Dr. TWW,

I woke up a couple of hours ago with a clogged ear that is full of pressure and is extremely painful. I've had some congestion lately as a result of strep throat and a cold. My right ear is not clogged.

Any suggestions? I stuffed myself full of decongestants when I woke up, but no results have been observed. I've never had an ear infection before, so I don't know what they look/feel like.

Thanks.

11/27/2009 9:22:37 AM

maybe go to an actual doctor instead of asking a bunch of internet jackasses who are probably just going to tell you to stick something sharp and pointy in your ear to relieve the pressure

11/27/2009 9:38:00 AM

are you still taking antibiotics? if not, you probably need more.



a cotton ball in the affected ear will help relieve the pain. drink lots of water, chew gum and massage your eustachian tubes frequently to encourage your inner ear to drain. when you blow your nose, dont put extra pressure on your sinuses by narrowing your nostrils or pushing on sinuses- this can make more fluid back up into your ear.


flying home is going to be really painful, so try to score some dope pain meds or xanax.

11/27/2009 9:42:28 AM

you have the Full Ear of Death

11/27/2009 9:50:09 AM

11/27/2009 11:27:01 AM

sounds like an ear infection to me? they normally clear up pretty quick for me with decongestants and antibiotics

11/27/2009 11:28:11 AM

Quote :

"maybe go to an actual doctor instead of asking a bunch of internet jackasses who are probably just going to tell you to stick something sharp and pointy in your ear to relieve the pressure"

haha I love you

I'm at the doctor now. It was just after 6am when I posted so everyone was still asleep. Am still taking amoxicillin but that was for the strep. Don't think it's helping me with my ear.

11/27/2009 11:52:03 AM

obligatory, they are going to have to amputate your ear

11/27/2009 11:57:04 AM

AMPU

TATED

EAR

11/27/2009 12:02:13 PM

Left arm. Left eye. Left ear. What's next? Left leg?

11/27/2009 12:15:51 PM

I suggest you stick something sharp and pointy in your ear to relieve the pressure.

11/27/2009 12:23:10 PM

lol I'm just saying I would not trust my health to tww

11/27/2009 12:24:00 PM

massive ear infection, both ears. left eardrum about to rupture. antibiotics for 10 more days

11/27/2009 3:25:08 PM

other than being temporarily deaf on that side, nothing brings releif faster than that thing finally rupturing. pain instantly gone. not sure, but i think mine did end up with a slight hearing loss after rupturing, but not much...

11/27/2009 3:49:13 PM

last year this happened to me and they just said that the snot from my cold had gone through the membrane of my ear and all they could do was drain it

11/27/2009 5:49:20 PM

Drill baby Drill

I'm AstralAdvent and i approved this message.

11/27/2009 5:54:03 PM

11/27/2009 6:00:40 PM

NEVER MIND

[Edited on November 27, 2009 at 6:02 PM. Reason : just read your followup]

11/27/2009 6:01:54 PM

IN BEFORE THE EAR CANDLING PICTURES

11/27/2009 6:50:58 PM

This may actually help relieve your ear pain.

[Edited on November 27, 2009 at 8:08 PM. Reason : Forgive me for giving real advice. ]

11/27/2009 8:06:16 PM

my ears are ringing. sounds like 18 kHz tone, and its driving me crazy

im also as good as deaf... i can't understand what people are saying to me unless they yell at me couldn't talk on the phone either

gonna go to the doctor and get my ears scooped out tomorrow. hopefully that will help some

11/29/2009 7:16:39 PM

haha so after all that the actual doctor is going to put something pointy in your ear

go fucking figure

11/29/2009 7:20:09 PM

^^^ fuck those

if you go to duke urgent care they will literally use this shit and suck it out of your ear, that or some other places use febreze bottles and blast shit out your earz

I'm AstralAdvent and i approved this message.

11/29/2009 7:21:35 PM

I had a tone like that in my ears and couldn't hear a damn thing that people were saying. I had to drop out of grad school because I got so sick from allergies (led to another sinus infection and blew out my right eardrum at some point when i was sleeping). Damaged my hearing and all that.

Amazingly, almost a year later, my hearing is roughly back to normal in that ear. You do not have a lot of fun in your future though with waiting out the healing and all that. I do agree that massaging a bit behind your ear/jaw can be helpful with working out some of the pressure. I also liked taking hot ass showers and pumping myself full of tylenol/advil. Sleeping a hell of a lot was also helpful.

11/29/2009 7:23:08 PM

Sounds like a classic ear infection. I have had plenty of those. Just go to the doc and get your antibiotics and you will be fine in a few days.

11/29/2009 7:23:34 PM

I have gotten my sinuses congested to the point of losing hearing (temporarily) before. They gave me some prescription decongestants along with antibiotics.

Next time take some decongestants and drink plenty of water before your sinuses back up that far.

11/29/2009 7:23:47 PM

my mom just told me to turn the tv down

she used to fuss at my grandmother for the same thing

11/29/2009 8:24:00 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbamide_peroxide

Will kill anything lingering in your ear and remove just about any trace of wax. Will absolutely get rid of the pressure. Available over the counter and not expensive. You'll probably need someone to help you though who isn't grossed out by earwax.

I had the same problem a while back, and using this stuff my mom (god bless her) pulled a ball of wax about the size of a marble from my ear.

11/29/2009 8:30:49 PM

^ A shooter marble or a regular marble?

11/29/2009 8:43:47 PM

completely deaf in my left ear now

went to an ENT and he said my ears are packed full of fluid still, although the infection is gone. he gave me a shot of steroids and put me on prednisone

12/1/2009 9:30:47 PM

ugh....get better, Joe!!

12/1/2009 9:36:37 PM