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Bears by EdieI've been suffering the last 3 weeks with an outer ear infection - which I think is cleared up after 2 1/2 weeks of drops but now I apparently have fluid in the middle ear which is giving me a plugged feeling in my ears and popping bubbles kind of feeling, especially at night when I am trying to sleep. The doctor has me doing all kinds of facial contortions and holding my nose and closing my mouth and breathing out (puffing up my cheeks!) to try to clear the eustacian tubes but I don't know if it is working as I think I feel more plugged up than ever! Has anyone had similar problems and any ideas of what might help??? I'm supposed to be taking a trip soon and sure don't want to miss it on account of this problem! I've been doing some reading but it is pretty scary - talking of having to make holes in the ear drums to let the fluid out, etc - YIKES!!!! He said this sort of thing is very common in children but for some reason they are seeing it more and more lately in adults but they don't know why! I've never had any kind of problem with my ears before in whole life so just can't understand this - very frustrating!!!
Posts: 2,203i have had cronic ear infectinx since i was a child. i use hydrogen poroxide in my ears then i let them drain out.
BlondheartI would definitely use a heating pad...and maybe get a second opinion?
Back Road BearsEdie, I'm sorry you are having this trouble! I hope to learn a thing or two from the responses as I've had fluid in my ear off and on for the last year and the doctor tells me it's mild and will go away on it's own or I could take Claritin to help it drain/dry up. He said if he sent me to an ear, nose and throat doctor they'd put permanant tubes in my ears. No thanks! There has to be something more simple. I have a cold right now and it's all building up in my ears.... going to the doctor is pointless!
Hope you get some relief real soon, Edie! :hug:
Charlotte Des Roches DesignsIt's that crazy herb lady again.....
There are 2 products I know about that are made by Herbs Etc. For this kind of problem. One is Mullein/ Garlic Ear Drops & the other is Congest Free. Here is some info about them from the Herbs Etc web site. http://www.herbsetc.com
Mullein/Garlic Ear Drops FOR EXTERNAL USE ONLY. Specific to prevent or reduce middle ear infection (Otitis media). Acts as a gentle bacteriostatic, helps to reduce pain and assists in establishing the proper acidity/alkalinity ratio of the ear area.
Ingredients: Mullein flower, Garlic (fresh cloves and oil), in a base of Olive oil and Vitamin E.
Dose and usage directions: Warm the oil to body temperature, put 1-4 drops in each ear, insert sterile cotton in each ear to prevent dripping. Repeat every six to eight hours.
Contraindications: Not in perforated eardrums.
Warning: FOR EXTERNAL USE ONLY. Do not use in ears with perforated eardrums.
Congest Free™ (Ephedra Free). For sinus congestion with hot dry membranes, headache, pain, pressure and heaviness in the sinuses, low fever, blocked ears, earache and even bleeding nose from dryness. Take if mucus is thick, if it is difficult to blow your nose and if it feels like your head is in a vice-like grip. Good to use when you are congested and must travel by plane.
Ingredients: Xanthium fruit, Cassia twig, Magnolia and fresh Grindelia flowers, Chinese Mint leaf, Cubeb berry, Eyebright herb, Chinese Lovage root, Osha root, Cayenne fruit.
Dose: Take 30 - 40 drops in water up to four times a day.
Contraindications: Do not use in pregnancy or while breast-feeding.
I have used both these products in the past & they really can help. I used to work for them years ago, but not in many years...but I still swear by what they make.
Disclaimer: This is just what I have done in the past for a similar problem.
Hugs &
Newcastle, OntarioEdie,
Last year when our grandson was having problems with repeated ear infections, someone here suggested we use hydrogen peroxide and it worked like a charm. We couldn't believe it. I do believe in a lot of the natural cures more and more. You might want to try it. We just put a couple of drops in his ears - it fizzes and Corson said it sounded like popping, but it stopped his earache and after a few times, the infection went away completely.
hugs,
Brenda
I completely sympathise Edie - when my 11yr old was 6 he had to have grommets fitted in his ears (unbelievably tiny tubes inserted through the ear drum ; a common kid's op' in the UK )
He'd had so much rubbish in there that his ear drums were distorted , and his hearing was reduced , although thankfully , with no permanent damage .
