# I think I'm getting an ear infection **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 24, 2000, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-im-getting-an-ear-infection/26585 "2000-07-24T00:22:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![tubagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b77776/32.png) [@tubagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tubagirl)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2000, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-im-getting-an-ear-infection/26585/1 "2000-07-24T00:22:03Z")
My right ear hurts whenever I swallow and the right side of my neck hurts I really don’t want one cause I end up in the emergency room in the middle of the night. I had a lot of ear surgury as a kid due to conductive deafness. Luckily I regained about 50% of my hearing. BUt the problem is I can’t go up in airplanes or swim deep. I also get immobilizing ear infections. So far I’ve had to have my fiance bring me to ER twice since we’ve been together for ear infections. It hurts, make it stop!!! ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2000, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-im-getting-an-ear-infection/26585/2 "2000-07-24T00:34:17Z")
Go to the doctor before you need to go to the emergency room. Even if you don’t have insurance the doctor will be cheaper than the emergency room. It could be an ear infection, to even an inefection of something near the ear. I have had both. There is no way to treat it yourself. Do not wait especially if you have had problems in the past. ---
**Author:** ![tubagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b77776/32.png) [@tubagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tubagirl)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2000, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-im-getting-an-ear-infection/26585/3 "2000-07-24T00:38:10Z")
my doc wont see an ear infection as an emergency appointment and i have insurance for the ER. Besides it always hapens on the weekend and at night. My SO just emailed me taht I have to go to the doc tomorrow. Any over the kitchen table receipes?(sp) ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2000, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-im-getting-an-ear-infection/26585/4 "2000-07-24T01:06:47Z")
Oh man, TG, I hope whatever it is passes soon. I once, very foolishly, tried to ‘ride out’ an ear infection. I thought it would go away. Wow. Was I surprised. I ended up with _two_ infected ears that both felt like ice picks were being forcefully inserted. My right ear canal was swollen completely shut. I ended up in the emergency room begging for pain relief. I will never, _ever_ let an ear infection go again. ---
**Author:** ![Scotticher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Scotticher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scotticher)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2000, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-im-getting-an-ear-infection/26585/5 "2000-07-24T03:14:09Z")
Hey, tubagirl- Does your ear hurt ONLY when you swallow? Because if it does, it may be that your eustachian tube on that side is collapsed. If this is the problem, it can be solved by blowing up a balloon a few times every hour or so. I know this sounds insane, but if that is the problem, it really works. If your ear hurts other than when you swallow, you need to see a doctor. Scotti ---
**Author:** ![tubagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b77776/32.png) [@tubagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tubagirl)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2000, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-im-getting-an-ear-infection/26585/6 "2000-07-24T03:17:35Z")
It kinda hurts whenever I swallow, burp (which of course I don’t) or hiccup. And it kinda aches. i know it is an infection of the eustachian tube but the ballon thing wont work. I’ve got weird tubin’ inthere due to my extensive surgury. I have only one consolation… I can at least hear! But when it gets bad I go down to around 20% hearing. I just don’t want to wake up crying tonight. I hope it takes long enough to get to my doc. whimper… ---
**Author:** ![Zaphod\_Beeblebrox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/0ea827/32.png) [@Zaphod\_Beeblebrox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zaphod_Beeblebrox)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2000, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-im-getting-an-ear-infection/26585/7 "2000-07-24T03:20:17Z")
It can also be a throat infection. I’ve had throat and ear infections, and they’re sometimes very difficult to tell apart. Either way, you need antibiotics. ---
**Author:** ![Scotticher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Scotticher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scotticher)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2000, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-im-getting-an-ear-infection/26585/8 "2000-07-24T03:23:43Z")
Well then, sweetie, if you want to hang on to the hearing you still have, get to a doctor. I’m not a Jewish mother, but Scottish mothers are just as bad, (and I am not even a mother) or maybe WORSE! GET TO A DOCTOR! {{{{{{Hugs}}}}}} Feel better, soon? Scotti ---
**Author:** ![TVeblen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2000, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-im-getting-an-ear-infection/26585/9 "2000-07-24T03:52:41Z")
Poor tubagirl! Ear infections hurt like the dickens. But by all means get to the doc ASAP. It won’t get better by waiting, and could get much worse. Here’s wishing you comfort and a speedy recovery! Veb ---
**Author:** ![dragonlady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@dragonlady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragonlady)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2000, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-im-getting-an-ear-infection/26585/10 "2000-07-24T04:39:06Z")
I feel for you! My son had PE tubes put in 4 times before he was 9. Then the eardrums didn’t heal. He had both of them patched, both failed. He is now 19, has one eardrum still open. At least when he gets infected, it can drain and doesn’t hurt. But it IS yucky! Try damp heat, to try to keep everything moving, or clearing. Microwaving damp towels works well. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2000, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-im-getting-an-ear-infection/26585/11 "2000-07-24T15:24:57Z")
I surf a lot so I get them a lot. Strange thing is, they clear up by themselves. Wish I knew that sooner. You can rub your ear & try to find out where it infection is. Most of the time, if you see a doctor they give you antibiotics but by the time they go into effect, the body has been able to cure the infection, so it gives the appearance the drugs did it. ---
**Author:** ![lee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lee/32/7455_2.png) [@lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lee)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2000, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-think-im-getting-an-ear-infection/26585/12 "2000-07-24T16:35:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by handy \* > \*\* > I surf a lot so I get them a lot. Strange thing is, they clear up by themselves. Wish I knew that sooner. > > You can rub your ear & try to find out where it infection is. Most of the time, if you see a doctor they give you antibiotics but by the time they go into effect, the body has been able to cure the infection, so it gives the appearance the drugs did it. \*\* I am flabbergasted. Im my experience ear infections do not go away by themselves. They get worse until treated and sometimes the drops do not do the trick alone and I have had to take antibiotic tablets. Untreated ear infections can result in hearing loss or worse. This is not something to mess about with.