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Question about allergies and ear problems

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Posted 2/17/2008 7:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hello,

I mostly post on the anxiety fourm but for my whole life I have had allergies and taken shots and gave up on them and took them again and once again gave up, Been on most meds and nose sprays and found little works. But thats just a little back ground on myself.

However my question is about fluid build up in my ear behind the eardrum due to allergies. I have had a tube put in my ear when I was 19 and it worked rather well. I am now 26 and I think I may need another one. I still get thie build up of fluid and the dr.'s just keep telling me the same ole stuff, Like drink lots of water and take your meds. But its not working.

Does anyone else have this problem? Any ideas on what I can try to get my ear to drain?

Thank you!

Posted 2/18/2008 1:52 PM (GMT 0)

Crying,

I'm sorry, I responded to you yesterday, not that it did much good.  It must have gotten lost in cyberspace.  I did want to welcome you to our forum.  I have had allergies all my life and asthma for about six years, but don't really have much knowledge of ear problems.  I would be willing to bet that Red, our other moderator might have some answers for you, if not maybe some of our other members will.  Just be patient and I am sure someone will respond.  Maybe you need to find a new ENT.

We are really glad to have you with us.

Take care!

Carla

Posted 2/18/2008 2:12 PM (GMT 0)
Hi there! Welcome to the Allergies/Asthma side of the forums :) Carla mentioned something important - are you seeing an ENT? If you are, then yes, I think finding another one for a second opinion might be in order. I have a couple questions for you, which allergy meds are you taking? Do you smoke or around smokers? Do you have GERD or acid reflux? Have you ever had food allergy testing? Do you chew sugarless gum?

I don't know how to drain the fluid in your ears but I have read of a few pointers that can help the tube work more effeciently such as: Chewing sugarless gum opens the tube or aids in the opening of the tube. Avoid second hand smoke. If you have acid reflux or think you do, then taking care of that can help. Also, do you have any HEPA filters on your furnace? By reducing the allergens, it can help. A couple allergy tips are putting cheesecloth over your vents - this traps dust particles or whatnot from spreading over your home. Use a humidifier or dehumidifier depending on the moisture content of your home. You don't want it to be too dry. Dust thoroughly after vacuuming if you have carpet because vacuuming can stir up the dust and stuff in your carpet. Do you know what you are allergic to?
Posted 2/18/2008 6:04 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you both!

My ENT and allergist are in the same office and work side by side. They feel alot ent problems are caused by allergies.

I am on zyrtec and nasonex along with my lexapro for anxiety. I know about the chewing gum but I cant due to my jaw problem TMJ chewing gum makes it worse. I have no carpet in my house and run an air filter. I have covers over my vents and plastic covered all mattresses and pillows.
When I was 14 they relized how much I was allerigic too and that my allergies where year round. So the doc told me I should live in a plastic bubble if I can, lol.
In fact every time I have been tested for allergies they have to break it down into 3 days because Im allergic to so much and my little round spots where the poke me start to grow arms instead of staying round, very odd!

I have had ear problems my whole life and they only act up when my allergies get bad so I was wondering if anyone else had that problem too?
But thank you very much for the ideas. I am allergic to dust, most mold, all grasses, all trees, most pollens and animals including cattle, lol i cant believe they test for that. and roches and something else I cant remember. So needless to say for me to have a dry and un runny nose is a great day!
Posted 2/18/2008 6:29 PM (GMT 0)
Grrr! I just typed out a response to you and it got lost in cyberworld because HW logged me out!

But basically, I said...LOL...............Maybe I should've asked you what you WEREN'T allergic to eh? :) Sometimes finding the right allergy med combo can be a bit tough. Have you tried Astelin yet?
Posted 2/19/2008 1:33 AM (GMT 0)
I had water in the ear which is very painful. They stuck what looked like to me a long thin steel thing down my ear. I got it from swimming and hanging out in the bathtub too much. Since then I bought an eardrop dispensor and put rubbing alcohol in it to use for both ears when I am swimming.

Recently I felt pain in both ears. I live in a cold climate so I wore ear muffs the next day. The ears are very delicate and require special care if you live in in the nordic zones.

