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Suggest Treatment For Ruptured Ear Drum And Sneezing
Question: Hello I have a badly ruptured left ear drum due to a blow two weeks ago. I am on antibiotics, ciprofloxacin 500mg 2 x per day to prevent infection while it heals. Yesterday I started sneezing a lot and my nose was dripping like a tap. I took sudafed to dry up the mucous but the lining of my nose swelled. The left nostril (connected to my damaged left ear drum and left eustachian tube) blocked up solid and no air got in or out all night. The right side was open (I have a deviated septum). Should I take more decongestants now until the ear drum is fixed? Should i be opening up that left nostril by force with drixine nasal spray? It has a rebound effect so i'd need to be squirting it up there every 6 hours for the next 2 weeks at least until I see the ENT specialist.
Brief Answer:
Otoscopy and self protection required.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I had gone through your question and understand your concerns that you are having ruptured ear drum.
vAnswers and solutions for your queries.
1. I suggest you to consult ent surgeon , get otoscopy (to see status of ear drum and ossicles) can be injured due to trauma. Traumatic perforations requires oral antibiotics,analgesics and nasal decongesents to avoid infection from nose.
Ear drops are used only in active ear discharge.
Noraml healing perid for traumatic perforations is 2- 3 months, if it's draining or associated with hearing loss, should be evaluated with audiometry and corrected with surgery.
2. Continue ciprofloxaxin 500mg twice daily and anti histamines like citrizine 10 mg (over the counter, Zyrtec) instead of pseudo fed for a week to prevent running nose and infection.
3. With that, avoid consuming freezer products (curd/ice cream), protect your ear drum during bath (plug them with dry cotton).
Hope this answers your question, if you have additional questions or follow up questions then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your questions.
Wishing you good health.
Otoscopy and self protection required.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I had gone through your question and understand your concerns that you are having ruptured ear drum.
vAnswers and solutions for your queries.
1. I suggest you to consult ent surgeon , get otoscopy (to see status of ear drum and ossicles) can be injured due to trauma. Traumatic perforations requires oral antibiotics,analgesics and nasal decongesents to avoid infection from nose.
Ear drops are used only in active ear discharge.
Noraml healing perid for traumatic perforations is 2- 3 months, if it's draining or associated with hearing loss, should be evaluated with audiometry and corrected with surgery.
2. Continue ciprofloxaxin 500mg twice daily and anti histamines like citrizine 10 mg (over the counter, Zyrtec) instead of pseudo fed for a week to prevent running nose and infection.
3. With that, avoid consuming freezer products (curd/ice cream), protect your ear drum during bath (plug them with dry cotton).
Hope this answers your question, if you have additional questions or follow up questions then please do not hesitate in writing to us. I will be happy to answer your questions.
Wishing you good health.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Hello thanks for your reply
1) I have already seen an ENT specialist - he already looked with the otoscope. We already know it is badly perforated. A big hole in the eardrum
2) my follow up appointment with the ENT specialist is in 2 weeks time
3) the problem is not allergy - i have antihistamines. the problem is influenza. Nose is dripping like a tap. Took pseudoephedrine to dry it up and nasal passage subsequently blocked with swelling
4) I am already on ciprofloxacin but I am seeing small amounts of green mucous embedded in the clear mucous and also a bit of blood now.
5) My question is whether I should squirt drixine nasal spray up my left nostril to open it up as it is closed due to swelling of lining.
I am worried that if I get congestion in my left ear that will get infected due to the rupture
I am worried that if i squirt drixine up the left nostril then that will provoke a rebound effect or cause more problems with the left middle ear
I am not sure whether to sit out the blocked left nostril or to treat it with drixine - if i treat it with drixine i have to keep on treating it every 6 hours with nasal spray for the next 2 weeks minimum
1) I have already seen an ENT specialist - he already looked with the otoscope. We already know it is badly perforated. A big hole in the eardrum
2) my follow up appointment with the ENT specialist is in 2 weeks time
3) the problem is not allergy - i have antihistamines. the problem is influenza. Nose is dripping like a tap. Took pseudoephedrine to dry it up and nasal passage subsequently blocked with swelling
4) I am already on ciprofloxacin but I am seeing small amounts of green mucous embedded in the clear mucous and also a bit of blood now.
5) My question is whether I should squirt drixine nasal spray up my left nostril to open it up as it is closed due to swelling of lining.
I am worried that if I get congestion in my left ear that will get infected due to the rupture
I am worried that if i squirt drixine up the left nostril then that will provoke a rebound effect or cause more problems with the left middle ear
I am not sure whether to sit out the blocked left nostril or to treat it with drixine - if i treat it with drixine i have to keep on treating it every 6 hours with nasal spray for the next 2 weeks minimum
Brief Answer:
drixine- can be used for 5-7 days.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
Thanks for considering my answer and for your follow up.
1. Drixine nasal spray is a nasal decongestant, pseudoephedrine is a systemic decongestant not recommended for more than 5-7 days, in view of side effects.
You can do steam inhalation and use saline nasal drops, if more than 5 days.
2. Antihistamines do work on dripping nose. Kindly go ahead.
3.. Greenish mucus indicates infection, need to continue ciprofloxacin as per your treating doctor.
Hope, I have answered your query.
Take care.
drixine- can be used for 5-7 days.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
Thanks for considering my answer and for your follow up.
1. Drixine nasal spray is a nasal decongestant, pseudoephedrine is a systemic decongestant not recommended for more than 5-7 days, in view of side effects.
You can do steam inhalation and use saline nasal drops, if more than 5 days.
