Ears, ears n flu bugs

[zoom-zoom]

Zoom-I thought the sudafed stuff was an antihistamine as well...? I don't feel as stuffed up..

Nope, it's a decongestant. Meds with D, like Allegra-D or Claritin-D are antihistamine + decongestant. Antihistamines will stop sneezing from allergies, but don't do much for congestion, especially of the non-allergic sort.

[crazycanuck]

I haven't swum since early june... but the ear thing isn't from swimming. THis is more inside & I thought i might be able to drain some if i solely slept on my right side last night. Nope. I feel better but the ear doesn't.

I have been taking Sudafed PE over the course of this week but have to limit the amount (directions say not to use if driving etc) as I have errands to run etc.

I do have one more qu...I purchased some "Breathe Easier" essential oil blend (corn mint, eucalyptus and thyme)from a health food store & tried to use it this afternoon but found it wayyy overpowering. Is there a secret to the head over bowl of hot water method?

I'm visiting my coolio dr tomorrow.

Thanks!

[crazycanuck]

I visited my dr today & have bubbles in my ear n was given some antibiotics. He said the bubbles were similar to glue ear. Glue ear's not supposed to be painful but my ear is really really sore . Ow.

So, should i just do very short bike rides(rugged up as much as possible) or just rest til this goes away?

[OakLeaf]

I guess it's whatever you feel up to and whatever the doctor said...

but definitely DON'T do anything strenuous - you need all of your immune system - and I would stay off public roads as well, if you're feeling anything like I do when I had that ear infection. I simply would not have had the concentration or attention to ride safely in traffic, never mind the sense of hearing or balance.

I never heard of "bubbles" or "glue ear." Must be some-a those Aussie medical terms.

[crazycanuck]

Thanks Oak, i'll just stay on the bike path & just take it easy for now. I learnt my lesson wed as i went out mtn biking thinking I was better & have spent the last few days sleeping. I guess I could just work on one legged drills.

I thought glue ear was a common word everywhere. (i googled it and saw it mainly affects kids & isn't painful..)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Bubbles? Glue ear? I too have never heard of such things.

If he gave you antibiotics it must be an infection?

[malkin]

Bubbles, need to pop, and glue ear all describe middle ear problems.
Vertigo is an inner ear problem.

The outer ear connects to the world through the ear canal. Outer ear is the part that goes from your "ear" (the thing you see on the outside) to your ear drum (tympanic membrane).

The middle ear is everything from the tympanic membrane to the oval window, inside that space are your teeniest bones, the hammer, anvil, and stirrup. Their fancy names are incus, malleus, and stapes. The middle ear connects to the outside world (kind of in your throat, really) via the eustacian tube which opens (pops) to equalize pressure and keep the middle ear happy. When the eustacian tube tissues get irritated, then it doesn't function properly. Complicated mechanism, but middle ear infections result, and fluid can build up, and the fluid can get infected...in short, you have a ghastly mess. It can hurt, or impair hearing (usually temporarily), or just feel like your head is in a bucket.

Middle ear infections can produce either positive or negative pressure in that little space. Somtimes the pressure exceeds the stretchiness of the ear drum and The ear drum ruptures and releases middle ear fluid.

I have some really gory pictures that I show parents sometimes when they are reluctant to take their kid to be seen...

Here's a pretty drawing of a normal ear: http://www.uptodate.com/patients/con...Key=PEDS/19566

[malkin]

Bubbles, need to pop, and glue ear all describe middle ear problems.
Vertigo is an inner ear problem.

The outer ear connects to the world through the ear canal. Outer ear is the part that goes from your "ear" (the thing you see on the outside) to your ear drum (tympanic membrane).

The middle ear is everything from the tympanic membrane to the oval window, inside that space are your teeniest bones, the hammer, anvil, and stirrup. Their fancy names are incus, malleus, and stapes. The middle ear connects to the outside world (kind of in your throat, really) via the eustacian tube which opens (pops) to equalize pressure and keep the middle ear happy. When the eustacian tube tissues get irritated, then it doesn't function properly. Complicated mechanism, but middle ear infections result, and fluid can build up, and the fluid can get infected...in short, you have a ghastly mess. It can hurt, or impair hearing (usually temporarily), or just feel like your head is in a bucket.

Middle ear infections can produce either positive or negative pressure in that little space. Somtimes the pressure exceeds the stretchiness of the ear drum and The ear drum ruptures and releases middle ear fluid. The fluid is also called "effusion."

Looking through an otoscope provides a health care provider with a view of the tympanic membrane (ear drum). When healthy, it is "pearly gray" (if you just say gray, you may lose points on your exam); because the membrane is translucent, the "crescent shaped" shadow of the malleus (hammer) bone can be visualized.

If the middle ear is infected, the TM may be red, visually bulging, and/or bubbles may be seen in the middle ear fluid.

Amazing what I can remember from graduate school!

I have some really gory pictures that I show parents sometimes when they are reluctant to take their kid to be seen...

Here's a pretty drawing of a normal ear: http://www.uptodate.com/patients/con...Key=PEDS/19566