I also came down with inner ear dysfunction when I was in my forties. That makes you dizzy. That's all I can think of ... you should go back and tell them if you find no relief.

Hope you feel better soon.
Posted 2/20/2008 2:58 PM (GMT 0)

Joan,

Yes water in the ear can be painful but since I have had problems with allergies and my ears all my life, I wear a special ear plug when I take showers, My Ent fitted me for them almost 10 years ago cuz he thought it might be water getting in my ear causing pain. But It was not and I still wear the plugs when I shower, I hate water getting in my ears! I am sorry to hear you came down with  inner ear dysfunction, thats not fun! I hate when my sinuses act up and I get dizzy, err! I hope there is some relief for your ear problem.

I would say it was just an ear problem I have but again it only bothers me when my allergies act up!

Any ideas on some new meds to try?  I am almost to the point that I am going to make an appt with every ENT/Allergey Doc Around! I'm glad I posted on here, this is a nice place to bounce ideas and thoughts and maybe come up with an answer.

Thank you all!!

Posted 2/20/2008 9:44 PM (GMT 0)
I'm not an expert on medicine but you should definately see another doc. There must be something you can take to ease your pain. Sometimes you have to check out some other doc's.
Posted 2/21/2008 2:28 AM (GMT 0)

I would definitely try another doctor.  You shouldn't have to suffer that much.  I've only had a couple of ear problems in my lifetime and boy, they can be unbearable.

Please keep us posted.

Hugs!

Carla

Posted 3/4/2008 2:35 PM (GMT 0)
Have you tried to give up ALL dairy? A lot of ear problems are caused by dairy and doctors aren't sure why. Mainstream doctors don't know much about it (except in other parts of the world, where they aren't so pressured by pharmaceutical companies).
Posted 3/4/2008 11:04 PM (GMT 0)
I too have itchy ears with fullness sensations with my allergies. I'm allergic to the outdoors too - grass, trees, pets, dust, etc. My Allergist prescribed Pulmicort Respules and told me to put them in a nasal spray bottle and spray that up my nose, because the regular nasal steroid sprays are not strong enough to treat my symptoms. When I forget my dose, my ears get really bad again. I also have Asthma and use the Pulmicort in my nebulizer daily. Years of Claritin did nothing for my ears.

I also find that letting the water from the shower rinse out my ears helps some. Giving up dairy did nothing for my allergies - I was dairy-free for over 2 years, and mostly dairy-free for 14 years. Now, I only eat cheese because milk seems to stuff up my nose, and my doctor says it isn't an allergy so much as a hormonal response.

Good luck,
Posted 5/3/2008 11:10 PM (GMT 0)
i am having allergy and ear problems. dizziness, ringing in ears. its so frustrating. this has only came about a month ago. i have allergy test, allergic to cats. and still waiting for blood tests and ENT doc says ears look okay. Allergist says take your medicine, this started happening after taking new medication. what about the ringing? how is that normal? can anyone relate?
Posted 5/3/2008 11:31 PM (GMT 0)

I am very familiar with the ringing in the ears.  I have tinnitus.  Do a little research on that and see if your other symptoms fit.  Does the noise bother you when you go in a restaurant that plays music that's a little bit too loud?  Look up tinnitus and let me know what you think.

I also wanted to welcome you to HealingWell!

Take care!

Carla

Posted 5/3/2008 11:47 PM (GMT 0)

Hi another day,

i have actually looked up a lot of things about tinnitus online. the ent and allergist told me mine is allergy related. no hearing damage or rupture, inside the ear is normal, i have seen 2 ent docs too. strange thing, is i went a way to another state for a week and i was fine, come back and the ringing started again.

Posted 5/4/2008 1:16 AM (GMT 0)

Treepe,

When you looked up "tinnitus" did the symptoms seem to fit you?  You mentioned being better when you went away to another state.  Do you possibly live in one the the very high altitude states?  You don't to name the state if you don't want to, but I would think that would make my tinnitus worse.  As I said, feel free to email me if you need to.

Take care!

Carla

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