Ear PLUGGED

[Ihatepalps2]

Hi! I got the "real" flu!  I had a Dr appt anyways on the 4th of March, so my dr put me on Tamiflu for 5 days. I started with the cough..had the fever, aches, chills etc. That subsided about a week later-except for the cough. Approximatly 03/10 I woke up, and my right ear was plugged solid. A day after, I went down at work to our wellness ctr, the physician there said fluid but no infection. I waited a couple days, was feeling awful, with the non stop unproductive cough and the ear that was now painful. On 03/13 I went to urgent care. They said they could see the fluid in my ear, and that it was now red. I was put on 2000mg/day amoxicillian. Ive now had 5 days of that med, and my ear is as plugged as ever. My hearing is diminished ALOT. The pain is not as severe. Can you tell me about how long this will continue? Its very frustrating-and uncomfortable. Should I see an ENT? Or, just be patient and let this run its course? I hear a "hissing" sound most of the time..and sometimes a ringing. Is that just the fluid in there? My other ear is about 10 percent plugged.
Thanks!

[Aleparodi]

A related discussion, Plugged ears was started.

[Dave87]

my ear is blocked and i would describe my tinnitus as a hissing sound i also here beeping in one ear. Can you click something in your ear i can

[Eric P Wilkinson, MD]

There is simply no way to know whether you had a nerve hearing loss or a conductive hearing loss without a full examination.  My blog entry discusses how a tuning fork can help your primary care physician decide whether you need rapid ENT referral.

Often hearing losses after upper respiratory infections are due to fluid, but unfortunately I have seen too many patients with nerve hearing losses (not treated properly) that were misdiagnosed as fluid behind the eardrum.

The blog entry has a full discussion of this.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical
advice - the information presented is for patients education only.
Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your
individual case.

[Eric P Wilkinson, MD]

You have had a sudden hearing loss, and it may be either conductive (from fluid) or sensorineural.  See my blog entry on "Sudden Hearing Loss" for a full discussion.

Hope this helps.  Good luck!

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical
advice - the information presented is for patients education only.
Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your
individual case.

[JeWeL41]

Don't mess with your ears, see a GP. I had sudden hearing loss in Nov 2006 and it's permanent. Yours is most likely a blocked eustachian tube but you can't be sure.