My doctors aren’t telling me anything helpful, so I thought I would throw it open to the Dopers and see if anyone has had a similar experience or any advise. I specifically release any medical professional who posts to this thread of any liability for damages incurred to me as a result of their statements (the preceding is probably not a legal release, but honest, if you give me some advice I won’t sue).
So three weeks ago yesterday (3/20) I wake up and my right ear is stopped up. It feels like there’s water in the ear. I don’t do anything for a couple of days, thinking it’ll clear up on its own. 3/22, no change. I go to an urgent care center, thinking I have an ear infection (I get at least one respiratory-type infection per year so I thought this was it). The PA diagnoses “eustachian tube dysfunction” with no underlying infection and put me on Guaifen-PSE to decongest. No effect for a week. Went to my internist 3/29 who confirms no infection and stops the Guaifen and starts Flonase 50 mcg per nostril once per day. No effect for a week, in fact my condition worsens. 3/31 I call the internist’s nurse who advises either seeing another internist (mine is out) or going to urgent care again. I let it go that day, then 4/1 it seems almost cleared up. April Fool! 4/2 it’s back and worse than before. 4/3 I go back to urgent care and a third doctor confirms the diagnosis and says to continue the Flonase. He suggests that if it continues through Thursday I consider talking to my internist about seeing an audiologist for further diagnostics. Meanwhile, I’ve been all but deaf in one ear for three weeks with no end in sight.
The main symptom is a blocked right ear. The left ear is unaffected. There is no discharge or sign of infection based on three visual exams. No cold symptoms, no cough, no flu, no fever. Pulse normal, bp slightly elevated (which could be because of the Guaifen). Very slight earache is intermittent along with extremely minor itching. Some ringing when the pressure is at its worst. Anyone have any ideas what might be going on?
Go see an ear nose and throat specialist. It doesn’t sound like you’re getting anywhere with your internist.
When I was a teen, I experienced the same thing. Turns out I had ruptured my eardrum from high diving at the neighborhood pool. Hearing specialist had to graft skin from just above my ear to the eardrum. The procedure itself was pretty uncomplicated.
The point is, don’t wait any longer. Go see a specialist.
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Here’s what I think is going on, based on what was told to me in a similar situation:
The Eustachian tube connects the middle ear (which is, for the most part, sealed off from the outside world) to the throat somewhere (maybe nasal cavity?).
The air in the middle ear is constantly being gradually absorbed by the surrounding tissue. When the imbalance becomes sufficient enough, as you swallow, air “bubbles” travel from the outside (via throat or nasal cavity, whichever) up the Eustachian tube into the middle ear to help equalize the pressure.
When the tube’s entrance becomes irritated (this often happens during pollen seasons), it does not open properly when you swallow (at other times, it’s closed).
When it doesn’t open, no air travels back to the middle ear to replenish the dwindling pressure.
When air starts being absorbed in the middle ear, the feeling is that your ear is “stopped up.” In fact, just the opposite is true: it’s more “empty.”
Anyway, that’s what I seem to recall. That also contributes to the earaches: You have pressure outside pounding on your eardrum because it’s not being properly equalized inside.
There’s a three week wait for an otolaryngologist.
Mjollnir: It’s not a pressure equalization thing, and I don’t think I was any more successful in conveying that to any of my doctors. The first PA told me to do the hold the nose an blow routine like after an airplane trip. That doesn’t relieve the symptoms, although it does help with the pressure problem which I believe is a result of the underlying problem. The PA told me she could “see” a fluid buildup the first time she looked which is why she put me on the decongestant. The doctor yesterday was talking about “swelling” which is why he continued me on the Flonase. It’s a steroid which is supposed to reduce swelling.
:::sigh::: I think it’s time to call the audiologist.