" for 2 weeks now. I've been through the whole "Z-Pak" (Zithromycin) antibiotic and it's still blocked. I keep swallowing/yawning, etc. trying to get it to open up.

At least I don't feel so alone now! I was so happy when I woke up Sunday and Monday mornings feeling normal again. I had a bad feeling around 1 AM this morning when I noticed my ear feeling stuffy again, and then it was back to where it was when I woke up. It's so aggravating.

I don't blame you for being worried about flying next month if this isn't cleared up. I'm so thankful that I don't have to fly anywhere right now because I know it would make it worse.

Good luck to you, too!

Christa

 

[mckryan]

I called the office and they said to keep taking the antibiotics. It's not unusual for something like this to return after getting better while on the antibiotics, so hopefully after 10 days it will be completely gone. If not, I'm supposed to come back into the office to be seen. In the meantime, they said it would be okay to take some OTC decongestants to see if that will help some.

Thanks to everyone for chiming in with their suggestions.

Christa