Mar
28
2010
Would the doctor flush my ear if a sinus infection caused my ear to clog?
Posted by: Alan in Sinus Infection, tags: Caused, clog, Doctor, flush, Infection, Sinus, WouldI can barely hear out of my left ear due to a sinus infection. I went to the doctor on monday and she gave me medicine for the sinus infection and said it will go away. But my ear has been clogged for about 2 weeks now. Can the doctor flush my ear out? Or can she only do it if wax is the problem? Please help, I need to hear again.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Entries (RSS)
March 28th, 2010 at 9:10 am
I’ve never had a my ear flushed for any reason. Try using Afrin, sometimes a nose spray can help you clear your ears.
March 28th, 2010 at 9:44 am
NO.
Flushing the ear out is only appropriate for treatment of wax and debris clogging the ear canal.
The ear canal ends at the ear drum, an impenetrable barrier to external irrigation, “flushing”.
Sinus and throat infections clog the part of the ear that is on the *other side* of the ear drum. Where you are clogged, no flushing can reach or help.
-ENT MD x30y
March 28th, 2010 at 9:53 am
Get to work on that sinus infection. Eyes, ears, nose, and throat all affect each other closely. Here are tips that help me when I’m fighting a cold, respiratory infection, or flu…..
take a sinus decongestant containing Phenylephrine 5mg. you don’t necessarily need all the extras it’s often mixed with.
but if you want some extras, here you go: Guaifenisen (Mucinex is the brand name, but it’s way cheaper at dollar stores. always read ingredients!!) liquefies your mucus so it’s much easier to expel. But you have to drink TONS of water or it won’t work, and you must be near a bathroom because it makes you pee a lot.
Ibuprofen is an excellent anti-inflammatory, but it’s strong, so alternate it with Acetaminophen as needed for pain, pressure, and headaches.
ESSENTIALS:
stay home. (even one day can make a difference. plus, you’ll keep your germs to yourself.)
)
sleep. (bolsters up your immune system)
drink plenty of water. (8 8oz servings a day=bare minimum!!) (pee out those germs and flush ‘em away!!)
take vitamin C, zinc, and echinacea. (also strengthen the immune system)
eat too much garlic. (sorry, but it really is great for your health! and it will give you a good reason to stay home.
avoid milk and chocolate. dairy foods will thicken your mucus and make your fight that much harder.
the meds and garlic are harsh, so don’t take them on an empty stomach. i hope you allow yourself some time to feel better soon! take care.
also i just learned a new tip from JOHN POPPER of BLUES TRAVELER: very hot water, cayenne pepper, white vinegar, and honey. GROSS!!! he gargles it and spits up all kinds of nasty crap. might be worth a shot, but don’t hurt your vocals! to be safe maybe just do hot water with lemon and honey. that works too, and it’s much more pleasant.
COUGHING FITS:
you will benefit most from the mucinex and water. (generic is fine… but don’t take any DEXTROMETHORPHAN during the day. take it at night so you can stop coughing and get some rest. during the day, you need to drink a ton of water and break that crap up so it will leave you alone!)