scared

[melbrown]

As some of you know I've been battling an ear infection for nearly a month: 3 different antibiotics, 1 had a bad reaction to. Been freaking out.... saw an ugerant care doctor almost 2 weeks ago. He wasn't nice, said it was my anxiety & he saw no infection. Left nearly in tears. Went to visit family for a week last week, on edge whole time. They live in middle of no where, no ER nearby. My regular doctor on vacation for past 2 weeks. My other ear has decided to hurt too, though better. My doctor gave me a referral to the head, eye, throat doctor before she left.... who I see tomorrow. I'm scared... freaking if it's something bad... like brain infection... having bad tension like headaches... also scared I'll get attitude again 😢

[Hidden]

Hello melbrown!

Relax and don’t worry! You may just have a fluid buildup behind your eardrums due to maybe, allergies causing the pain. I doubt very seriously that you have any kind of brain involvement. Don’t reach into the future and obsess over your health!! Nothing good comes from that! Take it minute by minute if you need to. The ENT doctor will know what’s going on with you and how to treat it. You’re good! 🌷🌞🌷

[Marshall64 in reply to Hidden]

It is good to know that there is a nurse around on this shift. 😊

[Hidden in reply to Marshall64]

🌷😉🌷

[fauxartist in reply to Hidden]

I live with that fluid behind the ear drum thing.....it's not an infection....it's just a fluid build up and it's annoying and drives me nuts sometimes...but it does eventually go away...when I do get it, it takes weeks to go away.

[melbrown in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much. I get the worst health anxiety, though part of me knows better. Hope you are having a wonderful weekend. 💛

[Hidden in reply to melbrown]

Well, what did the ENT say? Just curious! 🌝

[melbrown in reply to Hidden]

Lol no worries... I must be grinding my teeth at night, so my jaw is iterated. Guess it causes pain in your ears, so you think it's an ear infection- most never get pain in jaw. She doubts if I had one at all... Sorry I forget what she called it. Have to ice the ear & jaw line, pain meds, try to eat soft foods & hope it stops soon.

[fauxartist]

awe mel.....man this has been such a hard ordeal for you my friend, I'm so sorry. What have you done in the past to help you through something like this before. Do you take any meds for your anxiety?....what coping mechanisms have you used before that helped you. Is there something else going on in your life right now that is triggering this fear and health anxiety?

[melbrown in reply to fauxartist]

Thank you Fauxartist. I wish I could put my finger on it... I know part of the anxiety stems from my sister suffering a stroke when she was 16... she's recovered, hasn't had another. But they don't know the cause, we have no family history. I am sure all the stuff from my childhood doesn't help. Know I'm stressed.

I see my therapist on Friday, she gets back on Monday, was on vacation for 2 weeks. I started an anxiety class in a week to help cope. I'm on Zoloft, but kind of scared to start. Hate the med game. ...but maybe I should give it try.

Thank you again my friends... safe hugs. 💛

[Hidden]

I went through the exact same thing for years, docs could never find anything wrong, ear pain, ears blocked etc they kept giving me medication that did nothing etc.

When you mentioned your other ear is beginning to hurt then I realised that you might have a problem with the muscles in your neck.

Look into scm muscle strain, it can cause pain and discomfort in one or both ears. It's a muscle in your neck, when there is a problem with it you can end up with earache, sinus infection, headachez, the list goes on, it's the worst muscle to strain on the body.

Get your doctor to check it out.

It can be fixed by using pain relief medication along with stretching and flexing the muscle in the neck, shoulders and chest.

Mention it to your doctor next time you see them.

[fauxartist in reply to Hidden]

your kidding!....that is so interesting....I have a permanent neck injury, and have limited radial dexterity from it....so I live with a stiff neck most of the time, and it just kills me when I have to do any physical hard work....like over head lifting or painting...but I always just had to learn to live with it...but it was well after the accident that I started having ear problems....I'll definitely read up on this....very helpful tip Jimmyjimmy....

[Hidden in reply to fauxartist]

I have arthritis in my neck so I used to get problems with the muscles.

Scm is the main culprit.

[fauxartist in reply to Hidden]

sorry pal....I really do feel for ya.... it's always there....I just seem to kind of take it for granted now....unless it flares up..... used to get massage therapy.... now I just tough it out with an advil now and then.

[Hidden in reply to fauxartist]

Mine doesn't bother me much, stretches sort it out if it flares up.

[fauxartist in reply to Hidden]

I used to be able to do that....kind of work out the kinks so to speak....but when the damaged muscle turned to scar tissue...I couldn't any more, no elasticity in the tendon. Same thing with both my shoulders now..arthritis....just old age and a couple of bad falls, never quite recovered ....but it doesn't stop me....I keep on ticken.

[Hidden in reply to fauxartist]

Old age doesn't help at all.

[fauxartist in reply to Hidden]

gezzz....I remember this one from human anatomy....Sternocleidomastoid ...

[Hidden in reply to fauxartist]

Yes I remember it to, nastily little thing.

[melbrown in reply to Hidden]

🎉Jimmyjimmy, you were actually close. ENT doctor says it sounds like it's my jaw. That I'm probably grinding my teeth & clutching & iterated it. That she'd be surprised if I had an ear infection at all. I can't remember what she called it. She said it's common... that most think they have an ear infection & don't get the jaw pain. I'll look into scm too, cause that sounds similar. Thanks for the advice. 💛

[Hidden in reply to melbrown]

Good, you are on the ball with it now.

🙂

[BW33]

Please let us know what the doctor says. So many times on this forum we don’t see a follow up , then I wonder what has happened.

[melbrown in reply to BW33]

I know, I wonder a lot too. She said all of it is coming from my jaw (sorry forget what it's called). That I'm probably grinding my teeth at night & iterated my jaw. That when people do that they feel it in their ears & think they have an ear infection. She wonders if I ever had 1 at all 😩 Have to ice it, try to eat soft foods, pain meds & wait it out. She was nice, no anxiety blaming. So glad about that. Also glad we're able to enjoy our day... my sister in law is visiting.

[morenews]

My friend had similar simptoms and it took long time to get diagnoses. But it was ...and I did not even know it is possible some kind of yeast infection of ear. Was treated fast after that.

[fauxartist in reply to morenews]

that's a new one....I know that yeast exists in your body naturally and if you have a course of antibiotics you can wipe out the good bacteria which coats your membranes and keeps the yeast in check ...I have also heard of peoples whole intestinal tract becoming effected, but never the ear...interesting.

[morenews in reply to fauxartist]

Yes, strange, but something to check out, because my friend was taking antibiotics for ear infection ... for a long time and it did not work ... until she got a good doctor who figured it out

[fauxartist in reply to morenews]

seeing that yeast would be fungal....it makes sense that an antibacterial would not work.

[melbrown in reply to morenews]

I think I've heard about that... man our bodies are weird. Glad your friend got an answer & relief.

[BW33]

Thank U for the follow up!

[Hidden]

Any new update how are you feeling hun

[melbrown in reply to Hidden]

Doing my best... hard at times to convince myself it's mostly anxiety & stress. Right now I'm hoping to make it through the baby shower I'm going to. It's for my husband's cousin, there's some family drama so I know it'll mean a lot for me to be there. Plus B is awesome... her mother is another story. Took my emergency Ativan, so helpfully it helps. How are you sweetheart? ❤ u

[MariaLove123]

You HAVE TO see a Nose, Ear and Throat Doctor. I was having inner ear issues and the doctor sent me for tests where they can see all the way inside to what’s going on. I have Vestibular Inner Ear Imbalance. Good luck!!!