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Ear Clogged after Sinus Infection

Posted , 20 users are following.

SarahJ86
SarahJ86

Two weeks ago I had a bad cold with chills and a fever that turned into a sinus and ear infection. The day I decided to go to the doctor I was experiencing severe sinus pressure. I moved my head in an awkward downward facing position and I felt liquid go into my ear. I tried shaking my head but it only made it worse and over the course of 2 hours the pain became unbearable. I tried using over the counter drops which only made it much worse to the point where I could not drive myself to the doctor.

The doctor saw the fluid in my ear and said the ear was infected and gave me a 5 day course of antibiotics. I finished the antibiotics 3 days ago and my ear is still clogged (no pain) and ringing non stop. 

?I'm not sure if the clogged feeling is from fluid or inflammation/swelling. I no longer hear the fluid moving around when I move my head. I tried taking a nasal decongestant and ibuprofien for several days, I have used flonase and saline nasal spray every day. I tried a neti pot but the water kept just going down my throat.

Any advice would be appreciated as I cannot go back to the doctor for another 5 days. 

0 likes, 30 replies

30 Replies

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  • EdK54
    EdK54 SarahJ86

    Posted

    I too, am in the same boat.  Had an ear infection which is cleared up now but my right ear still feels like it's full of water.  I have that constant ringing too.  If you or ANYONE has had any success in dealing with this problem I would sure like to know.  My hearing used to be so good.  I can see that this will slowly drive me insane.

    • christina66531
      christina66531 EdK54

      Posted

      I am dealing with the same right now. The ear pain is gone but it still feels full and I cannot hear well out of it! This after 10 days of amoxicillin. I hope somebody pops on here with a solution smile
    • chelsey33241
      chelsey33241 EdK54

      Posted

      Well I saw the ENT and I found out I had sudden hearing loss from a virus in my inner ear. Totally not related to my ear or sinus infection, apparently. Luckily, I got in to see my ENT within 5 days of losing my hearing, got on steroids (lots!) and now feel like my hearing is fully recovered. Ringing stopped too. I waited to see anytime for a few days because I thought my ear was just really clogged from congestion but that wasn’t the case! 

      Def see an ENT ASAP if you haven’t! Sudden hearing loss is permanent if not treated quickly! Good luck everyone! 

    • EdK54
      EdK54 christina66531

      Posted

      I'm 5 days into my 10 days of amoxicillin.  Like you, I have no more pain and I feel fine but my ear feels full and I feel like I have about 30% normal hearing in it.  I was going to wait, but after seeing chelsey33241's comment I think I'll TRY to get in to see an ENT.

    • EdK54
      EdK54 chelsey33241

      Posted

      Thanks for the advice, Chelsey.  Sounds like I should see an ENT.  I hope I haven't waited too long already.  Sometimes it takes weeks to get in to see specialists around here.  Making the calls now.

    • chelsey33241
      chelsey33241 EdK54

      Posted

      Sure, i hope you and can get into see someone soon! Maybe mention to them that you are afraid you have SSHL (sudden hearing loss) and you need to see someone soon. That might get you in quicker? Our mention it to your GP, maybe they can get you in quicker with an ENT. Hope it all works out for you! 
    • EdK54
      EdK54 chelsey33241

      Posted

      Well, I tried all day yesterday (Monday) and the best I can do is an ENT who is about 70 miles away this coming Friday.  My primary doctor had me get some FloNase but no results from that yet.  It's a steroid but I'm not sure if spraying it in your nose is really effective in reducing swelling in the Eustachian tubes.  It's very frustrating that I can't get in to see an ENT.  Most of them don't have any appointments available until June!  I've considered going to the E.R. but I'm not very confident in the quality of the doctors there.  Guess I'll just keep doing FloNase until Friday. sad

    • EdK54
      EdK54

      Posted

      UPDATE:  Went to the ENT last Friday (5/4/18).  He said the infection seems to be gone but there is still fluid in my middle ear.  He suggested that I try to force air into my Eustachian tube by holding my nose and blowing, or by using the OtoVent device that I told him I had bought.  I should do this 5 or 6 times a day.  He said it should EVENTUALLY clear up on its own but that it could take a month or more!  He said if I got to the point where I just couldn't stand it, I could come back and he would put a tube in my ear (myringotomy).  I don't particularly want to have a hold poked in my eardrum so I'm going to keep doing what he said and wait a month to see what happens.  If anyone else on this forum has had their ear clear up I would sure love to hear about it.

