What could be causing this earache? Any Doctors out there?

Question

About 2 weeks ago I started with cold symtoms and they became worse and I started on antibiotics(amoxicillin). The doctor seemed to think this was a sinus infection. I always get bronchitis and that is where this has seemed to land now that it drained out of my head. The biggest problem is a constant earache. When I went to the doctors they told me there was no infection just alot of fluid behind the eardrum causing the pain. Its now been 2 weeks and I finished the antibiotics. I am still experiencing extreme ear pain in the inner ear and I am taking about 10-15 tabs of ibuprofen a day for the pain.
Any suggestions?

Answer 1

I feel great sympathy for you. I, too, had this same problem.
What you are experiencing is 'serous otitis media'. Please type this into your search engine and read about. Basically,
the fluid behind your eardrum is no longer infected, but cannot drain at this time. Reasons for this may be that it has become too thick to easily drain down the eustachian tube,
or else you have some tempory eustachian tube dysfunction
from some left-over inflammation of the tube. Most of the time this will clear up eventually on its own, but not 100% of the time. I eventually, after a couple of months, had my eardrum pierced by the doctor to drain the fluid out. The drum healed within the next week and I was fine. Here are a couple of tips which might help: Buy some Guafenisen at the drug store. This is a liquid medicine that helps thin fluid and may help it drain. Also, try soaking washcloths or towels in very warm water, wringing them out, and placing them either over your ear, or better, just below the ear, on the neck portion. This is in proximity to the Eustacian tube and the warmth soothes this area and may reduce inflammation.
If you find that you develop a new fever, or that after a reasonable amount of time the fluid still persists, by all means return to a doctor, preferably an ENT. I do find it a little disturbing that you are still experiencing such pain with supposedly no infection. Good luck, I know how miserable it is.

Answer 2

Take a decongestant along with the ibuprofen. It will allow the fluid to drain from your middle ear space (the area of the ear behind the eardrum. The inner ear consists of the cochlea and semicircular canals). The ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory which will reduce the swelling around the eustacian tube (which drains the middle ear into the throat).

Answer 3

Yikes that is a lot of Ibuprofen and it isnt working. What happens when you hold your nose closed and your mouth and blow out gently into your ears? does that open the tubes up to release the fluid? do you begin to cough then? Well Id call back the Dr and see what else they suggest.

Answer 4

swollen lymph nodes could be causing ear aches. Are you still heavily congested?