Ear Pressure...help!

[fraggle551]

First let me say I have a dr's appt on Friday, but I am so desperate! Any suggestions are more than welcome. I have had horrible ear pressure/sinus pain since Friday. I have tried all the usual...chewing gum, swallowing, pinching your nose and blowing, hot washcloth, sudafed every 12 hours and NOTHING is helping. My ears will not pop, and I'm starting to go crazy. I can't taste anything, and I feel like I'm hearing everything underwater. Any suggestions until my dr's appt on Friday?

 

[dngnb8]

First let me say I have a dr's appt on Friday, but I am so desperate! Any suggestions are more than welcome. I have had horrible ear pressure/sinus pain since Friday. I have tried all the usual...chewing gum, swallowing, pinching your nose and blowing, hot washcloth, sudafed every 12 hours and NOTHING is helping. My ears will not pop, and I'm starting to go crazy. I can't taste anything, and I feel like I'm hearing everything underwater. Any suggestions until my dr's appt on Friday?

Hmmm, might be fluid in your ears, maybe mucus. Youre pretty much hitting all the home remedies. There is a tea on the market called Breathe Right. Its got like Eucalyptus or something in it. Also, maybe a really hot shower with lots of steam and deep breathing. Maybe the steam will loosen thing up and relieve pressure.

It is probably an internal ear infection if you havent been underwater. Usually antibiotics and sinus flush. Are you having any vertigo?

 

[chele4kids]

For me, the only thing that works is Mucinex DM - the kind that you have to sign your life away over the pharmacy counter to get. It has pseudoephedrine in it and something else that thins the mucus and makes you drain.

 

[Agri]

I'd go to urgent care if its that bad rather than wait until Friday.

 

[greengeen]

Hmmm... my doctor would have seen me the same day, but maybe I'm just lucky. If he couldn't see me (although that hasn't happened yet) I would go to urgent care. Why suffer?

 

[FloraFauna]

I wouldn't wait until Friday. DH has a co-worker who is partially deaf in one ear from a bad sinus infection.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I'd go to urgent care if its that bad rather than wait until Friday.

Yep.

 

[Tuffcookie]

OP, One of my ears is plugged too! I did a goodle search and ran across this:

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_unplug_your_ears

I'm going to give it a try!

TC

 

[fraggle551]

OP here. The pressure has gotten a lot worse than when I first posted, so I'm currently sitting in the urgent care waiting room. Then I get to find a 24 hour pharmacy! I just hope they can give me something to make me feel better, cause this is awful.

 

[Gina]

OP here. The pressure has gotten a lot worse than when I first posted, so I'm currently sitting in the urgent care waiting room. Then I get to find a 24 hour pharmacy! I just hope they can give me something to make me feel better, cause this is awful.

I'm so glad you decided to go that route... I *just* went through this two weeks ago -- horrid pressure and congestion, but no fever or anything like that. Finally went to Minute Clinic (LOVE that we have that option now) and it turned out I had an ear infection in both ears. One Z-pak and once decimated intestinal system later a follow up visit determined the infection was gone.

I have compromised hearing from a bad double ear infection when I was younger, and I think this made it worse because I waited too long. But I never guessed I had an infection this time -- I never had a bit of pain, and last time the pain was get-my-head-off-NOW bad. But the NP said that as a grownup it's not unusual to not have pain or a fever with an ear infection. Now I know!

I hope they're able to fix you up quick!

 

[fraggle551]

I'm so glad you decided to go that route... I *just* went through this two weeks ago -- horrid pressure and congestion, but no fever or anything like that. Finally went to Minute Clinic (LOVE that we have that option now) and it turned out I had an ear infection in both ears. One Z-pak and once decimated intestinal system later a follow up visit determined the infection was gone.

I have compromised hearing from a bad double ear infection when I was younger, and I think this made it worse because I waited too long. But I never guessed I had an infection this time -- I never had a bit of pain, and last time the pain was get-my-head-off-NOW bad. But the NP said that as a grownup it's not unusual to not have pain or a fever with an ear infection. Now I know!

I hope they're able to fix you up quick!

That's exactly what I feel like! Horrible pain, pressure, and congestion, but no fever, I'm not overly tired, or any other 'normal' infection symptoms. That's why I was hoping it would just clear up. Glad to hear you're feeling better...I'm still waiting, hopefully I'll be seen soon! 1 more person ahead of me.

 

[LuvOrlando]

My right ear started hurting last night and I got into the Dr today, good thing too because by the time I got in at 2:15 both ears hurt really bad... like Strep in my ears & down into my neck with a temp of 99.5. My Dr started me on Z-pac tonight and I should feel better in a day or two. I'm, also on Veramyst to help with the allergies that are stirring up the infection. (My canal swells, fluid gets trapped and an infection brews fairly quickly) I hate hate hate that my ears never grew out of the ear infection prone shape that keeps most adults from suffering. Every year, at least one ear infection a year for me... did I mention how much it hurts.

Feel better OP report back how things go in urgent care. Ask for painkillers if you think you need them, DON'T BE SHY it hurts!

FWIW, don't ever let ear pain go. I once let it slide during exams in college, BIG mistake. Within a few short days the swelling was so bad my eardrum was close to bursting and the Dr had to insert a loooong needle in the ER to, yep you guessed it, puncture my left eardrum so I wouldn't go deaf. Holy crow it hurt and I never ever let it slide again, as soon as I get that telltale pain in my ear I pay attention and when it shifts to my neck I know i have 24 hours to get myself to the Dr ASAP.

 

[fraggle551]

OP here. Well the dr said its a severe sinus infection, and my sinuses are 90% blocked, which is why my ears hurt so bad. He gave me a strong antibiotic and a nasal spray. He said I should feel better around Wednesday...I don't know if I can wait till then! At least I know help is on the way.

I'm keeping the appt with my ENT on Friday, if my sinuses are this bad I am going to want him to check it out again, and get a new round of my allergy medicine for the spring.

 

[3boymthr]

As I learned to my regret never ever wait to see the doctor when you have severe ear pain. A couple of years ago I started out my day with mild ear pain. This was on a Sunday morning. I was running a mild fever but it wasn't that bad I decided I could wait. The pain kept getting worse, but still I thought oh, I can wait till tomorrow. Well, by Sunday night I'd ruptured my eardrum. It took 6 weeks to get my hearing back. It was crazy.

If the pain doesn't get better I'd suggest asking about a decongestant.