Ear Infections In Children SUCK...

[E4 No More]

...and I'm reminded of it now as an adult.

 

I haven't had an ear infection since, well, I remember lying down in the back seat of my parent's Rambler in the early 60's with a cotton ball stuffed in my aching ear. Now at 55 years old I've contracted a viral ear infection. When it set in last Monday I though at first it was the onset of a cold. The doctor thought that it was bacterial, but I know now that it's viral because the strong antibiotics that I've been on since Tuesday afternoon haven't done anything for the infection. My wife got it at the same time too, so our exposure to the source of the infection was at the same time. Not only does it make your ear hurt like someone's jabbed an icepick in your ear, but it also makes your teeth, jaw, and base of your skull hurt too. Then there's the constant ringing in my ear.

 

I write this to let you guys know that whatever virus this is it's going around. It also reminds me of why the kiddos are so cranky when they get ear infections.

[hipower]

I am truly sorry for you my friend. I grew up having massive ear problems. As you say, it can be extremely painful and debilitating.

 

And I had another bout with it about this time last year. Like you, it brought back some very unpleasant memories. I still use small tufts of cotton in my ears if I'm going to be outside in the cold or windy days. If I stay out in the winds, I can almost guarantee that I'll have a massive ear ache that will go into sinusitis every time.

So really take care of yourselves during this.

 

Do you have any clue as to where you might have been exposed?

[peejman]

My kids have had fairly frequent ear infections, even after both had tubes several years ago.  When they got them the firs time, the doctor told me that he didn't think my oldest boy really had 6 ear infections in 4 months.  He thought he'd had the same ear infection for 4 months.  The drugs knock it down, but the middle ear never really drained properly and dried out, so the infection comes back after a while.  Thankfully mine don't really complain too much.  I've had plenty of ear infections myself over the years and its very rare that I have any pain.  Generally it's just a clogged up feeling. 

 

Best home remedy I know of is salt.  Gargle warm salt water at least 3x daily.  Flush sinuses with salt water 2-3x daily.  And not those stupid cans of saline at the drug store, they don't have enough salt in them to do much.  I mix my own and use a nasal syringe to pressure wash the gunk out.  If it burns like you just shoved a torch up your nose, it's about right. 

 

You can also pinch your nose, close your mouth, and blow gently to try to equalize the pressure. 

 

Putting a cotton ball in your outer ear does nothing to stop an inner/middle ear infection unless your eardrum is perforated. 

Edited February 12, 2016 by peejman

[TNWNGR]

It's been a few years but I had a bad run in with vertigo due to an ear infection. It was bad enough that it flaired up again when I had another less serious ear infection. Nowadays I just hope I never have another inner ear infection or serious sinus infection. Either one make you as sick as can be.

[E4 No More]

I am truly sorry for you my friend. I grew up having massive ear problems. As you say, it can be extremely painful and debilitating.

 

And I had another bout with it about this time last year. Like you, it brought back some very unpleasant memories. I still use small tufts of cotton in my ears if I'm going to be outside in the cold or windy days. If I stay out in the winds, I can almost guarantee that I'll have a massive ear ache that will go into sinusitis every time.

So really take care of yourselves during this.

 

Do you have any clue as to where you might have been exposed?

No clue at all, but I'd bet on church. EDIT: Because of all the hand-shaking and hugging that goes on there.

Edited February 12, 2016 by SWJewellTN

[E4 No More]

I've had allergies affect my inner ears and such. I've had throat infections travel up my Eustachian Tubes. This is the first time as an adult that I've had a full-on infection of the inner ear. At 12:30am Tuesday morning it felt like my ear was about to explode! :eek:

 

With my wife she's experiencing vertigo as well. Fortunately, I haven't had that.

[hipower]

My kids have had fairly frequent ear infections, even after both had tubes several years ago.  When they got them the firs time, the doctor told me that he didn't think my oldest boy really had 6 ear infections in 4 months.  He thought he'd had the same ear infection for 4 months.  The drugs knock it down, but the middle ear never really drained properly and dried out, so the infection comes back after a while.  Thankfully mine don't really complain too much.  I've had plenty of ear infections myself over the years and its very rare that I have any pain.  Generally it's just a clogged up feeling. 

