Sue's Baddassssssss Ear Infection

[Sue_Bender]

Greetings, Dr. Steve!!

I'm always battling allergies and dealing with sinus infections, so I'm used to my head full of goo. However, last Tuesday (mid-afternoon) I suddenly lost about 60% of my hearing in my left ear. I tried to "pop it" by yawning and the like, but nothing would work. An hour later I was in tremendous pain. The old ice pick in the eardrum variety. I took some Advil to cope with the pain and waited.
The next evening (w/ear still plugged) I began hearing a incessant ringing...actually, it was more like a high-pitched electronic squeal. So, Thursday I went in to see the doctor and she diagnosed me with a middle ear infection. I've never had so much as an earache, so this was a bit of a surprise. She prescribed Amoxicillin (500mg) to be taken 3 times a day.
That was five days ago and the situation has gone unchanged. I know that antibiotics will only work on bacterial infections, and not viral. I don't really want to ask for a stronger antibiotics, since I know that too much can make infections resistant. However, I'm really concerned about this potential "tinnitis" in my left ear. How long should I be dealing with this ringing if I simply have an ear infection? It appears that my cold/allergy issues are clearing up, but should an ear infection maintain itself for a week? Any information you could provide would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thank You,
Sue_Bender

[Thebazile78]

Greetings, Dr. Steve!!

I'm always battling allergies and dealing with sinus infections, so I'm used to my head full of goo. However, last Tuesday (mid-afternoon) I suddenly lost about 60% of my hearing in my left ear. I tried to "pop it" by yawning and the like, but nothing would work. An hour later I was in tremendous pain. The old ice pick in the eardrum variety. I took some Advil to cope with the pain and waited.
The next evening (w/ear still plugged) I began hearing a incessant ringing...actually, it was more like a high-pitched electronic squeal. So, Thursday I went in to see the doctor and she diagnosed me with a middle ear infection. I've never had so much as an earache, so this was a bit of a surprise. She prescribed Amoxicillin (500mg) to be taken 3 times a day.
That was five days ago and the situation has gone unchanged. I know that antibiotics will only work on bacterial infections, and not viral. I don't really want to ask for a stronger antibiotics, since I know that too much can make infections resistant. However, I'm really concerned about this potential "tinnitis" in my left ear. How long should I be dealing with this ringing if I simply have an ear infection? It appears that my cold/allergy issues are clearing up, but should an ear infection maintain itself for a week? Any information you could provide would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thank You,
Sue_Bender

When I was a kid, I'd get ear infections all the time during the summer. After the 1st day on antibiotics, I usually felt better. The LAST ear infection I had, however, this didn't work, so I had to go back to the doctor for a new 'scrip, but I also waited a week. It was probably the worst week I'd ever existed.

Go back to the doctor.

Now.

You should've started to feel better within 24-48 hours of starting the amoxy.

[Sue_Bender]

When I was a kid, I'd get ear infections all the time during the summer. After the 1st day on antibiotics, I usually felt better. The LAST ear infection I had, however, this didn't work, so I had to go back to the doctor for a new 'scrip, but I also waited a week. It was probably the worst week I'd ever existed.

Go back to the doctor.

Now.

You should've started to feel better within 24-48 hours of starting the amoxy.


Thank you, Thebazile78. I wanted to give the amoxy time, but it's indeed been one of the worst weeks I've ever experienced. I appreciate you commiserating in the horrors of killer ear infections and for providing a swift kick in the ass. :smile:

[KatPw]

Thank you, Thebazile78. I wanted to give the amoxy time, but it's indeed been one of the worst weeks I've ever experienced. I appreciate you commiserating in the horrors of killer ear infections and for providing a swift kick in the ass. :smile:

Thebazile78 is most wise about this. The last ear infection I had ( a few years ago) has left me with a hole in my eardrum and permanent hearing loss, as well as nerve damage in my ear. I had to take the Zpac antibiotics and use antibiotic ear drops. Do you take any type of allergy medications? Ask your doctor if you can add benedryl or something similar to the regimen in order to reduce the congestion.

[Thebazile78]

Thank you, Thebazile78. I wanted to give the amoxy time, but it's indeed been one of the worst weeks I've ever experienced. I appreciate you commiserating in the horrors of killer ear infections and for providing a swift kick in the ass. :smile:

If I hadn't had the annual swimmer's ear and bout or two of mid-ear (otitis media), I wouldn't feel like I could speak about this with any degree of authority.

