# Seeking Advice on Clogged Ears, Post Sinus Infection **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 24, 2017, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-advice-on-clogged-ears-post-sinus-infection/799711 "2017-10-24T13:23:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-advice-on-clogged-ears-post-sinus-infection/799711/41 "2017-10-25T18:33:07Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > you could be an outlier, and get better in 2 days. Or two months. šŸ˜ƒ Well, the right oneā€™s hit the one week mark - though I suppose it hasnā€™t been a full week since the infection resolved itself. This is just ā€¦ super-frustrating. I donā€™t deal well with this sort of long-term disruption. Makes me anxious. Especially when the ENT didnā€™t give me information, reassurance, treatment, or more than five minutes of his time. And Iā€™m sure that tuning fork test will cost a hundred bucks, somehow. When Iā€™m doing everything possible to make things better and they donā€™t get better, it just drives me up the wall. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-advice-on-clogged-ears-post-sinus-infection/799711/42 "2017-10-25T18:38:29Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#): > > Well, the right oneā€™s hit the one week mark - though I suppose it hasnā€™t been a full week since the infection resolved itself. This is just ā€¦ super-frustrating. I donā€™t deal well with this sort of long-term disruption. Makes me anxious. Especially when the ENT didnā€™t give me information, reassurance, treatment, or more than five minutes of his time. And Iā€™m sure that tuning fork test will cost a hundred bucks, somehow. > > When Iā€™m doing everything possible to make things better and they donā€™t get better, it just drives me up the wall. Yep, itā€™s awful. Mine got congested in 2000 and never cleared up. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-advice-on-clogged-ears-post-sinus-infection/799711/43 "2017-10-25T18:39:54Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > Yep, itā€™s awful. Mine got congested in 2000 and never cleared up. Not encouraging. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2017, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-advice-on-clogged-ears-post-sinus-infection/799711/44 "2017-10-25T20:02:55Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#): > > Not encouraging. šŸ™‚ Sorry donā€™t mean to be like that. My symptoms are just worse than usual and itā€™s really impacting my life right now. You will be fine soon. Most people recover from this in 1-2 weeks. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2017, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-advice-on-clogged-ears-post-sinus-infection/799711/45 "2017-10-26T17:20:42Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > Sorry donā€™t mean to be like that. My symptoms are just worse than usual and itā€™s really impacting my life right now. You will be fine soon. Most people recover from this in 1-2 weeks. Fingers crossed! I did combine the neti pot with the valsalva maneuver yesterday, and got a BUNCH of gunk outā€¦ but still no change in the hearing. I just wonder if this is more inflammation or physical clogā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2017, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-advice-on-clogged-ears-post-sinus-infection/799711/46 "2017-10-26T17:25:48Z")
I wonder if I should try a neti pot? I have a permanent hole in my eardrum and Iā€™ve read differing opinions online about using one in this case. Qadgop, what do you think? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2017, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-advice-on-clogged-ears-post-sinus-infection/799711/47 "2017-10-26T17:33:55Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > I wonder if I should try a neti pot? I have a permanent hole in my eardrum and Iā€™ve read differing opinions online about using one in this case. Qadgop, what do you think? Not knowing specific details of your perforation, Iā€™d not recommend it. Check with your personal ENT doc. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2017, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-advice-on-clogged-ears-post-sinus-infection/799711/48 "2017-10-26T17:44:41Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Not knowing specific details of your perforation, Iā€™d not recommend it. Check with your personal ENT doc. Ok, thanks. I think the hole is from when I had tubes and it just never healed properly. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-advice-on-clogged-ears-post-sinus-infection/799711/49 "2017-10-27T13:00:52Z")
My voice is starting to come back, at leastā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-advice-on-clogged-ears-post-sinus-infection/799711/50 "2017-10-27T14:01:39Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > Ok, thanks. I think the hole is from when I had tubes and it just never healed properly. Iā€™d have to peer into your ear hole to see your eardrum hole in order to form an opinion about the whole situation. Holy tympaniums, Batman! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-advice-on-clogged-ears-post-sinus-infection/799711/51 "2017-10-27T14:27:05Z")
