My ear infection is driving me nuts

[I_UndergroundPanther]

I'm going to see my primary doctor today.

I'm going into a possible hot zone.
Will be wearing mask and face shield. But I'm still leery about going.

[Clearly fogged in]

1. From experience, ask them to check your mouth and throat.

My primary care physician looked in and said it was nothing. The ENT doctor found things to be quite different; so be certain to mention any irritations you've had in other areas - coughs, sneezing, feelings of having things stuck in the throat, or whatever it takes to get him to look.
Good luck - I hope it turns out to be nothing more than a simple infection.

[cureautismnow]

2. I feel for you. Best of luck.

Many years ago, I had a bad ear infection that kept coming and going for months. It was annoying as all hell. The second ENT that I saw finally got rid of it by placing the antibiotic directly inside my ear.

[gopiscrap]

3. stay safe...I had an ear infection as an adult once

and it drove me nuts too...not only was it painful, but it messed with my voice when I had to sing. I empathize with you. Hopefully you'll get it taken care of!!!-Mike

[Lucinda]

4. ...

❤️ ~❧~✿~❧~✿~❧~✿~❧~✿~❧~✿~ ❤️

[fleur-de-lisa]

5. I hope it goes well.

I think I had an ear infection a few months ago and it still sometimes bothers me. I've been using a syringe to put alcohol in my ear every other day. It seems to help. I rarely have pain anymore.

[Baclava]

7. Inner ear infections only respond to antibiotics, and with a perforation could be dangerous to flush

[fleur-de-lisa]

9. Perforation? Who said anything about a perforation?

[Baclava]

10. I have scars from ear infections as a child with burst ear drums, lots of pain there

[MosheFeingold]

15. Doesn't work that way

While I suppose you can get an ear infection in the ear canal, the infection is in the fluid behind the ear drum.

Assuming you don't have a hole in your ear drum, the alcohol isn't doing anything. Although you probably have sparkling clean ears.

Ear infections are sometimes viral, which it sounds like what you had, as it went away.

Antibiotics (generally) are necessary for bacterial, although they can also go away, with time.

Take antihistamines (like a Claritan in the AM and Xyzal or Benadryl at night), use a antihistamine nose spray, and consider a decongestant (depending on how you tolerate them) or even Afrin for short term use.

A high volume nasal lavage (e.g., a machine that squirts salt water up your nose, about a cup each side) is also extremely effective in cleaning things out and letting everything heal -- although it's a bit like being water boarded and people don't like it.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

6. The doctor

Thought it was caused by allergies. She gave me Zyrtec. She looked in my ears. I told her I didn't think it was allergies because I take benadryl
Every night . Apparently that didn't register.

I am thinking of getting another primary care doc.

I swear she does not listen to me when I tell her what's going on, and again she didn't call in all my meds. I'm tired of her bullshit.

I need to find a doctor that will listen and do what she says she will do.

And she's shitty at explaining what's going on with my body.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

8. If you don't like her or trust her, get a new doc.

If it's just about this ear issue, get a second opinion.

But, from your various complaints, it sounds like a new primary care doc is in your future.

Happy hunting.

[Patterson]

12. Now is a good time to find another doctor since some of them aren't busy.

[phylny]

13. Not a doctor - but Flonase changed our daughter's life

and stopped her allergy-related ear infections.

[Hav]

14. Definitely get another opinion

especially from a specialist for ears.
After months of ear problems, my usual doctor didn't recognize anything ear related and prescribed nothing for the ears while the ear/nose expert didn't even need 10 seconds to see what the issue was.

I'm sure my problems started because of those ear cleaner syringes where you flush out your ears with water. I later learned that this can have very negative consequences as the water attacks your natural defense mechanism. So stay away from those and also no fingers in the ears, of course.

[cwydro]

11. Ear infections are the worst.

I swear by hydrogen peroxide. I'm a longtime swimmer with a propensity for them.

Worth a try.

[MosheFeingold]

16. That's swimmer's ear

Not the same. See post above.

[cwydro]

17. No, I've had infections.

Peroxide works.

[cwydro]

19. Disagree,

Had this problem for years.

Peroxide works.

[MosheFeingold]

20. If so, you have a hole

In your eardrum.

An actual ear infection is an infection of the middle ear, the air-filled space behind the eardrum that contains the tiny vibrating bones of the ear or possibly in the cochlea.

More likely, what you have is just a blockage (or perhaps a viral infection) that just goes away.

Or, if you prefer to stick to your theory, I have a Rhino whistle I have you need to buy. By blowing it, it drives away all the rhinos in the area. Haven't seen one in my area since I've been using it. (Correlation does not equal causation.)

[Demovictory9]

18. Dont get on a plane

Nothing more painful

[lindysalsagal]

21. Steam. Not kidding.

Steam, and netting pot rinse w 1 tsp xylitol and 1 alkalol. NOT alchohol. Alkalol. It's on the counter.