Ear troubles!

[WorriedOne84]

For over a month I had been having some slight issues with my throat being irritated and my ears aching a bit.  Sometimes when I would chew food I would get pain in my right ear and even my right eye would ache.  Also, the right side of my throat feels a tad bit swollen.  If you look at my throat it looks red and irritated.  I had what I guess was a tonsil stone come out a few weeks ago.  I went to my doctor 2 weeks ago about all of this and he said I had inflammation and a ton of fluid behind my ears and said my right eardrum looked really dull.  He thought all of that was probably being caused by a sinus infection.  Anyway, he prescribed antibiotics and Nasonex.  I've been taking them for 2 weeks now and I'm still having some problems.  Sometimes I had feel fluid in my ears and they are still achy.  Not everytime, but sometimes when I eat I'm still getting discomfort in my ear/jaw area.  I am just a bit congested at well.  What should I be doing?  Do you think I need to go back to the doctor?  What could be causing this?

[WorriedOne84]

Well, I went back to the doctor Thursday and he said there is fluid in my ears.  He gave me some ear drops to use 3 times per day.  I get so nervous going to the doctor that I totally freak and don't even tell all or explain my symptoms.  I'm not just having an ear ache as I told him, my jaw on the right side sometimes hurts when I open my mouth and the right side of my throat and face sometimes are achy..  Even the right side of my neck is somewhat tender.  My left ear is bothering me as well but not as much as my right one.  It's nothing terrible just very annoying and the drops he prescribed aren't helping at all.  In fact, it's been a little worse today.  I don't want to go back as I'm afraid he'll think I'm a hypochondriac.  I've been having some anxiety issues and it makes me paranoid that he won't take my symptoms seriously because of that.

[Bridget A. Hewitt, RN]

Hi,

I'm sorry, I think I missed your question.  

I do think that you need to go back to the doctor.  Can you see an ENT?  It does not sound like the antibiotic and Nasonex are working for you since you are still congested and you still have the ear/jaw pain.  It is possible that you have a chronic sinusitis or you may be allergic to something (like a seasonal allergy).  Either way, since you have had a failed course of antibiotics, I think you would  benefit from an evaluation by an ENT.

Good luck and sorry to have missed your question.

Bridget

[WorriedOne84]

Anything?  I guess I may just go ahead and go back to the doctor.

[WorriedOne84]

I forgot to add that over the past month or so my blood pressure has been running somewhat low which I didn't mention to my doctor.  I'd say it had averaged about 95/55 but it's been as low as 92/45.  Could the blood pressure issue be related to whatever else is going on with my ears/throat?  Thanks for your time.