Raging ear infection...

[erparamedic]

You guys are cracking me up! LOL

No luck getting in today, but they were able to change my appt next week from Thursday to Monday. So, that's good. In the meantime, I did call my family doc and am waiting on a return call from them to be sure that the Cortisportin drops are ok with the tiny perf.

Colin... literally, I have to "use my good ear" right now! Can't hear cr@p outta the bad one! LOL

 

[TSandM]

There are two basic kinds of ear infections: Otitis media, which is infection of the middle ear, and otitis externa, which is infection of the outer ear canal. The hallmarks of the latter are that movement of the external ear (pinna) is very painful. When the canal is swollen, hearing can be muffled. If the canal is sufficiently swollen, ear drops cannot penetrate, and treatment is ineffective unless a wick is placed in the canal to allow the drops to get to where the infection is worst.

It sounds to me very much as though what you have is otitis externa (swimmer's ear), and possibly the canal is swollen enough that the drops aren't working. In addition, OE is often caused by a species of bacteria called pseudomonas, which is quite commonly resistant to multiple antibiotics.

A visit with an ENT doc sounds very much in order, and sooner rather than later.

 

[Missdirected]

Okay, I'm going with the latter diagnosis Steroids Let us know

 

[CheddarChick]

Steriods??? Then your ears will be all muscle!!! Supersonic hearing!!

 

[justleesa]

Sorry to hear about your pain! Ear aches are no fun! Good Luck on Monday...Hoping he has a solution for you!

 

[fisherdvm]

There are two basic kinds of ear infections: Otitis media, which is infection of the middle ear, and otitis externa, which is infection of the outer ear canal. The hallmarks of the latter are that movement of the external ear (pinna) is very painful. When the canal is swollen, hearing can be muffled. If the canal is sufficiently swollen, ear drops cannot penetrate, and treatment is ineffective unless a wick is placed in the canal to allow the drops to get to where the infection is worst.

It sounds to me very much as though what you have is otitis externa (swimmer's ear), and possibly the canal is swollen enough that the drops aren't working. In addition, OE is often caused by a species of bacteria called pseudomonas, which is quite commonly resistant to multiple antibiotics.

A visit with an ENT doc sounds very much in order, and sooner rather than later.

TSM, you are correct in your assessment. However, in the face of a ruptured eardrum and history of eustachian tube dysfunction, she likely has both.

Whether it started as otitis external or otitis media, one drain into the other. And without proper eustachian tube function, the otitis media will be persistant and will drain outward... causing inflammation in the ear canal as well.

 

[erparamedic]

TSM, you are correct in your assessment. However, in the face of a ruptured eardrum and history of eustachian tube dysfunction, she likely has both.

Whether it started as otitis external or otitis media, one drain into the other. And without proper eustachian tube function, the otitis media will be persistant and will drain outward... causing inflammation in the ear canal as well.

My eustation tubes are fine... never said I had eustation tube dysfunction. I also believe that the tiny hole in the eardrum is the same tiny hole that has been there for years (doc knows this too) and never caused me any trouble.

However, with that said... I saw the doc again today. He put me on another oral antibiotic, and says that even though I'm having alot of pain (mostly on the outer ear), the ear IS looking a bit better. So, that's good news. I'll see the ENT on Monday, as scheduled, and go from there.

Thanks to everyone for the info, suggestions, and well wishes!

 

[fisherdvm]

Glad to hear you are doing well. I think it is cool that you can make bubbles coming out of your ear while diving.....

I think it would be wise for you to dive with an earplug to keep water out of your ear canal. The catch is, the plug might increase the chance of earwax build up and impaction.

At minimum, you should try to dry your ears out between dives and swims with a thin thin wick. I would twist a piece of clean tissue into a thin wick, and thread it into your ear. It is too soft to hurt your ear drum, and absorbant enough to dry out the ear canal....

I would not use a drying agent as suggested earlier with alcohol, last I heard, alcohol is toxic to your inner ear.... Any comment from the other docs??

 

[RS]

I'd go in the office first thing in the morning, bed, then not leave - letting the pain show. Get worked in.

Take all meds with you. It's better to see the bottles than trust your memory and accuracy.

I used to get bad ones before I got better with alcohol & vinegar rinsing. My condolences. I had days I couldn't go to the bathroom without the ear drops in hand, and I don't think of myself as a softy.

Good advice.

I'm just getting over a head splitting outer ear infection that started as a minor "swimmers ear" prob back in October. I didn't take care of it and it turned into a horrible infection which ruined my dive plans in the Caribbean in December.

The outer ear canal swelled shut and was extremely painful, and I lost hearing in the ear for about 2-3 weeks. I wasted about 2 weeks seeing my regular "doc" (p.a.) before she referred me to a specialist. When he saw the medication she had prescribed he was upset and wrote a letter about it. Get to a specialist. Your doc should refer you from what you described. And get well soon!

BTW DandyDon, can you elaborate on the alcohol / vinegar rinse? Also, thank you for the pics of your trip!

R

 

[RS]

There are two basic kinds of ear infections: Otitis media, which is infection of the middle ear, and otitis externa, which is infection of the outer ear canal. The hallmarks of the latter are that movement of the external ear (pinna) is very painful. When the canal is swollen, hearing can be muffled. If the canal is sufficiently swollen, ear drops cannot penetrate, and treatment is ineffective unless a wick is placed in the canal to allow the drops to get to where the infection is worst.

It sounds to me very much as though what you have is otitis externa (swimmer's ear), and possibly the canal is swollen enough that the drops aren't working. In addition, OE is often caused by a species of bacteria called pseudomonas, which is quite commonly resistant to multiple antibiotics.

A visit with an ENT doc sounds very much in order, and sooner rather than later.

I wish I had seen you last October! Exactly what happened to me. The drops didn't get in, but the amoxocyllin killed all the bacteria, so raging fungal infection!