Chronic Ear infection for past 26 years

[Zannhart]

I have had a chronic ear infection in my right ear since I was 2. I had tubes put in my ear and after being on oral medication for 3 years my mom requested I be taken off them because they didn't appear to be working. Between ages of 7 and 18 I had 3 surgeries to clean the ear and a fourth surgery to remove 3 bones and the ear drum. Between the ages of 6-18 I was prescribed ear drops but the drops never seemed to work, other than the operations all that was ever done was the monthly cleaning but to my knowledge this cleaning procedure doesn't actually treat the infection.

At 22 I saw a different ENT doctor who cleaned out my ear and wanted to see me once a month for cleaning. Whenever they use this machine to clean my ear I get incredibly dizzy and sick to the point where I am vomiting and have to rest the whole day, because of this I chose not to get my ear cleaned again.

I recently had oral surgery and was prescribed amoxicillin for 2 weeks and this seemed to help a lot. Before I took the antibiotics I would have a lot of puss to clean up after waking and would need to clean my ear throughout the day as it drained more. Towards the end of the 2 weeks of taking amoxicillin there was hardly any puss to clean up after waking up and I almost never had to clean my ear throughout the day. Now I'm having almost the exact same drainage problem.

I'm not sure what to do. I've seen a Pediatrician, 2 ENT doctors and 4 general practitioners and none of them prescribed amoxicillin, yet I get dental work done and the antibiotics do more good in 2 weeks than I've had done in the past 26 years. I'm afraid to see another ENT doctor only to have them insist I see them once a month and never want to treat the infection.

Should I see an ENT doctor and insist they prescribe amoxicillin until the infection is gone? Without an ear drum wouldn't I be highly susceptible to another chronic ear infection?

[Zannhart]

Thank you so much for the advice.  I haven't seen a doctor for my ear in over 6 years.  I will certainly find an otologist as soon as I am able to and see what he says.

I guess what worries me most is the fact I've had this problem for almost 30 years, is it common for ear infections to persist for this long?  I still don't have an eardrum, would I be easily susceptible to another chronic ear infection if this one is cleared due to the lack of an eardrum?

Thank you again for your help.

[Vivek V Gurudutt, MD]

Without complete knowledge of the procedures completed as well as the state of your ear currently, it is tough to assess your condition.  However, a candid discussion with your otologist (ent specializing in ears) would be in order.  Make sure you inform the physician of your symptoms as well as what seems to improve things.  Have the doctor try to correlate your observations with what is seen on physical exam.  Discuss your experiences with antibiotic treatment.  Best of luck.