I can't take much more of this!

[tristanichole]

I have the WORST ear pain!! I don't know what's going on...it could be a few different things, but about 2 years ago I had an ear infection in this ear that went on for 3 months :hair:
Now I have such pain in the ear again that I can't lay on that side and I can't sleep...it feels like something might be starting in my other ear as well.

I am going to try a few things after I pick them up today.
White Vinegar/Alcohol solution
Peroxide
Warm Water

If they don't work...I'm screwed and have to go in.

 

[eroomlorac]

I would just go in. If your eardrum is ruptured, pouring any of that stuff in your ear will 1.) hurt like heck and/or 2.) make it worse. I would not waste another day in pain when I could be on the mend.

 

[tristanichole]

I am REALLY doubting it is ruptured since my OTHER ear is starting to feel the same way now...I can't win! I didn't sleep because I couldn't get comfortable on either side of my head. My jaw is stiff on both sides from this, which is leading me to think it is probably an ear canal infection...I'm doubting that it is middle ear as most of my symptoms are pointing towards a more external issue. I'm just going to wait until Friday...its not that I don't want to go in, because actually, I do...Its just that I don't want to go to Urgent Care because I will have to pay like...$50.00 I think...and I hate the doctors at the clinic because they never know what they're talking about and send you 30 minutes away to a specialist. Really, I think the doctors in this town are good with the really simple things...like cuts and upset stomachs...the last time I had an ear infection I was given mostly at home suggestions anyways. My mother in law is a nurse and I talked to her just a bit ago and she said to try the at home stuff first and then go in also.
Anyways...
So I sat here and read a while and then went into work to take care of the animals there...to make things even worse I'm super bummed now...I went to work and saw Maddie's (a dog that is older and frequently boards there) blanket in the dryer, but she wasn't there. I walked to the front of the building to give one of the boarding cats their food and fresh litter and saw on Lauren's (one of the vets) white board, under "condolences" that Maddie had passed away yesterday. UGH! I came home crying. :cry3: She was there just a few months ago and still had some spunk left in her - she was a really beautiful Golden Retriever (kind of reddish). She was just the nicest dog you'd ever meet...

 

[eroomlorac]

awww.........poor Maddie.

 

[Melissa]

This may sound odd but do you still have your wisdom teeth? When I had massive(screaming to tears) ear and jaw pain I went to the doctor and they treated for an ear infection and the pain went away for a bit but it came back. Kept getting treated for ear infections but the pain kept coming back. About a year later it was suggested to be by my mother's friend that I was at the age of getting my wisdom teeth. I went to my dentist and he saw that I had three wisdom teeth under my gums. (A fouth never developed) Two were completely sideways and the third was diagonal. Now I have pretty straight teeth so I thought that was weird.. But apparently wisdom teeth do that? Once I had them removed I havent had pain since!

I see you are still young so thats why I ask.

The pain from a tooth problem can feel like an ear infection. I say if it continues, make a visit to the dentist and see if you are having your wisdom teeth come in. It can also feel like you have a sore throat too sometimes. So you REALLY think you are sick! Ears jaw and throat! I also hear cavities can cause pain in the ears and jaw as well.

Its definitely an option to explore if you dont find relief after treating for an ear infection.

I know the pain is pretty bad. I feel for you! Try and see if you can get in sooner than Friday. Another 2 days is going to suck. In the meantime, if you can, take Tylenol. Dont take it "as needed" and wait for the pain to come back. If the bottle says every 4-6 hours take it like that. It will still be in your system as the next dose is coming in and the pain shouldnt come back between doses.

Good luck! Keep us updated!

 

[mishellyshel]

i agree bout the wisdom teeth...........although i would go for motrin every 4 hours and try an antihistime/decongestant to try and dry up any fluid. a trip to the doc is needed.
ps--sorry for maddie.

 

[Melissa]

ibuprofen which is motrin and some other pain meds can irritate the stomach. If you can handle it then go for it. Just go with your perfered pain reliever.


I forgot to add that what ever you do choose dont get a 12 hour one. If the pain comes back before then.. which it most likely will, you will have to wait for the 12 hours to take another dose. You are going to want to get something with a short timespan between doses so you can better manage your pain.

 

[addictedtochins]

I did a search and came up with this. Neighborhood Health Care Network
Phone: 651-489-2273 or 1-866-489-4899 toll free, outside the metro
Member clinics provide comprehensive medical, dental, mental health, and health education services. 20 Clinics in metro area on sliding fee scale.
In the meantime, have you tried blowing a warm hairdryer on your ear? It has helped me before.

 

[Melissa]

In the meantime, have you tried blowing a warm hairdryer on your ear? It has helped me before.

I wouldnt blow anything in your ear just as you shouldnt pour anything in your ear. You can actually do more damage. Especially not knowing what is wrong.


If the pain is that bad where you need warmth take a warm compress (towel or low heat pad) and rest in on the side of your face. The heat will get to your ear and may loosen up your stiff jaw.

 

[Courtney]

Are you very stressed right now? I get ear pain when I'm stressed at work (I know, it seems odd). The ear pain I get actually feels like someone is constantly jabbing a pen or something in my ear, and is bad enough that each twinge of pain causes me to squint and make the oddest noises.