2. Antihistamines do work on dripping nose. Kindly go ahead.
3.. Greenish mucus indicates infection, need to continue ciprofloxacin as per your treating doctor.
Hope, I have answered your query.
Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Thanks but you have NOT answered my question, asked now for a third time.
I am not sure whether to sit out the blocked left nostril or to treat it with drixine - if i treat it with drixine i have to keep on treating it every 6 hours with nasal spray for the next 2 weeks minimum
I am hesitant to squirt drixine up the left nostril because of the strong rebound effect it has that could cause more problems with the left middle ear
In response to your points
1) steam inhalation does NOT help. Drixine works rapidly by vasoconstriction to remove the swelling in the mucosa of the nose, and opens up the nasal passage immediately for several hours BUT then the swelling rebounds worse than before
2) antihistamines do NOT stop the dripping of my nose because it is NOT caused by allergy but by flu virus. I already said this. I already took antihistamines and they didn't work. Only the sudafed worked but it had a mild rebound effect causing swelling of the mucosa
As i have a ruptured ear drum i need to keep the passages clear until healed but i have to balance this against the rebound effect and that is why i am unsure and why i paid for this service
I'm sorry but it hasn't been very helpful so far are you actually a qualified ENT specialist or just a general GP? I did ask for ENT...
I am not sure whether to sit out the blocked left nostril or to treat it with drixine - if i treat it with drixine i have to keep on treating it every 6 hours with nasal spray for the next 2 weeks minimum
I am hesitant to squirt drixine up the left nostril because of the strong rebound effect it has that could cause more problems with the left middle ear
In response to your points
1) steam inhalation does NOT help. Drixine works rapidly by vasoconstriction to remove the swelling in the mucosa of the nose, and opens up the nasal passage immediately for several hours BUT then the swelling rebounds worse than before
2) antihistamines do NOT stop the dripping of my nose because it is NOT caused by allergy but by flu virus. I already said this. I already took antihistamines and they didn't work. Only the sudafed worked but it had a mild rebound effect causing swelling of the mucosa
As i have a ruptured ear drum i need to keep the passages clear until healed but i have to balance this against the rebound effect and that is why i am unsure and why i paid for this service
I'm sorry but it hasn't been very helpful so far are you actually a qualified ENT specialist or just a general GP? I did ask for ENT...
Brief Answer:
start drixine.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
Answers for your queries.
1. You can start Drixine nasal spray (do not use more than 7 days).
2. Antihistamines do work as per my experience. (works on dripping of nose in both the conditions- flu or allergy).
3. Yes. You need to tackle the source of infection (nose or throat) to prevent ear drum infection. Continue ciproflloxacin medication as per your treating doctor.
4. You can go through my profile and qualification.
All the best.
start drixine.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
Answers for your queries.
1. You can start Drixine nasal spray (do not use more than 7 days).
2. Antihistamines do work as per my experience. (works on dripping of nose in both the conditions- flu or allergy).
3. Yes. You need to tackle the source of infection (nose or throat) to prevent ear drum infection. Continue ciproflloxacin medication as per your treating doctor.
4. You can go through my profile and qualification.
All the best.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Sorry your advice makes no sense
1) how can you tell me to take drixine for no more than 7 days when it has a severe rebound effect
when i have a ruptured eardrum and don't get to see the ENT for 14 days
So if I do what you say and use drixine for 7 days
then stop
then my nostril will close up tight and block on day 8.
I then have a ruptured eardrum and a closed up nose
and I won't be seeing a doctor for another week
So I either have to take drixine every 4-6 hours up the left nostril for 14 days
or not at all
those are the two options
what should I do : drixine for 14 days or no drixine. That is the question that has been asked 3 times in different words but you haven't answered.
2) I have told you twice now I have antihistamines, and I took them and they didn't work. They didn't work because histamine wasn't the problem.
Many thanks XXXXXXX
1) how can you tell me to take drixine for no more than 7 days when it has a severe rebound effect
when i have a ruptured eardrum and don't get to see the ENT for 14 days
So if I do what you say and use drixine for 7 days
then stop
then my nostril will close up tight and block on day 8.
I then have a ruptured eardrum and a closed up nose
and I won't be seeing a doctor for another week
So I either have to take drixine every 4-6 hours up the left nostril for 14 days
or not at all
those are the two options
what should I do : drixine for 14 days or no drixine. That is the question that has been asked 3 times in different words but you haven't answered.
2) I have told you twice now I have antihistamines, and I took them and they didn't work. They didn't work because histamine wasn't the problem.
Many thanks XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Drixine for 7 days.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
Solutuons for your issues.
1. I have already mentioned you, in view of side effects. More than 7 days of usage of drixine can lead to dryness of nose, palpitations, high BP, head-ache, visual disturbances and rhinitis medicamentosa.
2. 5-7 days of usage is sufficient to keep nasal patency, which helps in healing of your ear arm perforation.
3. I prefer antihistamines, instead of pseudoephidrine for drying up of secretions.
4. Drixine is for 7 days. Three times or thirty times, my answer will not change. This answer is in view of your side effects.
5. All the best. Take care.
Drixine for 7 days.
Detailed Answer:
Hello again,
Solutuons for your issues.
1. I have already mentioned you, in view of side effects. More than 7 days of usage of drixine can lead to dryness of nose, palpitations, high BP, head-ache, visual disturbances and rhinitis medicamentosa.
2. 5-7 days of usage is sufficient to keep nasal patency, which helps in healing of your ear arm perforation.
3. I prefer antihistamines, instead of pseudoephidrine for drying up of secretions.
4. Drixine is for 7 days. Three times or thirty times, my answer will not change. This answer is in view of your side effects.
5. All the best. Take care.
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
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