 

Best home remedy I know of is salt.  Gargle warm salt water at least 3x daily.  Flush sinuses with salt water 2-3x daily.  And not those stupid cans of saline at the drug store, they don't have enough salt in them to do much.  I mix my own and use a nasal syringe to pressure wash the gunk out.  If it burns like you just shoved a torch up your nose, it's about right. 

 

You can also pinch your nose, close your mouth, and blow gently to try to equalize the pressure. 

 

Putting a cotton ball in your outer ear does nothing to stop an inner/middle ear infection unless your eardrum is perforated. 

 

Good comments and advice. I have had perforations and had them repaired. Recently did have a drain put in my right ear for drainage. It does help, but still can get a buildup of fluid behind it. I really have to avoid water in the ears when showering. So I have a good relationship with my ENT. lol

 

And I will somewhat disagree about the cotton. Maybe it does or doesn't stop an infection, but in since my first infection about age 6, and thru a couple of ear surgeries, all my docs have suggested cotton for use, at least on, for those cold and windy days.

 

I find it irritating, but it does seem to help me at any rate.

[hipower]

I've had allergies affect my inner ears and such. I've had throat infections travel up my Eustachian Tubes. This is the first time as an adult that I've had a full-on infection of the inner ear. At 12:30am Tuesday morning it felt like my ear was about to explode! :eek:

 

With my wife she's experiencing vertigo as well. Fortunately, I haven't had that.

 

Yep. Had that massive pressure as well. As peejman suggested, pinching the nose, closing mouth and blowing can help sometimes. But when at the sage you describe, I can do it and feel like I'm trying to open an airlock door against a vacuum seal; it just won't help.

 

I wish I could help you. But doc, meds, rest, and running the course seem to be the way it goes.

 

Do what you can, and support your wife thru it as well, that can make it easier. I found out the hard way to be sympathetic to her needs as well.

[peejman]

The pressure you feel in your ear is typically actually a vacuum.  I got an otoscope when the kids started having issues.  Their doc showed me how to tell if the eardrum is sucked in (low pressure in middle ear) or pushed out (high pressure in middle ear).  Generally, it's always sucked in. 

 

And I'll add ibuprofen to the list of things that help.  It helps reduce the swelling which can help open the Eustachian tube so the ear will drain. 

 

A good friend of mine had Meniere's disease.  He'd get terrible vertigo almost monthly, so bad he couldn't do anything but lay in the floor and try not to puke.  He went to Vanderbilt and they couldn't figure it out.  Then his chiropractor suggested he try a gluten free diet (he's not celiac, they tested for that) and once he did, he didn't have another attack for several years. 

[bersaguy]

I use to suffer with ear infections almost continuously during my years of running across the lake at 70 MPH while fishing tournaments. I finally spoke with my doctor and she said your a shooter right? I said yea. She said next time I went out in cold weather fishing wear my shooter ear muffs and see if I have a problem when I got done fishing. It worked very well for me and I quit having ear issues. Now I have foam ear plugs and if I am going to be outside in wind on cold winter days I wear the foam ear plugs and they work great.

 

Sorry to hear about your issues and the wife also. Hope they get it cleared up soon and once you do get it done you may want to try the foam ear plugs when out in winter time and wind.............. :up:

[E4 No More]

The pressure you feel in your ear is typically actually a vacuum.  I got an otoscope when the kids started having issues.  Their doc showed me how to tell if the eardrum is sucked in (low pressure in middle ear) or pushed out (high pressure in middle ear).  Generally, it's always sucked in. 

 

And I'll add ibuprofen to the list of things that help.  It helps reduce the swelling which can help open the Eustachian tube so the ear will drain. 

 

A good friend of mine had Meniere's disease.  He'd get terrible vertigo almost monthly, so bad he couldn't do anything but lay in the floor and try not to puke.  He went to Vanderbilt and they couldn't figure it out.  Then his chiropractor suggested he try a gluten free diet (he's not celiac, they tested for that) and once he did, he didn't have another attack for several years. 

Unfortunately, I cannot take NSAIDs like Ibuprofen due to stage 3 kidney failure. They are nephrotoxic.

[peejman]

Unfortunately, I cannot take NSAIDs like Ibuprofen due to stage 3 kidney failure. They are nephrotoxic.

