Plugged ears and increased tinnitus from strep throat

Thanks for the reply. 

Ears have been plugged for about 10 days. Didn’t think much of it at the time until after my strep throat went away. I am able to use the Valsalva maneuver to blow with a pinched nose and get temporary opening of my E tubes but the close back up right away. I can still feel fluid trapped in my middle ears

that needs to drain which I’m guessing is causing my clogged and feeling of pressure. I am making another appointment with doctor and will bring up possibility of using Prednisone. 

Thank you very much for your insight. The ear problem wouldn’t be so bad if I didn’t let my anxiety about it get to me. 

Hello again,  You're very welcome.  I've had so much experience with ETD and I know what works for me.

The condition gets everyone down on this Forum, but try to to get too anxious about it.  10 days isn't long, mine when blocked can last months until I get help with medication.

A one off prescription won't hurt and you may never need to use them again.  It will reduce or even stop the tinnitus too.

Anne

Thanks for the comforting words of encouragement. It’s crazy, I’m usually always mentally strong where nothing gets to me, and just one week into something as little as plugged ears has got my nerves in an uproar. 

I will keep my condition updated as I move forward. Seeing a doctor again this afternoon. 

Good morning,   Good luck today and do let me know how you get on.

I'm now in my 7 month of relief after using the medication that I was

given correctly.

Just make sure it's longer than a weeks course of Pred.  Someone else 

on here was prescribed that and her ears remained blocked.....with a weeks 

course it usually take : 6 tablets every morning for either 5/6 days....just now

enough to get rid of all the inflammation.

Which country are you in ?

 

Jac,  Ask your doctor for a course of Prednisolone Steroid Tablets.

It must be a long enough course to get rid of all the inflammation

that has swelled your eustachian tubes, so they are unable to

drain.

The course I am usually prescribed is a 20 day reducing course.

Others on this Forum have been given a weeks supply, that

does little good.  Your ear won't drain unless you use something

stronger than decongestants and steroid spray....can take forever.

I have so many years experience with ETD....mine is now under

control.

Anne

I have similar problems with my ears being clogged after an ear infection. Anne, what is your usual regimen for the prednisone?

Hello Erika,

Well, mine is usually a 20 day reducing course, that I find definitely help

me....shorter courses are a waste of time when ears are blocked.

I think the dosage was 6 5mg tablets taken first thing in the morning for

five days, then start to reduce to 4 tablets etc etc.  But your doctor is the

one that tells you the amount and how many to take.

I find until the course has finished I suffer insomnia and hunger is awful.

However, once they've been finished everything goes back to normal.

Small price to pay for sorting out our ears.  In the past for my asthma

I've been given 5mg tablets and have to take 6 in one go for just a week.

Prednisolone are brilliant getting rid of all the inflammation, for asthma

and ETD.

Hope they work for you

Anne

Thanks Anne for your comments. They gave me hope for a resolution. I just don't understand that my doctor is not following me until this is resolved. He basically dismissed me and said come back in one year. Thanks for bringing that hope I was looking for. 

You're very welcome.  All I can say is if doctors suffered ETD they'd soon sit

up and take notice of their patients.  So many people suffer from blocked ears

due to catching colds, but once cold is gone their ears resolve back to normal.

For all of us,sadly that isn't the case.  Keep on at him until you get the help you

so desperately need.  Don't let him dismiss you.

You could mention that ETD was the cause of me catching Bacterial Meningitis

many years ago.  The bacteria crossed the blood/brain and it got me.....leaving

me now with only sight in one eye and hearing down too.  This condition should

be taken seriously !!

Anne

Anne, sorry to hear about your condition. Thanks for sharing your insight.

Erika

 

No worries at all.  The main reason why doctors should take ETD seriously....it can

happen to anyone, albeit rarely, thank goodness.

Anne 

Hi, Anne, hope you’re doing well,

A little background on me, I have very sensitive ears, I suffer from bad tinnitus. A couple of years ago, I went to a concert, with earplugs, but my ears felt plugged for a couple of weeks after, once they didn’t feel plugged I played music and added to my tinnitus was a loud low hum. I’ve dealt with it.

Anyway, about 3 weeks ago I got strep throat, took antibiotics, started to feel better, the mid week it felt like the sore throat was coming back and my ears suddenly felt plugged and full. I went to my GP and she face me another set of antibiotics cuz she said my ears looked infected. I went back several days later as my ears were still feeling plugged, she said the look better, not as red as before, but gave me the steroid nasal spray, after a few days it still felt plugged. 

I finally saw saw an ENT doctor today, he tested my ears and said everything is normal, no fluid in my inner ear. I still have the feeling of fullness and plugged ears, he said it will either stay that way or not. That wasn’t very encouraging!!

Have you had experience with your tubes being clear but still plugged and how long did it take to settle down?

If I’m near a very loud bang or something, my ears will feel plugged for a few days and then settle. I associated my plugged ears this time to strep throat, so being told they are clear has me concerned they will stay feeling plugged.

any suggestions? Thx

T