    • diane69864
      diane69864 EdK54

      Posted

      I just returned from my ENT. Your Eustacion tubes are probably inflamed. Mine are. I took one tapering 6 pack of methylprednisone 21 tablets, 4 grams each. I went from not hearing the tv to after taking 24 grams, being able to hear the tv. But, after a week, my ears were still clogged. So, I got another 21 tablets to speed up healing taken over 6 days. Also, I had an ear infection and that cleared up after taking Clarithromycin 500mg twice a day.
  • janice36535
    janice36535 SarahJ86

    Posted

    Sarah, Since I just arrived 5/7/2018, I PRAY that your problem was resolved somehow. It is beyond frustrating to deal with. I went to ENT's, they got frustrated, the last one told me not to come back ! The last thing he would say was that he thought that the start of my ear clog problem came form my acid reflux issue ! I worked on that but it has not helped. No pain, just a feeling of being "lopsided", everything that happens to me happens on the left side of my body. Sorry, maybe we will talk some more. (Love and prayers, Janice)rolleyes

  • valeska82641
    valeska82641 SarahJ86

    Posted

    I have been having this same problem with my left ear, feels clogged up. Went to the doctor, he said I had sinus and ear infection, this is my very 1st ear infection that I can remember, I can only imagine how babies feel now, as an adult this is horrible!! They gave me 2 shots and antibiotic along with zyertec to take at home. However my sinuses have somewhat cleared but my ear still stopped up feels like I'm not talking loud enough or to softly, very irritating. If someone has some advice on how to clear up or what's my next step will be greatly appreciated, my head has been like this for about 8 days now.

    • diane69864
      diane69864 valeska82641

      Posted

      The problem is your eustachion tubes are inflamed according to my ENT. The cure is prednisone or 6 days of tapering dose of 4mg per tablet of methylprednisone with a prescription. I'm actually on my second pack after a week because both ears were still clogged, but my infection was cured by antibiotic. The doc only gave me second pack cause I'm taking plane trip this Week.Tell doc you are flying if he tells you to wait 3 months, which is BS!! Medicine is used to cure the problem, not wait around like the dark ages for it to either go away or get worse and cause permanent hearing loss!! Let me know what ENT says.

    • Lozzza42
      Lozzza42 diane69864

      Posted

      Hi , going doctor tomorrow to ask for prednisone, Thank you for your answer xxoo
  • nancy78861
    nancy78861 SarahJ86

    Posted

    Hi, I have had a clogged right ear for about 8 weeks. My primary doctor made an appointment for me with an ENT who put me on prednisone, 10mg tablets, 3 a day for 3 days, 2 for 3 days and 1 for 4 days, 10 days in all. Hasn't helped a bit. I see him again in about a month. I see my primary doctor next Monday. I don't know what to do oe say about this. There is no pain, just the discomfort of the clogged feeling and the sense that I am talking in a tunnel. I am afraid of what is next for this ear. I am also taking flonase which has helped my constantly running nose. Now I have some drainage down my throat which may be a good sign. But this has me grinding my teeth until my jaw is so tired I can barely stand to eat. Help!

     

  • ainsley80115
    ainsley80115 SarahJ86

    Posted

    i have been suffering a clogged ear after sinus infection which has made me very dizzy and off balance i am nearing the end of my second week and symptoms are as bad as ever i researched how to unclog an ear and i came up with estathian tube disfunction this is where the tube gets blocked and the fluid cant drain out normally causing among other things dizziness/off balance,tinnitis,ear pain i cane across a technique to relieve the blockage called muncie technique which i tried and i felt the tube draining right away today im still dizzy but alot better than before....worth a try

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