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What Causes A Feeling Of Fullness In Ear?
Question: my ears have been plugged for four weeks now. A doctor has checked them and they are not plugged or wax build up. I have been told it could be allergies. But I have had no symptoms other than clogged ears and itchy eyes. Is this allergies? I was prescribed a steroid to use with my Neti pot. I'm not sure it is working. I'm scared it's something worse.
Brief Answer:
Possible fluid in the middle ear
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear XXXXXXX
Thank you for using HCM,
From what you are describing, sounds like you have a serous ottitis, meaning that you have fluid behind the ear drum that prevents it from moving normally, and so causing this feeling of full ears.
It is not an allergy in itself, but it may happen more often to people who suffer from seasonal allergies. There is a communication canal between the middle ear and throat, that in allergic people is mostly swollen, blocked, so the fluid from the ear does not drain and gets stacked in the ear causing serous ottitis.
The treatment of it is time (waiting for the fluid to absorb gradually) and maing sure that allergies are treated constantly. Thats why I suppose your doctor has given you a steroid, because it lowers the inflammation of the mucosa and helps keep the canal open.
I hope I answered your question. Looks like your doctor is doing the right things. The steroid needs at least 4 weeks to start working, and the fluid in the ear needs on average 6 months to resolve.
Let me know if you have further queries.
Take care,
Dr. Papaqako
Possible fluid in the middle ear
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear XXXXXXX
Thank you for using HCM,
From what you are describing, sounds like you have a serous ottitis, meaning that you have fluid behind the ear drum that prevents it from moving normally, and so causing this feeling of full ears.
It is not an allergy in itself, but it may happen more often to people who suffer from seasonal allergies. There is a communication canal between the middle ear and throat, that in allergic people is mostly swollen, blocked, so the fluid from the ear does not drain and gets stacked in the ear causing serous ottitis.
The treatment of it is time (waiting for the fluid to absorb gradually) and maing sure that allergies are treated constantly. Thats why I suppose your doctor has given you a steroid, because it lowers the inflammation of the mucosa and helps keep the canal open.
I hope I answered your question. Looks like your doctor is doing the right things. The steroid needs at least 4 weeks to start working, and the fluid in the ear needs on average 6 months to resolve.
Let me know if you have further queries.
Take care,
Dr. Papaqako
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
The doctor only prescribed 10 days worth of the medication, Pulmucort. I have only taken it for two days now. But only seen slightly changes - if any. Should some effects soon? The dosage is 0.5 mg once daily. I am using it in a sinugator (like a Netipot but motorized). Should I do anything else?
Brief Answer:
Fluid in ear needs approximately 6 months to resolve
Detailed Answer:
Hello again XXXXXXX
It actually depends on the examination and what the doctor has seen in your ear while he/she did the exam. Most probably it might have been fluid after it, which explains the medication she has given. Use it for 10 days and then follow-up with the doctor who prescribed it. It is supposed to help, if you have blocked nose from allergies. Be careful of avoiding the nose septum because that medicine may give a damage in it with the time.
According to the medical evidence and trials the fluid in the middle ear (if that is your case) will need up to 6 months to resolve, and in most cases it does it spontaneously if the patient haven't allergies.
Hope this is helpful.
Regards,
Dr. Papaqako
Fluid in ear needs approximately 6 months to resolve
Detailed Answer:
Hello again XXXXXXX
It actually depends on the examination and what the doctor has seen in your ear while he/she did the exam. Most probably it might have been fluid after it, which explains the medication she has given. Use it for 10 days and then follow-up with the doctor who prescribed it. It is supposed to help, if you have blocked nose from allergies. Be careful of avoiding the nose septum because that medicine may give a damage in it with the time.
According to the medical evidence and trials the fluid in the middle ear (if that is your case) will need up to 6 months to resolve, and in most cases it does it spontaneously if the patient haven't allergies.
Hope this is helpful.
Regards,
Dr. Papaqako
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Is there any reason to think it could be anything worse? Like something neurological or a tumor?
Brief Answer:
Not likely
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Not from what you are describing. But again, it will all depend on the otoscopic examination that the doctor have done.
-- The ear tumor, called colesteatoma (google images if you want to see how it looks), would be visible in the examination, and would be progressively worse. The possibility of that happening in your age is very, very low.
-- Something neurological would give the symptom of numbness, and from what Im reading that is not the case.
Hope I answered your questions.
Take care.
Not likely
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Not from what you are describing. But again, it will all depend on the otoscopic examination that the doctor have done.
-- The ear tumor, called colesteatoma (google images if you want to see how it looks), would be visible in the examination, and would be progressively worse. The possibility of that happening in your age is very, very low.
-- Something neurological would give the symptom of numbness, and from what Im reading that is not the case.
Hope I answered your questions.
Take care.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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