Problems with my ears since I was a baby- please help!!??

Question

When I was a baby I had tubes put in my ears and through school I had a lot of ear infections. Now at age 24, I have a lot of fluid in my ears and use a q-tip 2-3 times a day. What should I do to control or help this problem???

Answer 1

Well whatever you do don't get your ear candled like #1 said, that's a folk remedy and you should never do that if you ever had tubes also do not use the liquid that is meant to dissolve wax, it is bad for people with ears so easily infected. My husband is just like you he had the tubes when he was younger and since then always a lot of wax. Not long ago he actually got a very bad infection again at the age of 23, because he was using the q tips and it was pushing the wax back into his canal and it built up. I would suggest you go to a ENT Doctor and let them check it out and they might want you to come in regularly and get your ears cleaned, They just suck the wax out with a little tube and it doesn't hurt as long as its not infected. That said I am 22 and it seems my wax output has increased for no reason and I have never had an ear infection, so it may be nothing but this is not something you should ignore with your history.

Answer 2

Lots of babies and kids have ear trouble, mainly because the infant skull is poorly designed--the ear canal tilts down from outer to inner ear, promoting poor drainage, ear infections, and lots of crying and expensive prescriptions. (I remember paying $75 for some liquid our son would promptly vomit right up. We havin' fun yet?) Tubes encourage drainage.

However, as humans grow, the normal ear canal levels out or even tilts the other way, promoting good drainage. Perhaps yours did not.

Or perhaps going in there with a cotton swab several times a day is actually provoking the ear into producing more gunk. Our bodies respond to whatever stimuli we give 'em.

At this point, I think you need to see an otolaryngologist--an ear, nose, and throat doctor--because an adult's ear shouldn't be producing copious fluid. If you have, say, a low-grade infection, treating it could save your future hearing. If your over-swabbing it is the cause, he'll be able to determine that and advise you what to do instead.

Good luck with it!

Answer 3

You may want to invest in a wedge to put under the head of your mattress. If your body is on a slight incline while you sleep fluids are less likely to back up and get trapped in the ear.

Although I've heard mixed reviews, you might consider getting your ears candled. It's a soothing experience, and really gets the gunk out.

I've also been told of a home remedy for ear infections that calls for half a boiled onion wrapped in gauze and tied around the head so it covers the offending ear. Supposedly, the gases emitted from the onion help alleviate the infection.

Answer 4

go to a ear nose and throat doctor immediatly!!!!