My cure for this is breathing deeply, going for a walk, or just finding a quiet place to relax and close my eyes for a few minutes.

 

[tristanichole]

First of all, thanks everyone who gave their "sorry's" for Maddie. She was a good dog.

This may sound odd but do you still have your wisdom teeth?
Good luck! Keep us updated!

Nope, when I was 17 all 4 wisdom teeth came in...apparently holding a grudge against me (they all came in half impacted). They were taken out a few months later, after I started getting bad pain.

i would go for motrin every 4 hours and try an antihistime/decongestant to try and dry up any fluid. a trip to the doc is needed.

I tried a decongestant, my MIL suggested that...didn't work.

I did a search and came up with this. Neighborhood Health Care Network
Phone: 651-489-2273 or 1-866-489-4899 toll free, outside the metro
Member clinics provide comprehensive medical, dental, mental health, and health education services. 20 Clinics in metro area on sliding fee scale.
In the meantime, have you tried blowing a warm hairdryer on your ear? It has helped me before.

I believe that is in the cities...which would be over 2 hours from me. By tomorrow if its still bad, I'll just use the Urgent Care here.
Blowdryer? haha, I think this would just irritate me more than anything, as loud noises in the ears aren't exactly on my top list of choices right now.

If the pain is that bad where you need warmth take a warm compress (towel or low heat pad) and rest in on the side of your face. The heat will get to your ear and may loosen up your stiff jaw.

I warmed up a damp cloth and put it in a ziploc bag last night to help me sleep. It did feel good, but didn't help a whole lot. I need to do it more often throughout the day though. I've only done it once.

Are you very stressed right now? I get ear pain when I'm stressed at work (I know, it seems odd). The ear pain I get actually feels like someone is constantly jabbing a pen or something in my ear, and is bad enough that each twinge of pain causes me to squint and make the oddest noises.
My cure for this is breathing deeply, going for a walk, or just finding a quiet place to relax and close my eyes for a few minutes.

No stress.


So, my left ear was the one that was causing the most pain at first. I've been using peroxide in the ear and I've been using alcohol/white vinegar. The right ear seems to be getting a little better today, but the left ear has taken over now. Yesterday, if you pulled up on the ear, it hurt like hell...today there is no pain. The right ear hurts a lot when I do this though. I have a feeling this is from using Q-tips. Before everyone jumps on the "Anti-Q-tip" podium...yes, I know, Q-tips = Bad! LOL

Quite frankly, I need Q-tips Anonymous...its a bit of a bad habit and I know I need to stop. I'm thinking I just wont buy them anymore...
Its crazy really...with all the things that both sides of my family are addicted to, I never ended up with those addictions...
But Q-tips? Let me at them.

My Q-tip addiction leads me to believe its a wax compaction.

 

[Melissa]

My Q-tip addiction leads me to believe its a wax compaction.

Im not Anti-Q-Tip but I do think it could be possible that a piece of cotton may have gotten suck in the wax and maybe that could be causing pain. It happened to my dad twice.

Also is it possible you slept on your ears wrong. I know if my ear folds over while I sleep I wake up with ear pain.. inside not outside. But it goes away after a day or so.

 

[tristanichole]

Both of these things are very odd Melissa. LOL

I'm thinking that with what I've been doing, my left ear is clearing up. My ENT told me to do these same things the last time I had an ear infection. Now, if my right ear, would clear up as much as my left I'd be happier.

The thing that concerns me the most is the dizziness that I'm getting.

 

[Jenn]

If you have fluid in your ear, it would affect your sense of balance. Have you tried draining your ear of any possible fluids? I know there is a proper way to do this, although it is escaping me at the moment...

 

[Melissa]

Just a thought.. LOL

I would be concerned with the dizziness too. I would definitely be taking a trip to Urgent Care.

 

[tristanichole]

LOL Melissa, you crack me up...

I took some IBP and it is definitely helping with the pain. I think I'll call tomorrow and set up an appointment rather than a trip to UC. My clinic is open later than most, so I'll get in sometime in the early evening tomorrow (hopefully). The dizziness is my concern. And it just hits all of a sudden too...

 

[mishellyshel]

my mom has meniere's disease and has all the symptoms you have described.

 

[tristanichole]

Thank you for informing me of this Michelle...I think it would be a good idea for me to go see someone about this...not just because of my recent ear issues, but I've had dizziness off and on for years and never knew why...maybe this is it. I'll set up an appointment with an Ear doctor at the clinic I go to that is about 30 minutes from here (we don't have any specialists for anything at the one in town).

 

[mishellyshel]

my mom does a lot of internet research. which of course sometimes can be very bad but mostly arms us with lots of info.
she actually just this past weekend had a very bad 'episode" and was very sick and naseaous and actually passed out while sitting on the toilet and twisted her ankle during the fall. she is also hypoglaucimic so that combined with the meniere's gave her a double whammy.
it is always good to go to your doctor with as much information as possible. just because they have an md doesnt mean they know everything.
i hope they figure out what is going on with you. a week is too long to be in pain.
good luck.

 

[tristanichole]

Thanks Michelle! I'll keep the thread (and you) posted on anything that may or may not turn up after I see someone about it.