next »

[michigander]

Any advice on what to do about a problem I'm currently having will be much appreciated.  I've had so many ear infections in my lifetime that I can feel one coming days before there's a real problem.  As a result, I have a patient-doctor relationship with one of the leading ear specialists in my geographic area.  Unfortunately, he's in such demand that I can't get in to see him right away when a problem emerges.

Four times during the past six weeks, I've felt ear infections coming on, experienced itching in an ear canal, internal swelling somewhere on that side of my head that affected my bite, and occasional pain.  Both ears have been affected but not at the same time.  So I've called the doc's office, gotten an appointment in a couple of days, and by the time I got there the problem was gone.  He looked in the affected ear, cleaned out a little wax, looked in my mouth, palpated my jaw, and found nothing wrong.  My dentist who is a specialist also found nothing wrong after taking x-rays and examining me.  They are mystified.  My primary care physician doesn't know where else to refer me.  I'm in the middle of another episode (appointment is on Wednesday morning).  I tried some OTC ear drops over the weekend and had a reaction to something in them that caused extreme irritation and some pain until I washed them out, so I won't try that again!

Does anyone have any similar experiences to report or any ideas on what else I can try?

[hegemony]

My first hunch would be to keep a diary of what leads up to these incidents -- I'm thinking a food allergy or some kind of exposure to an irritant.

[lohai0]

I went to the doctor today with my ear issue. They said it was swollen lymph nodes radiating pain, which was what caused my weird symptoms. I don't have an ear infection...yet. Yours seems to be something else. Sometimes a hot towel on my neck seems to help.

[see_wolf]

Any advice on what to do about a problem I'm currently having will be much appreciated.  I've had so many ear infections in my lifetime that I can feel one coming days before there's a real problem.  As a result, I have a patient-doctor relationship with one of the leading ear specialists in my geographic area.  Unfortunately, he's in such demand that I can't get in to see him right away when a problem emerges.

Four times during the past six weeks, I've felt ear infections coming on, experienced itching in an ear canal, internal swelling somewhere on that side of my head that affected my bite, and occasional pain.  Both ears have been affected but not at the same time.  So I've called the doc's office, gotten an appointment in a couple of days, and by the time I got there the problem was gone.  He looked in the affected ear, cleaned out a little wax, looked in my mouth, palpated my jaw, and found nothing wrong.  My dentist who is a specialist also found nothing wrong after taking x-rays and examining me.  They are mystified.  My primary care physician doesn't know where else to refer me.  I'm in the middle of another episode (appointment is on Wednesday morning).  I tried some OTC ear drops over the weekend and had a reaction to something in them that caused extreme irritation and some pain until I washed them out, so I won't try that again!

Does anyone have any similar experiences to report or any ideas on what else I can try?

I don't have ear problems, but GI issues.  Anyhow, when I've had a flare but couldn't get an appointment (and really needed to see the GI), I have gone to the office right at opening (either in the morning or right after lunch) and sat and waited until I could see someone.  Looking miserable, I never had to wait long - they find a place!

YMMV.  I have been seeing him for 13 years, and this is a smallish city... I might be getting away with something that others can't.

[anon99]

It isn't that strange.  It could be problems with your middle/inner ear.  I sent you a PM.

[merinoblue]

I just re-read your post and removed mine, since it's probably not applicable. But will PM you with it.

[michigander]

Thanks to all for your posted and pm-ed ideas and suggestions.  I'll bring them up with the ear specialist tomorrow morning.

Update:  a couple of years ago, he gave me instructions about how to deal with wax impactions while waiting to get in to see him for removal.  It involved using an ear bulb to irrigate the affected ear canal with distilled vinegar mixed with an equal amount of warm water.  The itching was driving me crazy last night, so I tried it figuring that it couldn't hurt anything.  There was an immediate reduction in the itching which got better and better until about three hours later when there was no itching at all.  So I irrigated again this morning with similar results.  It may be coincidence, the placebo effect, or my imagination but it feels like the swelling is down a bit also.  This will make waiting for tomorrow's appointment much, much easier.

[bibliothecula]

Have you had tubes put in your ears? Often that cam help, but your doctor would have to do it.
Also, sometimes what feels like itching in the ear is really in the palate, and is an allergic reaction. Just things to think about.

[michigander]

As before, the swelling was gone by the time I got in to see the doc this morning, but he's intrigued.  He gave me a script to use the next time I need to call so that they'll squeeze me in right away and he can see the swelling and maybe use it to track down what's going on.  This time, he cleaned out a little bit of wax and found healthy ear canals underneath.  He did, thank God, give me a prescription for a lotion to control the itching when this recurs.  He also endorsed my use of diluted vinegar if itching recurs between doses of the prescribed lotion.  At the moment, I'm itch and swelling free which is something.

[msparticularity]

I'll second Biblio's suggestion about the allergic reaction. I actually get itching from some foods that extends from my palate and throat into my ears, and which does cause some swelling that extends into the ear. It also tends to settle down within a day or so as the allergic reaction ebbs. Have you ever tried taking Benadryl when this happens to you? If it helps, you'll know you've got an allergic phenomenon.