Middle Ear/Sinus Trouble

[40 cent]

Hey guys,

I dont want to sound like a whinge, but this problem has been p*ssing me off for so long now, i want some other opinions/experiences...

Ive always had relatively bad sinuses, enough to give me head cold symptoms regularly, but not enough for migraines etc. However, about 3 months ago i got a REALLY bad ear infection...i couldnt hear out of my ear and it was painful for a month or so. Second month i still couldnt hear properly and third month there was still a considerable amount of pressure.

today, there is still pressure there, it isnt infected, but the doc said the flem and stuff isnt draining because of my sinuses. he suggested there wasnt much i could do to clear my sinuses, suggested i could TRY a couple of sinus tablets??

i was wondering if anyone has any advice on what to do, i really need it to drain, i feel it when i train hard, and it feels as though i am talking underwater sometimes. wondering if anyone has any techniques/advice/whatever on how to help my problems.

im drinking lots of water, tried 'steaming', and have tried some sinus tablets, but nothing has worked so far, and its been MONTHS...i know it takes a lot to drain...but hell, its not getting much better

thanks for any assistance...

[jaymac]

I have same problem (in fact I was just complaining about it before I read your post). I had a doctor tell me once to stand in a shower and inhale the hot water through your nose. It worked! Painful but it worked! Also, he advised me to see a Ears, nose, and throat doctor because the shower thing was for temporary relief. Good luck!

[Meguro]

Let me guess. You suffer from seasonal allergies. When the allergies get real bad, the mucus doesn't drain away quickly enough and you end up with sinusitis or ear infections. Close?

Pour boiling water into a cup. Add some salt. When the water has cooled a little, inhale it one nostril at a time. Use a tablespoon so that you don't end up spilling water all over your shirt. 2 or 3 tablespoons of warm saline solution per nostril does the trick. Have some tissue handy so that you can soak up any saline solution or mucus that dribbles from your nose. The saline solution will shrink the swollen membranes inside your nasal passages, kill some bacteria and give you relief.

I haven't had a cold or sinus infection for years since doing this.

[Jacob]

First, try a sinus rinse, as has been suggested before. You can do it once a day. I use a product from Neilmed.com (no, I do not sell it). It is very easy to use and it helps a lot.

Also, if you can, please see an allergy/ear nose and throat doctor to see if you have any structural problems. I had to have minor inpatient sinus surgery 15 yrs. ago, and it was one of the best things I ever did.

Don't be afraid to investigate and do research. The fact that your ears are involved means you should definitely do something about it. Good luck.

[40 cent]

excellent, thanks for the help guys this is great....it feels good to at least have some direction. i will try these tricks and if it doesnt help at all, ill go see a specialist.

with the 'saline' solution, im actually breathing the water back into my nostril right? not just inhaling the steam?

thanks for the help...any other remedies hit me with them

[Meguro]

Jacob makes a good recommendation, ie. seeing a qualified medical professional. For the saline rinses, you suck it up, literally, with your nose.

[40 cent]

k i did the suck up with the nose, and it did help, well atleast until around lunch time and i clog up again. but it was good to atleast have it cleared so thanks. i will see a pro i think...i will let you know of results

[Jacob]

Actually, with my sinus rinse, I tilt my head to one side, insert the tip of the plastic bottle into the nostril and squeeze the bottle, which squirts the water up one side. The water then comes out the other side.

I don't literally sniff the water up my nose; it is a solid stream which comes out naturally on the other side. Of course, I then repeat with the other nostril. It feels weird but it works.