The ear connection?

I didn't want to continue Antonio's topic about talking volume in case it might stress him to feel the need to respond to more posts, particularly if they aren't directly related to his problem.

Peteza, this is a quote from a post you made "One of my first symptoms was my ears felt plugged. As if I had gone up in elevation. It was annoying and chewing gum did not help nor did yawning...."
Webmd has this to say about it: "Airplane ear is the stress exerted on your eardrum and other middle ear tissues when the air pressure in your middle ear and the air pressure in the environment are out of balance. You may experience airplane ear at the beginning of a flight when the airplane is climbing or at the end of a flight when the airplane is descending. These fast changes in altitude cause air pressure changes and can trigger airplane ear.

Airplane ear is also called ear barotrauma, barotitis media or aerotitis media."

You reminded me of a couple odd ear situations I have. 'Airplane ear' is one of them.
It's a frequent thing I experience, often when it's hot outside and I've had to absolutely push myself to do something. For instance if I'm outside trying to feed the horses and I already feel like the walking dead. With me it comes in 3 or 4 second waves, on and off until I get a chance to sit down and cool off for a while. Wish I knew what is happening to cause that in us, it's unnerving.

The other problem I've had for many years is intense ear itching. Like a dog with ear mites, except I've had my ears examined several times and the only things that were ever found was a bit of wax that was flushed out in the Dr. office, traces of dried blood from my 'scratching' (My Internist said "what on earth are you doing to your ears?", I had a simple reply, "they itch"). One time I was diagnosed with fluid in my inner ear. The medication did nothing and I did not pursue her idea of having a tube drain put in.

They still itch like crazy sometimes and I often fantasize about a ear swab with a bristle brush on the end, but I know better.

Spirochetes maybe? Anyone else experiencing 'airplane ear'?

Julymorning -
Itchy ears is horrible!! I'm so glad you had it checked out. But they were likely not looking for yeast/fungus which is sometimes not visible. Crackly, sore, itchiness in the inner ear are y/f overgrowth sx. Do you have any other y/f issues in your head? Eyes? Throat? Mouth? What are you doing for antifungal?

-p

Ahhh OK. Wow. So my $ is on a fungal issue. I went from the arid desert to coastal dampness and I had all sorts of fun problems that have been pretty tough.

The ACV is great at supporting gut health and lemon water help alkalizer but neither is going to touch what you have. I would suggest asking for a systemic antifungal Rx (Diflucan or Ketoconazole) and also incorporate a strong binder like pure cholestyramine Rx (expensive but one of the best binders) or bentonite clay might work too. You'll also need to have your liver enzymes checked every few weeks and milk thistle seed and/or burdock root are very helpful with managing liver enzymes.

You should stay on the antifungal while you're in Lyme & co treatment - you just are way too hospitable for fungus. ;). Your sinuses and chest might also clear up. See the yeast/fungal info I placed in the "New to Lyme?" thread, particularly the end piece where I describe some very similar sinus and bronchitis issues lasting for over a year that I cleared up within days with
www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&m=1606610&g=3644275#m3644275

Also, you should be on a mold protocol. Are you doing anything for mold? The cholestyramine will also be very helpful in removing mold toxins.

you may need to clean with bleach every now and then. Keep a diluted spray bottle on-hand to use. Clean your bed & bath linens and clothes with bleach- maybe borax is good for fungus/mold, can't remember. Please replace your pillows, too. Buy the $9 ones at Target while you are treating. Wash everything frequently.

Hope this is helpful.

-p

Post Edited (Pirouette) : 7/16/2016 3:26:22 PM (GMT-6)

OK - while on either of those antifungals you will need to have the enzymes checked every 4 wks. Nystatin doesn't generally cross the mucosal barrier (which is why its a local anti fungal, not a systemic) so you don't need to worry about it.

OK on the bleach. I have experienced just the opposite (vinegar didn't help, bleach did) so you have a strain that is more susceptible to vinegar - that's good.

"Do the charcoal caps do anything about removing mold out of my system or would that only be if it's in my bloodstream?" This is a good question. I do't know the answer. Most binders remove toxins from the gut and gut tissues by "leaching" them out and grabbing onto them and helping you eliminate them. So, the toxins are originating here, and travel through your blood stream sometimes through other means so the goal is to eliminate the source.

-p

I can't do bleach in my home either. The fumes make me ill. I can't seem to get enough fresh air to combat the bleach smell. We use vinegar in my house also.

Ears have been the bane of my life since the start of this year. When I first got all the sudden onset of symptoms over 5 years ago it was a rigid jaw and couldn't put my teeth together ... this returned last month with a Houtt herx. Anyway on the right side it did affect the eustachian tube. At the beginning I was back and forward to the dentist and had lots of oral work and abx and nothing sorted it out, I didn't know about LD then. Then for years I had sinus problems which seem to have abated and now it is 'stuck in my ears'

I get the itching, fluid, swollen lymph nodes around ears back and front on face, popping and cracking and a low constant background noise. They are inflamed, the right one all the time and have this horrible scaly extra skin growth.

The one thing that does make it a lot better are Erythromycin, have been on those a lot this year and every time I take a break it comes back. Really don't want to do long term abx, one of the side effects from those is the fatigue I already have is exacerbated I can hardly keep my eyes open some days and have to go to work at the moment otherwise I couldn't afford my herbals and supplements.

I get under water ear for last 2 yrs ...i thought it was fungal but i thinkbitbis bart hitting nerves ,related to vertigo..garlic mullen oil from herbfarm helps some ,rifing for bart ..zith makes it worse .my doc saidbhe likes high dose melatonin like 20mg