Thebazile78 is most wise about this. The last ear infection I had ( a few years ago) has left me with a hole in my eardrum and permanent hearing loss, as well as nerve damage in my ear. I had to take the Zpac antibiotics and use antibiotic ear drops. Do you take any type of allergy medications? Ask your doctor if you can add benedryl or something similar to the regimen in order to reduce the congestion.

OUCH! Sorry to hear about that Kat ... I'm getting sympathy pains in my own ear!

[Coach]

If I hadn't had the annual swimmer's ear and bout or two of mid-ear (otitis media), I wouldn't feel like I could speak about this with any degree of authority.



OUCH! Sorry to hear about that Kat ... I'm getting sympathy pains in my own ear!
I used to get ear infections all the time thanks to swimming..I always had a bottle of rubbing alcohol and that little brown bottle with the milky antibiotics somewhere in my swimming bag or fridge...I either killed the nerves, or got used to the pain..because I really never felt much pain...I think the really bad infections I had as a kid pre-swimming contributed to that...I had a 35% hearing loss when I started swimming.

[Dr Steve]

Greetings, Dr. Steve!!

I'm always battling allergies and dealing with sinus infections, so I'm used to my head full of goo. However, last Tuesday (mid-afternoon) I suddenly lost about 60% of my hearing in my left ear. I tried to "pop it" by yawning and the like, but nothing would work. An hour later I was in tremendous pain. The old ice pick in the eardrum variety. I took some Advil to cope with the pain and waited.
The next evening (w/ear still plugged) I began hearing a incessant ringing...actually, it was more like a high-pitched electronic squeal. So, Thursday I went in to see the doctor and she diagnosed me with a middle ear infection. I've never had so much as an earache, so this was a bit of a surprise. She prescribed Amoxicillin (500mg) to be taken 3 times a day.
That was five days ago and the situation has gone unchanged. I know that antibiotics will only work on bacterial infections, and not viral. I don't really want to ask for a stronger antibiotics, since I know that too much can make infections resistant. However, I'm really concerned about this potential "tinnitis" in my left ear. How long should I be dealing with this ringing if I simply have an ear infection? It appears that my cold/allergy issues are clearing up, but should an ear infection maintain itself for a week? Any information you could provide would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thank You,
Sue_Bender

Sue:

The middle ear is an air-filled (usually) cavity in the head, behind the eardrum. Its main purpose is to facilitate the transmission of sound from the eardrum to the INNER ear.

http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/03/14303-004-A1009028.gif

You see that tube leading out of the picture to the southeast? That's the eustachian tube, and it's there to equalize pressure in the middle ear. If it gets plugged up (because of allergies or whatever), you can no longer equalize the pressure in the middle ear...the arteries in the membrane lining the cavity start to suck out oxygen one molecule at a time just like a vacuum pump, resulting in a negative pressure in the ear, and an eardrum that bulges INWARD. Keep this up and the negative pressure will start to pull fluid out of the capillaries that line the ear. This fluid is clear, but full of nutrients, so one bacteria in there will get the whole thing infected.

http://www.uptodate.com/online/content/images/pedi_pix/Otitis_media.jpg

Amoxicillin is ok, but if it doesn't work, you do need a more powerful antibiotic. In addition, your doctor may put you on a decongestant to facilitate opening of the eustachian tube.

An Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) doctor may even have to drain the middle ear by putting a tube in the eardrum to equalize the pressure in really tough cases.

You can get anesthetic eardrops to help with the pain; your doc should look in your ear again and maybe even do a tympanogram (a pressure curve thing...some docs have them, some don't) to see if the fluid is draining out of the ear.

If it's not better, it's probably time to go get it checked again. Sometimes it can take a few weeks to get the "plugged" feeling out of your ear, though.

Rarely the eardrum will perforate itself in the presence of a really bad infection. If this happens, you'll notice drainage coming out of your ear. Don't fret...it's just the body's way of making its own eardrum tube. However, get it checked out immediately if it happens and don't let water get into your ear until you get checked.

hope this helps! hope you feel better!


your pal,



steve

[CountryBob]

I hate my left ear - I have had constant ringing for 15 years. The ENT doc said it was just tennitis and nothing can be done - it sucks.

[instrument]

had tons of ear infections as a kid, swimmers ear, ear tubes thrown in a few times...i'm so glad they went away by the time I went to university.

Most people don't seem to understand how horrific an ear infection can be, i've yet to experience anything as painful...though somehow those ear drops were even more painful....like volunteering to poor acid in your ear.


your ron and fez family feel your pain sue, we're here for you, like lice but larger.