Has anyone ever had an ear infection?

[Phillycat]

I've never had one, but something weird is going on with my ear. It's...crunchy. I can't think of a way to describe that any better. When I press on it, it sounds like there's crunchy bits in there. It hurts like a dull throb, but not excruciating. There's nothing coming out of it, and it looks normal when I peer inside.

I know this is amateur medical advice, but does this sound familiar to anyone?

[redqueen]

1. I've had them

but they've never been the crunchy kind. If it hurts you probably should see a doctor... don't want it getting to the point of being excruciating. It can, of that I am sure.

[kick-ass-bob]

2. I have.

Mine started as a dull throb and turned into excrutiating pain.
But a dull throb doesn't always mean 'ear infection' - or at least it didn't worsen uncontrollably.

[MrModerate]

3. Ear infections can be nasty . . .

. . . debilatating, and permanently damage your hearing well before you feel intense pain.

See a doctor.

[bowens43]

4. I spent 5 days in the hospital with an ear infection.

It was easily the most painful thing I have ever experienced. Get to a doctor before it becomes a problem.

[Runcible Spoon]

5. it's probably fluid in the middle ear

I've had many ear infections (grew up swimming in ponds and lakes) go to the doctor if it develops into pain (and if it does it will be the worst pain of your life!) and tehy will usually give you some kick ass pain meds...I recommend Lortab

[Eccho]

6. Are you feeling dizzy or off balance too?

That usually comes with an ear infection. Crunch bits, not so much.

[Lavender Brown]

7. Worst thing ever

Go see your doc now - even if it's just a wax buildup, it could lead to trouble.

[loftycity]

8. Go to a good ENT

I have had ear problems since I was a kid. 30+ years
Sounds like wax that has built up and dried out. Might be pushing on your eardrum and that hurts.
Ear doctor should be able to take care of it in a minute. But, go to an ear doctor they have the correct insturments to perform the job right and painlessly.

[Phillycat]

11. Wow, okay, thanks to all!

I'll get my family doc to give me a referral to an ENT today. Thank you all for your advice. I didn't know it could be that serious since I'm not in that much pain. I will get this taken care of right away.

[BelleCarolinaPeridot]

9. Whatever you do - don't poke it .

I had an ear infection in both ears for a week after having too much er , ear sex with a Q Tip lol .

[Phillycat]

12. I clean out my ears every day with a Q-Tip after showering.

Maybe that's the problem? I've been doing that for years though, and this is the first sign of trouble. :shrug:

[AllyCat]

15. As a nursing student and ear infection survivor...

...yes, go to a doctor. The Q-tip thing manages to get some stuff out, but there is always a little left in the ear canal. It gradually pushes it back into a blob that covers your ear drum. At some point, you get a little water in there either from swimming or showering or a cold (through your eustachian tubes) and then it starts an infection. It's painful and may lead to hearing loss.

The doc or a nurse practitioner will use something more sophisticated than mirrors and flashlights and will probably tell you your ear is packed with cerumen (ear wax). Then they flush it out with one of those water thingies (that's a medical term) and will give you some antibiotics (ABX). The pain is usually gone pretty soon (a day or so) after cleaning and ABX.

Not worth losing your hearing. In the future, use one of those ear cleaning kits if you really feel you must. Mostly, you should just leave your ears alone. They clean themselves, just not the way we like it, hence the Q-tip bathroom surgeries.

[Phillycat]

16. Huh.

Good info, thanks!

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

10. How did you peer inside your ear?

And yes, story of my life, I've had many. Just go to your doctor. Or a doctor. Or that starving med student in 2B.

Get some antibiotics from Mexico or Canad----er, I mean Eckerds or Wal-Greeens. Yeah, that's it.

[Phillycat]

13. 2 mirrors and the light wasn't that great, either.

Probably not very diagnostic, lol.

Thanks. :)

[Dogmudgeon]

14. 24/7

I've had several operations on my left ear, and my right ear is going now. I know more about ears than any sane human should.

A dull throb is usually mild External Otitis, where fluid accumulates in the ear canal behind a blockage, like loose wax that gets stuck. Get some Debrox (carbamide peroxide) or hydrogen peroxide and drip it into the affected ear. You'll hear a fizzing sound -- that's the wax giving up its oxygen and breaking down. You can then flush it out with water, more peroxide, or "Sweet Oil" (mineral oil for the ear). Using cotton swabs is not only not recommended, but it usually just makes things worse.

This technique, incidentally, is generally approved of by ear doctors.

If you so much as suspect you have a ruptured eardrum, get to an actual doctor and have him/her look at it with an otoscope. There's also at least one company that makes a home otoscope with complete instructions for identifying common ear problems -- and especially when to consult a physician.

Good luck!

--bkl

[Phillycat]

17. Yeah, I think I'll go to the doc since I've never had anything

wrong before. Thank you for all the info and advice! If this turns out to be something simple, I'll do the home remedy next time.

[Dogmudgeon]

20. That's a good idea

Having a medical problem but no health insurance, I'm used to the DIY method myself. But going to a physician, if you have that option, is always preferable.

By the way, be sure to check the self-help info I posted. I'm pretty sure it's OK as it is, but it may be out of date or have been superseded by better information in the years since I last spoke to an ear/nose/throat doctor about self-care.

Good luck!

--bkl

[Sgent]

19. Q-tips

Are ok to use on the outside of your ear, to clean off any build-up, but under no circumstances should you actually put them in the ear.

On top of not getting everything out, you can actually impact the cerenum against the eardrum (bad juju). Your best bet is to let the ENT or your primary care doc take care of it.

Note: Family practice docs (unlike internal medicine) actually deal with a lot of ear infections with children, etc. and usually have the equipment to wax removals, etc. I would have no problems going to them for an isolated case or two, but if you are getting them repeatedly, I would ask about seeing an ENT.

[johnnie]

18. I've had a few inner

..and a few outers, some at the same time. DO NOT put anything in there, go to a doctor. Last time I put peroxide in my ear and it ended up bleeding and it sucked. Chances are you just have some drainage from your sinuses.

[Modem Butterfly]

21. I get them all the time.

Go to the doctor. If nothing else, it will set your mind at ease.

[Phillycat]

22. Thanks again to all

I can't get an appointment with a doctor until Wednesday, so I hope that's soon enough, unless I want to spend the better part of the day tomorrow in the ER.

Thanks to all who offered advice! :hi: