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March 08, 2003

My Ear. Saturday.

Kind of sad that its Saturday already. Disappointing that I've had to spend this whole break with an illness that's still ongoing. As I mentioned before, I saw a doctor on Wednesday morning.

I was prescribed to take Amoxicillin, but they also were trying to check out my ears and found there to be a lot of wax build-up (sorry if that's a gross-out for anyone... but the story goes on). They tried to use some syringes and a water/peroxide solution to clear them out, but it didn't work, so they told me to go home and try this over-the-counter earwax treatment (basically put drops in for a few minutes and then tip them back out).

I tried it the first day and it seemed to go okay, I was actually kind of excited because I was able to hear some more high tones that I had been loosing... and thought maybe this was just a silly wax-buildup problem. But then the 2nd time (I'm supposed to use it twice a day for 4 days), my left ear stayed "plugged". I decided to carefully use a q-tip a little bit and when I did, it re-opened... at least, a little bit.

I didn't do it again after that until during the middle of the day on friday, my left ear 'closed-up' again. I tried using q-tips a little and I couldnt get it to re-open. I went to a pharmacy that night (after the boardgames) and bought a rubber bulb ear syringe so that I could wash things out after I used the ear-drops. So I tried the treatment again... used the rubber syringe and all... nothing. My left ear canal is (I hope it's a simple as this) plugged. I was hoping that sleep might take care of it. No. This morning... same problem.

I'm actually feeling very worried about this now. I had been noticing a deterioration of my hearing ability in my left ear for a couple of months... And more recently (like within the last month), certain ways I would rest my head on a pillow would cause my ear to 'plug'. I'm starting to think that maybe something is wrong with my left ear that has been coming on very slowly and what I'm experiencing now is a progression of that problem.

Because I work at RIT and there is the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, I know that for some of these students their deafness came about as a result of an illness. I really want to pursue this more with my doctor now but it's Saturday and the facility is closed until Monday... when I'll be teaching most of the day.

Argh. I'm afraid about letting this go... A plugged ear is new to me. Maybe it's commonplace to some people, but this bugs me a lot. Is this some kind of ear infection?? Did the doctors not figure this out? If I wait 3 days am I risking some kind of worse problem with my ear?

Please pray for me... for my ear... and for my state of mind through this. Thank-you.


Posted by Andrew at March 8, 2003 02:19 PM

Comments

try this: http://www.indianest.com/health/nuskhe/nuskhe5.htm

http://www.goodmorningdoctor.com/health/content/homeremedy/earpain.asp

It's been a while, but I get something that sounds similar every few months... I think I bought some Sweet Oil last time, and used it as described here:

http://www.otan.us/webfarm/emailproject/earusa.htm

Posted by: Ross M Karchner at March 9, 2003 07:18 AM

HI

It is my right ear that is plugged and driving me crazy. How did you finally get through this?

sherry
paid2peek@aol.com

Posted by: sherry at March 23, 2003 12:52 PM

I have the problem a lot. I have tried all kinds of home remedies and none have worked. Actually, the home treatments such as the wax removal, bulb syringe, ear wash, etc. have made things worse. The extra fluid in the ear has done nothing to help. The only thing that works for me is calling my ear, nose and throat doctor. He has a machine which removes the blockage and allows the ear to drain. My ear is now plugged. I will have to wait until Monday to have it fixed. Plugged ears have never permanently affected my hearing. I always have immediate relief once the ear doctor sees me.

Posted by: KC Ears at December 27, 2003 12:39 AM