posted
I know, I know... if you have to ask, go see a doctor. Well, I did go see a doctor today, but I'm not sure about what I was told.
Two weeks ago, I caught a horrendous cold form some of my students at school. I had all the congestion, cough, slight fever on the first day but eventually it cleared up on its own. About the time that it started to clear up, though, I could feel my ears gettings stuffy and I felt as though I always needed to pop them.
Then on Saturday I had this INTENSE pain in my ear... it was so bad I could feel it in my throat and neck. The pain lasted for about five minutes and then went away. For about a half an hour after it went away, my ear felt very hot and others said it was red and warm to the touch. This same thing happened several times over the last few days (Sunday, Monday and Tuesday). I went to the doctor today and told her about this pain but I wasn't having an "attack" at the time. She looked in my ear and saw some fluid build up, and noticed that my tonsil on that side is very swollen. She said it didn't look infected so she just gave me a nasal spray and sent me on my way.
Has anybody every experienced something like this before? I was in so much pain during one class that I actually had tears running down my face. It doesn't feel like a normal infection but I'm not sure what else it could be.
posted
Inner ear infection, possibly. They can be very painful...but they can also not hurt at all. It depends on how far the infection has developed, among other things.
posted
I have a problem with fluid buildup on my ears sometimes...the doctor says it's allergies. I don't get an infection really, but I end up with a lot of fluid and sometimes some really bad pain. Do you have allergies?
posted
Depending on how swollen your tonsils are, that might be the cause of the ear pain. All those nerves are kinda close so I remember having really bad earaches when my tonsils were swollen.
Is there anything you can do to help clear out the fluid if that's the cause of the pain? Ear drops or any of those home treatments?
Posts: 1733 | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
It could be fromthe tonsils... I really don't know.
The doctor I saw seemed to think that nasal spray would get some of the fluid up there moving and might clear some of it out.
I rarely experience problems with allergies, though right now all the counts are really high in this area, so that might have something to do with it.
Posts: 340 | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
I would try taking some Mucinex or something along those lines. The doctor gave me medicine with guaifenesin in it last time, which I think is the ingredient in Mucinex. You have to take it consistently for a few days, but it helps.
posted
You can try decongesting to see if that helps.
Afrin per label instructions, not more than every twelve hours, not longer than 3 days.
Mucinex, per label instructions.
Increase fluid intake.
Raise the head of your bed, with either risers under the head end of the legs (you can use fat books), or use a wedge (or construct one out of extra pillows) under the head of the mattress.
And, of course, if the problem doesn't resolve in a day or so, or if it gets worse, contact the doctor and let him know this.
Feel better. You're my favorite Hatrack Nun!
Posts: 10397 | Registered: Jun 2005
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Thanks for the suggestions. This is just the most bizarre ear ache I've ever had and the sharp pains are a little concerning.
Posts: 340 | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
If you do try Mucinex, don't be tempted by the much cheaper store generic version. I bought some last night...and it is a very poor substitute. And it doesn't have the 12-hour coating thing.
posted
My husband's eardrum ruptured once after a sinus infection, and it sounded like that: pain and then a popping or something. You should really get it checked out just in case. Those quick no-appointment doctor's offices are pretty cheap and convenient.
Posts: 31 | Registered: Aug 2007
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posted
With pain so bad I couldn't sleep last night, I went to a drop in place early this morning before school where I was told I had a raging ear infection and was given antibiotics.
Here's hoping they work soon.
Posts: 340 | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
katdog42, you might try calling back the same office and asking for Auralgam (aka A&B Otic), which are numbing drops that numb the eardrum. It is a topical anesthetic that people often forget about, but it works like magic on the pain. (Some physicians think they are OTC, but they aren't -- at least, not as of a year ago.)
The pain is from the stretch on the eardrum, not the infection.
Sometimes people don't want to prescribe it if the eardrum may be ruptured, but your ears were just checked, and the pain would go away once the rupture occurred anyway.
Posts: 14017 | Registered: May 2000
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posted
Thanks for the advice, CT. The doctor who saw me was willing to call in a prescription and it definitely helped me sleep last night.
Today, though, fever's up (between 102 and 103) my head is pounding and nothing seems to help the pain in my ear. I don't want to keep calling the doctor... I've been once, called twice and seen somebody at another clinic. I don't know if I should keep bugging them or if I should just wait and see if it will clear up. Suggestions??? Am I just a hypochondriac driving my (new) doctor nuts?
Posts: 340 | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
A fever in adults has always been a big warning sign for me.
Where you health and comfort is concerned, you shouldn't be worried about bugging your doctors. A fever is evidence that something is wrong and you're not making a fuss out of nothing.
As long as you're polite, it would be good to keep your doctor updated on any developments and changes in your condition.
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