More trouble with my ears - new update 2/27 post #14

[LiteBrite]

I posted about earache trouble about 2 1/2 weeks ago. I had a little ear pain on a Thursday. Friday it cleared up, so I didn't go to the doctor. Saturday both ears began hurting, and by Saturday night I was in agony. In the middle of the night, the pressure built up so much that my eardrum was punctured when one of them "popped" (it did it on its own, with no help from me). It began draining blood after that.

Sunday morning I went to the Urgent Care Clinic and saw a doctor who prescribed Avalox. A couple of days later my ears didn't feel one bit better, so I went to my own doctor, who said my ears looked like impacted hamburger and gave me some drops that were safe for the punctured eardrum.

After I finished that week's worth of antibiotic, I was feeling some better, but I still had pain and pressure in my ears, so I went back to my doctor. She said they were improved, but still a little infected. This time she prescribed a week of Biaxin.

So now I've been done with round 2 of antibiotics for a couple of days, and my ears are still plugged up! They feel just like they do when they're under pressure on an airplane. Should I be concerned? Overall, I feel much better - almost normal, really, it's just these dadgum ears!

Should I go back to the doc one more time, or will they clear up on their own?

 

[LiteBrite]

Bumpity Bump Bump -
Anybody have any opinions?

 

[mtblujeans]

Yes, go back to the doctor as many times as it takes that you feel sure it is all cleared up. My DD sounds like she has the same type of ears you do. She had one ear infection, literally, after another when she was little. They would prescribe antibiotics for 7 days and it never cleared anything up! One time, she started crying after dinner and there was blood running out of one of her ears. I ran her to the ER and they questioned me and threatened to turn me in for child abuse (not giving proper medical care). She always said she did not feel anything until her ear drums were ready to burst.

Now, a couple of weeks ago, she missed 10 days of work being sick and suddenly her ear hurts so bad she can't take it. Before she can get to the ER, her ear drum burst and she had blood running down her neck. She said the doctor told her he had never seen such scarred ear drums and the one that ruptured will not heal so that she can hear out of it! Even when she is an adult, she does not seem to know when she has an ear infection!!

Keep going to the doctor until you feel you have got it licked!

 

[Colleen456]

I've been having ear issues since the weekend I turned 30, just over 2 years ago. If I get the slightest sniffle my ears retract and it hurts so bad. I constantly work my jaw trying to get them to pop and make the strangest faces while doing it.

Go to a ENT. He was the one who really solved the problem for me. He actually put a mirror down my throat (amazing, it touched nothing and I didn't gag) and could see what the problem was. Part of it was that I'd been chewing gum a lot because I was losing weight and that was what I did to avoid night snacking.

He gave me vioxx (can't do that now) and a nasal mist. Within a day or two I felt like me again. I'm back to having some ear issues and my family doc put me on the rhinocort last week to try and dry me out for the rest of the winter. If this doesn't work I'm going back to the ENT for tubes. I'm optimistic that the nasal mist will work.

Sudafed did help with the pain until I was able to get into the doctor. I hope you find some relief soon. Just last week was my last flare up and I was ready for death. I told my DH that it hurt almost as bad as pushing out our big head 9 pound baby with no epidural!

 

[YourMajesty]

Should I be concerned? Overall, I feel much better - almost normal, really, it's just these dadgum ears!

Should I go back to the doc one more time, or will they clear up on their own?

I would go back until they are clear. My DS had what was considered "ear glue" which was so sticky it wouldn't have cleared with any antibiotic. He had to have tubes placed and all to goo suctioned out (which was so sitcky it plugged the suction tube). Hopefully, this isn't the case for you; however, with the importance of hearing...I would do what it takes to make sure all is well. Good luck.

 

[LiteBrite]

Update -

I called my doctor this morning and she said to come back in. I've already been and come home again. She said the infection in my ears was mostly gone, although my throat was looking red (which is why she gave me one more round of antibiotics - ZMax this time, the one dose one). However, my eardrum is retracted and not equalizing pressure, so she gave me a steroid nasal spray for that.

So, there you have it. Thanks for your advice, guys - hopefully this time we'll get it taken care once and for all!

