Otitis media: Middle ear infection

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In the past week, I started to have feelings of fullness and some pain in my left ear (which gets a lot worse when I apply pressure to it), hearing loss in my left ear, and dizziness. I assumed it was just wax buildup, cause it wouldn't be the first time. I went to the doctor expecting her to take one of those devices and start digging the wax out of my ear. However, there were some things I didn't recognize: I've felt really tired, for example, and I've been coughing and stuff. She examined my left ear and said it was really swollen and infected.

I take it seriously, because complications can include long-term hearing loss.

It's surprising to me, because I've read this is something that most commonly affects pre-K kids.

I still have some fullness of the left ear; the hearing loss in the left ear is still quite evident. Dizziness is gone. Pain is evident when I put pressure on the left ear canal.

I think the cause came the week of 5/3, when I had really bad allergies. I've read really bad allergies can cause middle ear infection when it blocks the ear from draining via the Eustachian tube. The buildup of fluid behind the eardrum can result in infection. The fluid causes the hearing loss by restricting the movement of the eardrum, I believe.

I first noticed fullness of the ear and hearing loss on either Thursday or Friday of the week of 5/3. It came on rather suddenly. I did not do anything about it, though, until Wednesday of the following week (this week). I told my doctor about how long I had symptoms, which probably led her to give me antibiotics as the symptoms had persisted for more than 72 hours.

I understand that hearing loss is usually the last thing to heal and may take a few weeks.

Mum says to see the doctor again if I don't improve today.

Slept a good bit last night. I feel kinda dizzy again. My left ear was actually pretty painful earlier this morning, but now it just feels really full again.

As the symptoms have persisted a few days beyond the antibiotic treatment, I have now been referred to an ear, nose, and throat doctor who I will see in a couple weeks.

Just got hit really hard with dizziness while I was on the computer. I also got fullness in the ear and tinnitus. I don't know if my hearing loss got worse or not.

This is all in the left ear. I will let the ENT doctor know.

Yep...you have to let the ENT person know!

Have you made an appointment to see him/her?

Yes. I see them the week after next.

I suggest your getting to the doctor, ASAP, beneficii----you don't wanna play-around with inner ear stuff! If it were ME, I'd go this weekend!!

When I was a kid, I had a horrible mastoid infection (and again as an adult----so it's NOT just that kids get it); and, I've had a long history of Otitis. Both times I had the mastoid infections, I got Bell's Palsy----and, the time I had it, as a kid, I went temporarily blind in one eye----and, I STILL have hearing loss, and loss of movement (very slight), in my face.

The week after next is WAAAAY too far-off!

I'm out of town right now. I tried calling the ENT doctor, but because I haven't seen him yet, I can't have him paged.

The dizziness has improved.

Well, you can always go to the E.R.!

Inner ear infections can progress to lots of much worse stuff. I wouldn't wait till the appointment. I'd go to the ER. They might put you on IV antibiotics or prescribe you a different antibiotic than the one you've already taken.

Oi oi. Way too much "go to the ER"! I called my PCP and even the on-call doctor said as much!

The only thing is, I feel OK, with the exception of balance and ear issues. I can move my face just fine. There's no sign of any fever or anything--and I have not had a fever at all!

I've chosen to wait it out. Plus, I'm out of town and I don't want to bother my parents with this.

Maybe just going to the urgent care doctor tomorrow would suffice.

Nobody feels happy and thrilled to go to the ER, or to "bother" anybody about their medical problem.

I'm glad you've called your doctor and that you've been convinced to go to the urgent care clinic tomorrow. Please promise to go to the ER if the urgent care doctor tells you that you need to go. Please let us know what happened since we care about you here too.

I went and they said they found possible bleeding in my left ear and it was all very tender. The nurse practitioner recommended the emergency room as the next step, but said that without that I should keep my appointment with the ENT doctor. She said it was unlikely to get better on its own.

This morning, I got hit with bad nausea, though I feel better now.

I talked it over with my family. My dad recommended speaking to a pharmacist. I spoke to a pharmacist and he recommended Sudafed to try to help the Eustachian tube clear. I was able to eat for the first time today.

My dad said that since I'm able to walk, talk, etc., I should try holding off on the emergency room. I also do not have a fever.

OK, after feeling sick today (not eating, tired), and getting a recommendation to go to the ER from a nurse from the insurance company, I went to the ER. It didn't take long as I was triaged into a middle priority, at most a couple hours.

They observed impacted earwax in my left ear, which they removed. There was also blood in my left ear, which they had to clean out. The cleaning out got painful! After cleaning it out, the fullness, tinitus, and hearing loss got better! Sounds became much richer as hearing improved in my left ear and hearing seems normal!

Nevertheless, they now say I have otitis externa, basically swimmer's ear, and I got a round of the antibiotic Augmentin as well as hydrocodone+Tylenol.

They say to still follow up with the ENT doctor the week after next.

Great to hear you gave in to medical treatment and feeling better now!