Sick day - why the hell does my ear ring?

[RangerWickett]

I took today off work because of a sore throat, and overnight I slept very restlessly. Then, when I awoke this morning my left ear hurt a bit, and I heard a persistent whine in it. I know there's some damage, but I'm wondering what's the cause, and how worried I should be.

Is it infected? Is there just a lot of fluid in there because my sinuses are wonky (although I'm not congested at all now, and it's still going)? Did I somehow damage by eardrum while I slept by tossing an turning?

I can still hear out of the ear. It's just sore, and if I touch any place on my head near the ear, it sounds different, sort of like it's both muffled and amplified. I intend to see a doctor tomorrow if this doesn't go away, but I'm stuck at home today, and was hoping for help or advice.

 

[RangerWickett]

According to this - http://familydoctor.org/508.xml - it's probably just a result of me having a cold or flu or fever, and I should just let it heal on its own.

 

[Aurora]

I too am sick today..... my sinuses have been going nuts for over a month now. And this morning, I woke up with PINK EYE!
You more than likely have a sinus infection. I know I normally gt fluid in my ears and sometimes get ringing with mine as well. Definitely go to the doctor tomorrow. In the meantime, take something like Advil Cold & Sinus and drink A LOT of water. Hope you feel better......

 

[Umbran]

I am not a doctor, but through much of my youth I suffered from ear infections, which are often associated with colds or the flu. Gunk from your sinuses can get backed up into your middle ear and trapped there, or sinus swelling can simply close off the middle ear. Either way, it means the space between your eardrum and cochlea becomes a prime site for bacteria to do their magic...

Such infections can be very painful, and damage your hearing if you don't get them treated. Luckily, treatment is usually a simple course of antibiotics. Your doctor should be able to tell if what you're experiencing is a secondary effect of sinus trouble, or an outright ear infection.

 

[LightPhoenix]

IANAD.

If you are not congested, and if you can't blow your nose, then it could very well be an ear infection, and you should have it looked at. Your ears, especially if it feels like it's pressure inside your ear, shouldn't be excessively sore without severe congestion - which you don't have. The sore throat suggests post-nasal drip, which also corroborates an indication of an ear infection.

Long story short, have it looked at.

 

[ssampier]

I hate, hate ear pain. I once had an ear infection so bad that the wax built up excessively in my ear. I had a nurse litterally dig it out (it was nasty and black colored). After clearing out the wax, I was given a treatment of anti-biotics that cleared that up.

They told me you can use a mixture of hydrogen perioxide and warm water. Use a syringe and gently squeeze the liquid into your ear. Let the water and hydrogen perioxide drain out (if your pendatic you leave your ear tilted before you do that).

 

[Templetroll]

RW, do you ask your doctor about what prestige class to take? Just asking, get well soon!

 

[RangerWickett]

Oh Lord the pain.

It got much better yesterday, practically going away, but I woke up this morning and it has just gotten worse and worse and worse. My throat felt fine around 6pm, but then by 7 it started to feel raw so I wanted to cough a bit, whereas before it was just swollen but not cough-y.

Now it feels like I've got one of Khan's ear-slugs in my head. I'm glad I don't have a phaser with which to end this pain.

I managed not to see the doctor today because I called in sick from work, figuring everything was getting better but it was best not to strain myself. Instead, apparently a day of watching Battlestar Galactica DVDs un-cured me.

 

[bento]

It probably had to do with you lying down during the night and your sinuses getting backed up. If you sleep lying flat down, you should try to prop yourself up with a couple of pillows to help the drainage.

I hope you get this looked at - you don't want the pain and suffering of an ear infection!

Good luck RW.

-Bento

 

[RangerWickett]

I went to the Emory University clinic today. Best $25 I've spent (co-payment; I love having insurance).

So yeah, I had two ear infections. I'm taking antibiotics to clear that up, which I should be taking for 10 days, until November 12th. I'm also taking, doctor's orders, generous amounts of ibuprofen.

I am a little nervous that I might have misunderstood his directions. He told me 800 mg of ibuprofen 3 times a day, but that's 4 pills, and the package says take 1 pill every 4 to 6 hours. I wonder if he meant for me to space out the ibuprofen over the course of a day, rather than taking 12 pills a day. I wish I'd thought to call earlier.

Oh well, I'll err on the side of caution, and accept extra pain by taking the fewer number of ibuprofen. But don't worry folks, I intend to kill this bug, so I'll take my antibiotics for the full recommended time like a good little kid.

So glad I didn't decide to wait for it to heal on its own.