On further reading, Eustachian Tube Dysfunction does not seem to be well understood by the medical community at large. The exact mechanism isnā€™t documented with certainty, but I saw at least one theory that pegs it on inflamed cartilage where the tube joins the sinuses. If thatā€™s the case, neti pots and antihistamines and decongestants arenā€™t going to do much. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-advice-on-clogged-ears-post-sinus-infection/799711/52 "2017-10-27T15:33:12Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#): > > On further reading, Eustachian Tube Dysfunction does not seem to be well understood by the medical community at large. The exact mechanism isnā€™t documented with certainty, but I saw at least one theory that pegs it on inflamed cartilage where the tube joins the sinuses. If thatā€™s the case, neti pots and antihistamines and decongestants arenā€™t going to do much. Yes, Iā€™ve read the same things. ENTs get frustrated with patients who have this because there is no clear treatment that solves it. Itā€™s different for everyone. One thing Iā€™ve found is that wearing an earplug in the ear that is the worst helps. I have no idea why. But it seems to cut down on the crackling and feelings of fullness. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-advice-on-clogged-ears-post-sinus-infection/799711/53 "2017-10-27T16:24:14Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#): > > If thatā€™s the case, neti pots and antihistamines and decongestants arenā€™t going to do much. **If**. Thatā€™s a theory, not demonstrated as definite fact at this time. While there is a lot of evidence that sinus rinses do improve things for a lot of people. So make your decisions with that in mind. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-advice-on-clogged-ears-post-sinus-infection/799711/54 "2017-10-27T16:42:09Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > **If**. Thatā€™s a theory, not demonstrated as definite fact at this time. While there is a lot of evidence that sinus rinses do improve things for a lot of people. > > So make your decisions with that in mind. I was thinking of the shotgun approach, try everything. Now that I know I can apparently take double the recommended dose of Advil relatively safely\*, maybe I can step things up. - First doctor I saw for this recommended 4 Advil every eight hours, in lieu of a steroid. Said it would be an effective therapeutic dose for me. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-advice-on-clogged-ears-post-sinus-infection/799711/55 "2017-10-27T16:46:04Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > Yes, Iā€™ve read the same things. ENTs get frustrated with patients who have this because there is no clear treatment that solves it. Itā€™s different for everyone. > > One thing Iā€™ve found is that wearing an earplug in the ear that is the worst helps. I have no idea why. But it seems to cut down on the crackling and feelings of fullness. Thatā€™s kind of interesting. I wonder if the stimulus from the earplug distracts the brain from the other nerve input. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-advice-on-clogged-ears-post-sinus-infection/799711/56 "2017-10-27T19:15:11Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#): > > Thatā€™s kind of interesting. I wonder if the stimulus from the earplug distracts the brain from the other nerve input. I think itā€™s mental for me. When I donā€™t have the plug in and my ear feels full and congested I am constantly tugging at it and trying to ā€œfixā€ it. When the plug is in, it feels full, but it should feel that way because there is a plug in it. LOL. Make sense? I can then relax and not focus on it all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2017, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-advice-on-clogged-ears-post-sinus-infection/799711/57 "2017-10-27T20:34:25Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#): > > - First doctor I saw for this recommended 4 Advil every eight hours, in lieu of a steroid. Said it would be an effective therapeutic dose for me. Thatā€™s the sort of dose I would recommend if I wanted an appropriate patient of mine to relieve inflammation with ibuprofen: 800 mg 3 x a day for at least two weeks. ---
**Author:** ![CandidGamera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/candidgamera/32/2878_2.png) [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2017, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-advice-on-clogged-ears-post-sinus-infection/799711/58 "2017-10-30T14:20:18Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Thatā€™s the sort of dose I would recommend if I wanted an appropriate patient of mine to relieve inflammation with ibuprofen: 800 mg 3 x a day for at least two weeks. Yeah. Bottle says 400mg, so I was a little concerned, but then I figured that 800 was probably just bumping it up to prescription strength. I have phased out the Claritin - it was making me a little too dry - and phased in the Advil. Left ear is now popping sometimes with a simple yawn, rather than requiring a Valsalva maneuver, and seems to be hearing better. Right ear still blocked. Oddly, laryngitis still holding on well past its expected expiration date. Maybe I still have a sinus infection, but with no pain or fever? Or primary nasal congestion for that matterā€¦ Then again, Iā€™m on Advil, Flonase, and Mucinex D. I may just be masking those other symptoms. My energy level feels good, though. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2017, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-advice-on-clogged-ears-post-sinus-infection/799711/59 "2017-10-30T15:08:16Z")
I am going to try the mega dose of Advil. Maybe it will help. Iā€™ve tried everything else! ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2017, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-advice-on-clogged-ears-post-sinus-infection/799711/60 "2017-10-30T15:40:57Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > I am going to try the mega dose of Advil. Maybe it will help. Iā€™ve tried everything else! check with your doc before going to prescription-strength doses. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-advice-on-clogged-ears-post-sinus-infection/799711.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/seeking-advice-on-clogged-ears-post-sinus-infection/799711.md?page=4)