 

 

Indeed, sucko.  Can you take any sort of anti-inflammatory?  If you haven't already, you might try something like Flonase.  I find it works quite well for opening up my head so it'll dry out and get better. 

[runco]

From birth until 12, I have had numerous ear infections due to my Eustachian tubes being clogged (snot from a runny nose).  Had about 3 or 4 sets of tubes in my ears, tonsils out, etc. and like the doctor said I would out grow it when I was around 12, and he was right. 

 

Fast forward, never did have another problem until about age 35, and it all came back.  I have had about 10 sets of tubes, and right now have some with high mileage.  I did have allergy testing done about 5 years ago at the doctor's request, and sure enough I have allergies.  So about anything that grows in East Tennessee I am allergic too, so I started allergy shot therapy.  At first I was skeptical, but now after 5 years of allergy shot therapy, its very rare that I have runny nose of any kind.  Which is great, because a runny nose is the source of the ear infection with fluid backing up due to clogged Eustachian tubes.  I still can't go long without  tubes, or my ear drums push out from fluid, so I am destined to have tubes for the rest of my life.  Due to having many tubes, my ear drums have lots of scar tissue.  I likely will have serious hearing problems when I am older, and I am 48 now. 

 

So, bottom line, I feel for anyone with ear problems.  I have had so many ear aches the pain endorphins have been addicting. 

[bersaguy]

From birth until 12, I have had numerous ear infections due to my Eustachian tubes being clogged (snot from a runny nose).  Had about 3 or 4 sets of tubes in my ears, tonsils out, etc. and like the doctor said I would out grow it when I was around 12, and he was right. 

 

Fast forward, never did have another problem until about age 35, and it all came back.  I have had about 10 sets of tubes, and right now have some with high mileage.  I did have allergy testing done about 5 years ago at the doctor's request, and sure enough I have allergies.  So about anything that grows in East Tennessee I am allergic too, so I started allergy shot therapy.  At first I was skeptical, but now after 5 years of allergy shot therapy, its very rare that I have runny nose of any kind.  Which is great, because a runny nose is the source of the ear infection with fluid backing up due to clogged Eustachian tubes.  I still can't go long without  tubes, or my ear drums push out from fluid, so I am destined to have tubes for the rest of my life.  Due to having many tubes, my ear drums have lots of scar tissue.  I likely will have serious hearing problems when I am older, and I am 48 now. 

 

So, bottom line, I feel for anyone with ear problems.  I have had so many ear aches the pain endorphins have been addicting. 

 

 

 

Quote  " I did have allergy testing done about 5 years ago at the doctor's request, and sure enough I have allergies.  :dropjaw:  I didn't think it was possible to live in Tennessee and not have allergies of some type. Tennessee is know as the allergy capital of the South!!!......... :shrug:

[runco]

Quote  " I did have allergy testing done about 5 years ago at the doctor's request, and sure enough I have allergies.  :dropjaw:  I didn't think it was possible to live in Tennessee and not have allergies of some type. Tennessee is know as the allergy capital of the South!!!......... :shrug:

I tell you something funny.  I am also allergic to goose feathers.  So the technician was telling me to avoid jackets with goose down, blah, blah, blah.  What she didn't know, I have a couple of heirloom pillows that my mother had as a child that I have slept own all my life.  Yep, sure enough stuffed with down feathers.  I have slept on those pillows all my life sort of a goofy thing, but they are heavy and comfy, and all that I have ever known.  I still sleep on them till this day, but they are sealed now, and shots work!

[E4 No More]

Indeed, sucko.  Can you take any sort of anti-inflammatory?  If you haven't already, you might try something like Flonase.  I find it works quite well for opening up my head so it'll dry out and get better. 

 

Only if I want to advance to stage 4 & 5 kidney failure. Stage 5 is where you are on dialysis & transplant list. :(

[E4 No More]

I didn't start this thread to complain about the problem per-se. Heck, I live with pain almost constantly for various reasons that include two back surgeries which is what led to the kidney failure.

 

I just wanted to make everyone aware that this virus was going around so that they can take precautions, and to remind folks what their children may be going through that they've forgotten about. My boss actually pointed out the latter having young children himself. We can rationalize the pain and discomfort whereas children can't.