 

[Hillbeans]

Hope you're feeling better LiteBrite!

I have problems with my right ear- it gets clogged, unclogged, and some days it's better than others. I had a cold in November which settled into my ear and it took 2 months to go away. My Doctor also said that Afrin helps but you can only take it for 3 days at a time.

I think I messed up my ear scuba diving a few years ago, so unfortunately now it's more succeptable (sp) to getting infected when i've got a cold.

 

[5wdwfans]

I had a terrible ear problem this time last year. It started with a trip to the E R one evening with ear pain in one ear they said I had a inner and outer ear infection and gave me antibiotics and sent me on my way. Well after several days and not better I went to family DR. gave me more antibiotics and ear drops again never felt any better so I took it upon myself to see a Ear Nose and Throat DR. MY ear also felt plug up which was very bothersome and I was on my way to disney within a few weeks (I was getting very anxious that I was not getting better) The ENT DR Could not really see anything wrong so I keep insisting there was a problem so He ordered a MRI and turned out I had inflammation of the mastoid bone (tiny area behind ear) He put tube in a it cleared up with in a few weeks. Maybe you to need to see a ENT to get to the bottom of the problem. Good luck.

 

[Colleen456]

LiteBrite sounds like we have the same issue. I hope the nasal spray works as well for you as it does for me. It really did make all the difference and it went to work pretty quickly too. You should hopefully feel some relief by tomorrow, if not sooner!

Feel better!

 

[mtblujeans]

Update -

I called my doctor this morning and she said to come back in. I've already been and come home again. She said the infection in my ears was mostly gone, although my throat was looking red (which is why she gave me one more round of antibiotics - ZMax this time, the one dose one). However, my eardrum is retracted and not equalizing pressure, so she gave me a steroid nasal spray for that.

So, there you have it. Thanks for your advice, guys - hopefully this time we'll get it taken care once and for all!

Oh, good....sounds like they might get it all this time! I have often wondered about ear tubes for adults because of my DDs situation! If you have to do anything else after this, please post....I would be curious!

 

[LiteBrite]

Oh, good....sounds like they might get it all this time! I have often wondered about ear tubes for adults because of my DDs situation! If you have to do anything else after this, please post....I would be curious!

I will, and thanks for caring.

 

[debm]

Any chance that you use any kind of air freshneres in your home? Heated ones or maybe plug-ins?? My son had tons of earaches starting at about age 8 when we moved in our new home and I started using all sorts of air fresheners thinking I was making our home so much better! It took a doc in the ER to hit upon this theory. Sure enough, unplugged them all, and not another problem. There is more to this story---other things we did that also made a HUGE difference in sinus, ear, nose issues but that was the start of our family's recovery!

 

[LiteBrite]

Any chance that you use any kind of air freshneres in your home? Heated ones or maybe plug-ins?? My son had tons of earaches starting at about age 8 when we moved in our new home and I started using all sorts of air fresheners thinking I was making our home so much better! It took a doc in the ER to hit upon this theory. Sure enough, unplugged them all, and not another problem. There is more to this story---other things we did that also made a HUGE difference in sinus, ear, nose issues but that was the start of our family's recovery!

Nope, no air fresheners - the only thing that's different in the house lately that I can think of is that DD18 and I both got flowers for Valentine's Day and another occasion, so we have several vases of them sitting out.

That may or may not have anything to do with it, but thanks for reminding me - those Valentine's roses aren't looking so good anyway, and I keep forgetting to send them on their way!

 

[LiteBrite]

So, it's been a week on the nasal steroid, and my ears are doing better. I can still feel a tiny bit of a plugged-up feeling in them, but it's a major improvement over how they were. I've got 3 more weeks of the Nasacort to use, but I think I've finally got the thing licked.

 

[mtblujeans]

So, it's been a week on the nasal steroid, and my ears are doing better. I can still feel a tiny bit of a plugged-up feeling in them, but it's a major improvement over how they were. I've got 3 more weeks of the Nasacort to use, but I think I've finally got the thing licked.

Isn't it curious that it took a steroid to clear it up?? But, then, I understand the inhaler I take for my asthma is a steroid, too! I am so glad you are doing so much better!!