Worried about my Ear

[snowfool]

I know I've been scarce for awhile on here but truthfully, I have been extremely sick the entire month of January. It all started the Monday after Christmas and I've had a weird virus that just would not let go. It's gone thru different phases and as of Monday this week, it started affecting my left ear. It would close up on me but by shaking my head or leaning down, it would open back up. It has been an off and on thing all week long and today, I literally can't hear out of it. I've had hardly any problems with my ears since I was very young. Is this something I should wait out or should I go to the doctor - I'm just scared it could signify something serious - I'm sure it's just another phase of this weird virus but I'm wondering if I need to get seriously worried. Anybody have any experience with ear problems accompanying a virus?

Susan

[masterpiece]

Doctor time! The last thing you want is pressure building up and your eardrum bursting.

[Samigator]

what do you mean when you say your ear closes up?

Is the ear canal swollen? Is there drainage coming out of your ear? If you pull on your ear, does the inside of the ear hurt? If any of those things are going on, you might have an external ear infection and should go to a doctor.

Does your ear hurt inside? Do you have a fever? If so, you may have a middle ear infection (pretty rare in adults, but usually associated with viral upper respiratory infections) and should go in for this as well.

If it just feels like there is pressure off and on or like it is "popping" a lot or if it feels like it won't pop, then you might have eustachian tube dysfunction. This is a very common condition that often accompanies viral upper respiratory infections. It happens because the little tube that connects your middle ear to the back of your throat gets plugged up (usually from mucous, drainage, etc) and the pressure can't equalize between your ear and the outside world, creating the symptoms that you have (often feels like when your ears won't pop on an airplane). This is self-limited and does not generally require treatment. There are some things you can try to make it feel better- nasal saline spray or a Neti pot can be really effective in cleaning up nasal congestion and "snot" that plugs up the tubes, I usually say to use it 2-3 times per day. Sudafed may be worth a shot if the nasal saline doesn't help as that can help to dry up the discharge. I frequently prescribe nasal steroids such as Flonase for this problem too, as it helps to shrink up the swollen nasal passages and allows the nose to drain as it is supposed to, without getting clogged up with gunk. lol. that's the technical term. I'm kindof suspicious that this is your problem, but it's hard to say without actually looking in your ear.

Anyhow, if you don't have any of the above symptoms of external or middle ear infections, I'd give the nasal saline a try and maybe the Sudafed too before going in.

[snowfool]

I definitely don't wont a burst eardrum!

Sami - it's completely stopped up today - hearing is very minimal in it. I had excessive sinus drainage while the virus was running it's course, accompanied with the most strangling, choking cough I think I've ever had. The sinus drainage is significantly better, cough is almost gone. But while I have no pain in my ear, if I lean down or tilt my head, I literally feel stuff moving around in there. There's no popping at all, no fever, nothing running out of my ear, but sometimes a yawn either makes it clog up more, or it partially unclogs it temporarily. I'm not at all familiar with a neti pot. I've decided that if I don't have any changes between today and tomorrow morning, I'm going to visit my dr. tomorrow. It's bugging the daylights out of me and I don't like not being able to hear with that ear. It just seems odd since I'm really not sick with nasal drainage anymore.

Thanks for the advice!

Susan

[Samigator]

of course you could have wax impaction in your ear, but that usually just feels like a plugged up ear and doesn't usually move around much.

Any dizziness?

Granted I can't actually see your ear, but it really sounds like Eustachian Tube Dysfunction from what you've experienced, especially how chewing/yawning/etc makes it change. You can find nasal saline spray or a Neti pot in any pharmacy or retailer (like Target, Walmart, etc) in the nasal spray section. A Neti pot is a form of nasal saline that is basically like a little teapot that you fill with warm saline solution, stick the spout in one nostril and pour. The saline goes in one side, through the nasal passages and out the other side. It's like a super nose blow. Some people don't like them, some people are grossed out by the idea, but many others swear by them. I think they can really be helpful for certain problems. Worth a try, along with the Sudafed or even an antihistamine like Claritin or Zyrtec.

[snowfool]

Interesting you mention dizziness. I didn't know I had any until I had to get on a step stool to change a light bulb yesterday afternoon. I couldn't get an appt. with my dr. til Monday so I'm going to see how it does over the weekend. I still woke up with a stopped up ear this morning but I took a decongestant and thru the morning, it's gotten some better. I'm going to continue with the decongestant over the weekend. Thanks Samigator and Masterpiece - the advice is greatly appreciated.

[Samigator]

how is your ear doing? Did you end up going in?

[Seabiscuit]

Originally Posted by Samigator

how is your ear doing? Did you end up going in?

Yes, enquiring minds want to know.

[snowfool]

Thanks so much for asking about me - it's a little better but only if I don't lean down too much. I'm going to just stick it out a few more days and see if it doesn't continue to get better with me taking a decongestent. I can sure get some weird stuff in my old age!

[Ridin03]

I had the same thing. I kept thinking oh its gonna go away its just clogged up. I knew I had a sinus infection and thought it might go away once that cleared up. But then my tooth started hurting so off to urgent care I went. I felt like my ears were clogged and stuff was moving inside. The dr took one look at my ears and both were infected. He said not to try to pop my ears as that could cause my eardrums to burst. The infection was causing fluid to build up behind my eardrums. I'd get that checked asap if I were you. It sounds like exactly what I had. It was on and off for about 3 weeks until I finally went. About 3 days of antibiotics and it was better, of course i finished up the script for ten days though and have felt great for a month.