I'm afraid I don't have any special remedies 
it just made me remember how heart-breaking it was when he'd have terrible painful earaches (pre-grommets)
and I could do nothing for him ... 
Gentle hugs , Ruth :hug:
Teddies to TreasureHi Edie-Here in Ontario the medical remedy is an antihistamine.Sorry for the medical approach but it truly works.It will dry up the fluid just as it does nasal cavities etc as if you had a cold.It can become serious if not properly treated.I don't know about the hydrogen peroxide and I don't want to sound "superior " here or anything but my husband has had a lifetime of this.He sees an ear specalist and he says never to add fluid into the ear canal.A pharmacist would be good to ask what he recommends in case you are on other meds.You need to dry up the fluid.It is not good to fly when you have these ear troubles.Hope you feel better soon. Sincerely Jane D.
Hello Edie, 
Sorry to hear about your ear problems but I do know exactly what you are going through because I am very similar the same at the moment! It's really annoying isn't it? I had a 'flu type bug which started over a month ago and it has left me now with a sore throat and the feeling of liquid swishing around in my left ear! It is particularly noticeable when bending over or leaning forward, but I can also hear like low popping sounds and all sorts of things going on in there! I had to see an ear specialist yesterday about something else, but mentioned the current ear problem but he seemed to think such things would probably return to normal in their own time when it has been related to a virus or something. So that's what I am hoping. I have tried the facial contortions like you, though ending up looking like a mad monkey! 
And yes, the holding your nose, blowing rubbish made my ear worse too and felt completely blocked!!
I was once told that for an inner ear problem, it is pointless putting any ear drops in your ear, it has to be basically tackled from clearing the tubes from your nose/throat end of things!!
I have heard that steam inhalation can help and have to try that yet and it sounds a sensible thing to do. The steam should help clear the tubes!! I hope yours improves though before your trip. I flew to America once in the throws of yet another flu bug and it affected my ears really badly and couldn't hear properly for the whole of my holiday!
I hope you are soon feeling better Edie and can enjoy your trip.
Take care.
Marilyn
Ruby Mountain BearsMy younger daugther had this trouble and we thought that she would end up with the tubes in her ears too. At the time we had a terrific pediatrician who happened to be an allergist as well. He put her on a strong antihistamine medication that they give to chronic asthma patients and lose dose antibiotics for a month. It did the trick and she never had another ear infection or fluid for ten years after that. Occassionally she develops a mild infection now and then that we treat with a citric based ear wash prescribed by her dr. does the trick in a day or two.
Bears by EdieThanks so much for all the suggestions, everyone - sounds like some good advice here and lots of possibilities to try. I had to go for a NUCCA treatment yesterday as my neck was out so badly and causing me pain and that has seemed to help my ears a lot as well - although they aren't back to normal yet. I'm on the last day of the drops for the outer ear infection (even though it is cleared up I thought I better continue with the drops as the first doctor suggested to make sure it doesn't come back) so it will be easier to tell once I am finished them if some of the plugged feeling is coming from them.
Teddy talk is just so great that you can post a problem like this and immediately find so many people who know what you are talking about and can tell you what worked for them and what didn't so you have some ideas of what to try! I'm with you Daphne, I sure don't want to be getting tubes in my ears at my age - it might be different for little kids as a lot of times their problems stem from things not being fully developed but as adults it has to be something different that is causing it. I haven't had a cold or flu or anything so this just came right out of the blue - unless it did have something to do with my spine being so out of alignment. It is strange how so many unlikely things can be interconnected!
