Ear issues worse than normal

Ears, nose and throat
1

Hello everybody,

This is my first time posting here and I'm sure the symptoms I describe wont be much different than what you've seen already. I just feel typing out my message will help me cope a little bit and gain a sense of sanity back into my life (lol).

I've had ear issues for quite a long time. About 12 years ago I was suffering from strep throat and had a plane ride back home from Texas. Something about that flight set me up for years of ear issues that I can't really explain to well.

Like a lot of you, my issues "USUALLY" come around in the winter months and get much worse after a sinus infection. The issues include complete ear blockage, cracks and pops that don't lead to any type of relief, hearing loss etc. I've found that it's equally a combination of getting the cold but I've had tonsillitus/strep throat over 15 times in my life so I'm not sure if my tonsils have something to do with it. Anyways, back to my problem...

Last week I got the obvious signs of sore throat, neck pains and a tickle in my ear. I decided to attack this before it got terrible and made my way to the urgent care (due to not having a primary care doctor). I was diagnosed with tonsillitus and an ear infection in my left ear. I'm on day 10 of Amoxicillin and intermittently taking sudafed (with a switch off of mucinex) and I'm experiencing things I've never experienced before. 

It's day 10 and I've had constant tinnitus in my left ear. This used to come and go once every few months in the past and was never really anything that was apparant (out of sight out of mind). The last 10 days it has made its presence known in that it's so extremely deafoning that I need white noise/background noise to get any type of relief.

Also, in the past after 4 or 5 days my ears would unplug and I'd have decent hearing and be able to manually open my eustachian tubes (a weird technique that I used, hard to explain) which isn't working right now. Since Tuesday, the extreme fullness issues have extended to my right ear as well and nothing seems to give relief. I can hear my ears pop but it does nothing to relieve the pressure that I'm feeling. The feeling I can be attribute it to is having seashells or noise cancelling headphones over your ears at all times.

I'm starting to think it's time to make another Doctor's appointment but I'm starting to think it's useless after reading all of your comments/problems/concerns over the past 10 days. 

Has anybody experienced what I am currently and have any words of advice? thank you so much.

2

I've been going through something similar. My ears have been popping nonstop every day for over 1 year and the ear pain that accompanies it is very bothersome and aching. I've visited over 5 ENT specialists all with different theories that keep leading to dead ends. It's more-so the pain that I can't deal with, it's distracting and discomforting to a high degree.

A neti pot has helped out a little, so I'd recommend using one of those to see what effects it has. Holding my nose and blowing out is another method I've tried but do not do it too hard for you can cause permanent damage. Also would look into nasal sprays, such as flonase, corticosteroids, and antihistamine sprays. Also a humidifier may be great to use too 

3

I agree with germinator...flonase was recommended by my dr. As well as my ent. I too, have crackling, ears stopping up, popping sounds, tinnitis, acid reflux, you name it..ent told me to do the holding nose thing and blow 20x a day..I'm lucky to get 1x a day in..but between that I guess and the flonase, the crackling and popping isn't as often. I still get it but less. Hope you can some help..miserable feeling for sure..

4

Hello,  I feel for you so much, as I've been in the same place as you're are.  Has your doctor thought

of prescribing a course of Prednisolone Steroid Tablets.  It would have to be a long enough course for

them to work....a weeks worth will be no good for the time that you've been suffering.  I too have suffered

Eustachian Tube Dysfunction for many, many years now.  I was given a 20 day reducing course of

Prednisolone April 2017.  They hopefully, get rid of all the inflammation that's preventing your tubes

from draining.

Good you've been protected with the antibiotics.  The Tinnitus has come on to the ears being so severely

blocked.  So I would recommend you ask for the steroids and hopefully, they will do the trick like they did

for me.  Sadly, in the US you can't get the medication I'm currently using.  I know this as my nephew is

a pharmacist out there (I live in England) and he told me the FLIXONASE NASULE DROPS aren't 

available.  However, the FLIXONASE NASAL SPRAY is.  Unfortunately, the spray no longer is strong

enough for me and once I've finished the Prednisolone and revert back onto the Flix spray after three

weeks or so my ears block back up again.

Such an awful condition, it amazes me just how many of us suffer this miserable and very dibilitating

condition.  I have permanent Tinnitus in my left ear, probably due to all the ear infections and perforations

I've had in my left eardrum over the years.

I do hope you soon get sorted.  When you said you try and pop your ears, are you using the Valsalve

Maneuver ?  Piching both nostril together and blowing.  What I do is put my finger into the opposite ear

before blowing, then do the same for the other ear.  I find it better than leaving ears open while doing this.

Like you've said hard to explain.  Also try the Steam Heat to try and pop yours ears.  I leave my head

over a bowl of boiling water with towel over my head for at least 20 mintues.

Good Luck

Anne