ear infection

Bummer.....


Here's a so called remedy I just found on the net:

"EASE EAR PAIN

Aerotitis, aka "blocked ear," is very painful and takes place when an ear does not adjust to the airplanes pressure changes. It is often experienced by passengers with colds and ear infections.

The following steam/heat remedy usually clears the blocked ear in seconds.

1. Place an airline paper cocktail napkin in the bottom of a small wax-coated drinking cup (found at galley and lavatory drinking water dispensers).

2. Add boiling water from a galley hot-water spigot covering the paper napkin. If you quickly pour off the water, the napkin will steam.

3. After you are sure you have drained off every drop of hot water, tip your head and place the little cup with hot steaming paper over your ear. Pain eases in moments as the steam reaches your eustachian tube. "



Here's a "popping" explanation:


"Lewis:
Why do your ears pop during altitude changes? What causes that?

We consulted David Eisenman, an ear specialist in Washington, D.C. He says it has to do with the middle ear, an air-filled space behind the eardrum. Whenever the air pressure outside changes, the air pressure inside the ear has to adjust.

Eisenman:
And the way it does that is through a transfer of air through a tube called the eustachian tube that goes to the back of the nose. That tube allows air to get in and out of the middle ear as needed to adjust for pressure changes. When you're on an airplane and you undergo a rapid pressure change, that tube needs to work a little harder and a little more rapidly than it normally would.

Thus causing the popping sensation when air suddenly rushes in or out of the tube. Dr. Eisenman says it's ok to try and equalize the pressure if your ears get uncomfortable.

Eisenman:
And the way you do it is by trying to get the eustachian tube to open and close, such as by swallowing or chewing on something. Or you can pinch your nose and try to push air actively back into the middle ears to do that."

Free? Without health insurance, this little trip to the ER could easily amount to $500 or more!

How does the steam reach the Eustachian tube through the ear?

It probably only works for milder cases, but gum chewing and sucking on hard candies really helps us (all three of us usually have problems in airplanes). Repeatedly swallowing helps get things properly pressurized.

No such thing! It's otitis media.

That's what I was thinking!!! Re the tubes....I wonder if the heat helps ease the pain?



NOTHING works for me except earplanes, and they are a miracle to my mind.


Isn't it interesting how different our defective eustachian tubes all are?


I discovered after I was brave in an acupuncture session, and let the person put a needle in behind my ear (it was excruciating for a minute or so) that I have a permanently blocked right eustachian tube. I know because it cleared after the acupuncture for a while!!! With an impressive amount of noise and drama.

I've been too chicken to have that done again.

If they're not "clear" and instead are full of mucous and pus, the only thing to do is take a decongestant and forget steam treatment!

dlowan - that all makes sense. I dunno about the steam thing, but right now heat makes me/my ear feel better. No amount of nose blowing, swallowing, sucking, yawning, etc makes the pain of flying go away. Maybe I have scar tissue in my eustacian tubes?

Miller, the discharge papers say "URI, R otitis media. It's an initial.

Right ear, methinks.

Good thinking, bunny.

I sliced my finger cutting a pork roast in probably the early eighties, but maybe earlier, a mere 476.00 at the ER, I remember that part of it well.

Well, hopefully the fact that it was a 'walk-in' and not an er (there's an er in the same hospital) will be a good thing.

Like a minor emergency center, or was it an after-hours clinic?

Might be worth it to follow-up with your regular doc. I had some poor experiences with doc-in-a-box when I was in college.

The clinic has regular business hours, and it's open on the weekends. It's not an er. I'm to make an appt with my primary doctor for 2 weeks. I'll see her sooner if I need to.

Got my appetite back!

That's good!

Again I'm sure this is firmly in the "you already know this" column, but just saying, lots of fluids! Lots and lots and lots. Loosens things up, makes it easier for bad stuff to move around and get out.

Sorry you're not feeling spectacular yet, darlin... ((((((LilK))))))

Yes, it is a good thing.

Yes, right ear.

In today's money, that would be more than $1000.
One tiny pill of Vicodin in the ER is $7.00 ( example).

How you feeling today, littlek? Better, I hope.

"Ere, 'ere!!!!!
























































damn


slipped out