Ear Infection??

bucutie02 · #1 08-20-2003, 01:42 PM

Okay well I am going to the doctor tomorrow, but I was wondering if any of you have had this before and could tell me what it is....

About two weekends ago, I woke up and my ears would pop everytime I would open my mouth or chew gum or drink fluids. Also, at some points during the day, i would be able to hear better than other times. Luckily it went away, and I thought okay no big deal.

Well the past week, the same thing has been going on, and it is driving me nuts- so I finally made an appointment to see the doctor.

On saturday however, for about 10-15 minutes I got really dizzy- then it went away. Yesterday at work, the same thing happened, and I could hardly stand up so I didnt go back to work after lunch. The doctor had no openings for me yesterday, so I had to keep my appointment for thursday. She said to take a decongestant, and that I probably got dizzy because of the problems with my ears.

So, I am thinking, what is going on? My ears dont hurt, I dont have any other symptoms whatsoever, I havent been swimming?? To me it seems like I have fluid in my ears, but I dont know how or why. I havent had any drainage, but the "fluid" if that is what I have, is kind of messing with my equilibrium.

Any suggestions?

deltaphi94 · #2 08-20-2003, 03:01 PM

Ear infections can involve a fluid in the ear...
dizziness could indicate an inner ear infection or vertigo. Not fun. i've never noticed popping with ear infections, though. another thought is wax build up, but the only thing you can really do is wait and see what the doctor says.

AlphaSigOU · #3 08-20-2003, 04:18 PM

I had an ear infection about five years ago, and let me tell you the symptoms are just like you described. And the treatment isn't much better either. Getting the spins every time you stand up and walking around with a warm, moist cloth to catch the drainage and putting up with powerful antibiotics that will play havoc with your digestive system as well.

DWAlphaGam · #4 08-20-2003, 04:20 PM

I get ear infections at least once a year, and it sounds like you have one. Go to the doctor and get antibiotics, and it should be gone in a week or so. Hope you feel better!

bucutie02 · #5 08-20-2003, 05:39 PM

Do you guys really think it is an ear infection? I thought I had one too, but I havent had fever, or any other symptoms besides the ear popping and recently the dizziness.

I cannot wait to go to the doctor and get antibiotics so I can get rid of this mess.

I will let you know what the doctor says tomorrow, I have an appointment for 10:45am

breathesgelatin · #6 08-20-2003, 05:44 PM

Definately sounds like an ear infection to me.

Here is a list of symptoms:
http://my.webmd.com/content/healthwise/73/18128

KillarneyRose · #7 08-20-2003, 08:36 PM

Bucutie, I had just about the same thing happen to me two months ago. I was dizzy to the point that I was just about incapacitated and all I wanted to do was sleep all day. In a word, it really sucked. Finally I couldn't stand it anymore and I went to my doctor and as soon as I told her what was going on she said it was an inner ear infection. Unfortunately, inner ear infections tend to be viral so the infection itself can't be treated; only the symptoms. She gave me some sort of anti-motion sickness drug that made me even sicker, then switched me to a low dose of Valium which helped. It took about a month to feel completely better.

I do hope you feel better soon; I know how miserable it is!

AKA_Monet · #8 08-20-2003, 08:43 PM

You sound like you have an ear infection that may require you to take antibiotics to clear up.

You probably had a slight cold that just transferred to your ears rather than your throat.

The dizziness may be an effect of the infection too. But no cause for alarm.

The doctor will look in your ears to see if your ear membrane is inflammed or other known items that doctors look for.

And have you been in enviroments where people are smoking? If so, cigarette smoke exacerbates ear infection symptoms... So for now, steer clear from those persons that smoke or smoke filled environments.

deltaphi94 · #9 08-20-2003, 11:58 PM

You don't have to have a fever for it to be an ear infection. My son gets them pretty frequently, and he doesn't always have a fever.

Glitter650 · #10 08-21-2003, 04:31 AM

I've had ear infections ALL my life... and it does seem to be an inner ear infection because ones that involve the drum HURT like nothing else

PiKA2001 · #11 08-21-2003, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Glitter650
I've had ear infections ALL my life... and it does seem to be an inner ear infection because ones that involve the drum HURT like nothing else

You're not kidding. I had one last year and I had to take vicodin because the pain was so bad. The worst part about it was the pressure ruptured my ear drum. When you wake up in the morning and your ear is bleeding it freaks you out!

bucutie02 · #12 08-21-2003, 02:26 PM

Okay well here is the update:

I went to the doctor and she said that she saw no infection, but the symptoms I am describing seem like vertigo.

She said she did notice some pressure on my eardrums which means I probably have fluid in my middler or inner ear. She told me to continue taking the over the counter decongestant, drink plenty of fluids, and she prescribed for me some medicine called antivent or something like that. I cant remember anymore, since I still need to go to walgreens to pick it up. She said I dont have to take it all the time, and I can actually hold on to it- its for the dizziness, and I might get drowsy from it.

The good thing is I havent gotten dizzy since monday- so maybe i wont need to take it.

I was hoping for some antibiotics, but there is no infection!!

My ears are feeling much better now that I have started taking the decongestant, but now I kind of have some pressure between my eyes!

Hopefully I will get all better soon!!

PM_Mama00 · #13 08-21-2003, 02:28 PM

A few day's ago I got so dizzy that I couldn't lay down, I couldn't close my eyes, and I couldn't put my head back. I was crying because I was so frustrated.

As far as ear infections? Try having one and still having to play a tennis match in the cold with the wind hitting your ear. Not fun.

Good luck with whatever you have.

DWAlphaGam · #14 08-21-2003, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PM_Mama00
As far as ear infections? Try having one and still having to play a tennis match in the cold with the wind hitting your ear. Not fun.

Even worse—try getting on a plane with a double ear infection. I thought my head was going to explode, and I couldn't hear for a good 3 days because my ears never popped. It hurt so bad that it made me nauseous.

bucutie, I'm glad to hear you're feeling better. Hopefully the medicine will clear that up soon.

dzsaigirl · #15 08-27-2003, 08:43 PM

OMG DWAlphaGam, that happened to me too! I wanted to seriously die. I sat there sweating with the barf bag in my lap thinking I would puke. I thought that my ears (and my eyes too) were going to pop out of my head. And then I had no hearing out of my right ear for DAYS. The doctor fixed me up though. He said they should have ruptured....scary! It hurt so bad I thought I might be having a stroke or something (okay, so I am only 25, but still, it could happen

)