Any experience on this- recurrent ear infection

[Imaginetoday]

Not a child...me! Post menopausal

In last 6 year I keep getting ears with excess wax, also a lot of flaky skin. Then about every so often the inner canals get inflamed and ears block up- extreme pain and deafened ear. Lots of tinnitus

I’ve tried controlling wax with ortex and, on advice from gp with little syringe bulb thingy you fill with warm water. No ear buds or pokey things being used. Still they block up . Gp says it’s sort of like dermatitis . A few years back one GP described what she could see as “ manky” 🤣🤣

Gp prescribed Otomize and is on repeat and that does clear inflammation and restores hearing...takes about 5 days each time

Mainly in left ear...but sometimes right one joins in a few days later. I’m careful not to poke and spread any bugs so I’m not convinced it would be cross infection

Now in last 4 months it’s happening every 4 weeks or so...I can get it clear up with otomize but then comes back again a few weeks later. I’m like a junky on strong painkillers and am fed up . Gp obviously not terribly interested right now and they’ve not asked me to attend to have them looked at- they seem ok with just giving repeat prescriptions

Any advice or experience on how to stop this ?

Thank you

I think I’d push for a referral to ENT as this is a reoccurring issue. Sometimes reoccurring ear infections can spread into the bone behind your ear and this can cause permanent hearing loss and damage, whereby the only solution is to operate. This happened to me in both of my ears unfortunately.

Referral and consider allergies.

Ask your GP to take a swab to confirm whether it is a bacterial infection or a fungal infection.

Have you seen the dentist recently?

I had a year (or more ) of recurrent "soggy" ear, ear pain etc, and tried several things from the GP which cleared it up temporarily but didn't get rid completely. The GP said my sinuses were full of gunk which was leading to the ear problems.

I then had some dental treatment for an upper tooth on the same side, and the ear cleared up at the same time. I think the tooth was causing the sinus gunk which was causing the ear problems ....

I would also look into getting an ear camera so you can monitor your ear condition yourself.

Every time you have an infection you are loosing the wax coating that acts as a waterproofing in the canal.

So You need to be obsessive about keeping your ears dry. In the shower use cotton wool and smear Vaseline on it to make a waterproof seal. Do this every time.
Do not use any water to flush out your ears with the bulb.

A gentle careful application of hydrocortisone cream on a cotton bud once a week might help with the recurring itching

patient.info/ears-nose-throat-mouth/earache-ear-pain/ear-infection-otitis-externa

Please go to ENT with a referral from your GP, as pp said the infection can spread into the bone

My adult son has had a dreadful
Experience with this and has lost his hearing in one ear

My 19year-old son had recurrent infections and flaky dry skin in ears.

A referral to an ENT was the solution; they took a swab to be grown (and identified) in a Petri dish so the correct anti biotic could be used to target the infection. The recurrent infections were just the same infection- it was never totalling clearing up and kept being suppressed by anti bacterial treatment but then multiplying when the treatment was stopped.
It was incredibly difficult to get referred. My son asked several times before they agreed.

The ENT also diagnosed eczema in my son's ears. Surprising because he doesn't have eczema anywhere else on his body but it made sense. The dry itchy skin just inside the ear was cracked; a breeding ground for bacteria and his ears were also itchy meaning inadvertently touching them, spreading infection.

He treated this with hydrocortisone (steroid) cream inside ears until it cleared and then used E45 cream applied with a cotton bud routinely to treat the eczema.

Also advised to keep the area dry (no swimming, careful in shower) and not to use the bud version of ear phones as they great a hot wet environment for bacteria in ears.

He actually ignored the advice about earphones but fingers crossed he hasn't had earache for over a year now, after being completely floored with agonising earache and high temperature every few weeks previously.

I agree about getting a referral and talking to an expert - just wanted to add a couple of (speculative!) thoughts.

It might be the case that, after menopause, hormonal changes mean that the normal self-flushing cleansing mechanisms are less effective in the area. Perhaps you could try a nasal spray/wash and gargle to help to keep things clean from the inside out, so to speak, as well as the measures you are currently taking?

I will add that my son's ear issues were eventually resolved pre covid times. I imagine it's difficult now to get seen or referred.
You have my sympathy. My son was in danger of failing his a levels before he got the problem sorted, it's really debilitating. He was also necking co codomal tablets each time as they were the only pain killer that had any effect. It was a worry as they're pretty addictive.

Unfortunately you do have to make quite a fuss to be taken seriously by the NHS.

I had this last year, three ear infections, treated first two with optimize, on the third one the doctors would finally see me. Took a swab and it was a fungal infection, used a canestan ear spray for about two weeks to clear it, all ok since then.

It was every 4 weeks as well, must clear up a bit and then come back.

@SecretDoor

Every time you have an infection you are loosing the wax coating that acts as a waterproofing in the canal.

So You need to be obsessive about keeping your ears dry. In the shower use cotton wool and smear Vaseline on it to make a waterproof seal. Do this every time.
Do not use any water to flush out your ears with the bulb.

A gentle careful application of hydrocortisone cream on a cotton bud once a week might help with the recurring itching

Thanks..I did think it was odd that gp suggested ear syringe...given were told again and agin to not stick things down our ears. 🙄

[quote SecretDoor]patient.info/ears-nose-throat-mouth/earache-ear-pain/ear-infection-otitis-externa[/quote]
Thank you...very helpful💐

@OutwiththeOutCrowd

I agree about getting a referral and talking to an expert - just wanted to add a couple of (speculative!) thoughts.

It might be the case that, after menopause, hormonal changes mean that the normal self-flushing cleansing mechanisms are less effective in the area. Perhaps you could try a nasal spray/wash and gargle to help to keep things clean from the inside out, so to speak, as well as the measures you are currently taking?

Definitely think menopause issue with skin changes- as other posters said it seem like eczema inside and that itches, I have a little scratch and boom...

@HappyAsASandboy

Have you seen the dentist recently?

I had a year (or more ) of recurrent "soggy" ear, ear pain etc, and tried several things from the GP which cleared it up temporarily but didn't get rid completely. The GP said my sinuses were full of gunk which was leading to the ear problems.

I then had some dental treatment for an upper tooth on the same side, and the ear cleared up at the same time. I think the tooth was causing the sinus gunk which was causing the ear problems ....

Not since they ditched checkups😢. Last was about14 months ago. However, I have been getting this on and off for some years, and no teeth issues- had dental X-ray routine in 2019 so don’t believe anything there and no teeth issues at all

Sinus may be issue though...no sinus pain but a bit stuffy for last few weeks- I get hay fever type allergic responses at odd times ( mild only) so put it to that

Thanks to everyone replying- I got no responses for a long time (DH said maybe it’s becuase I can’t hear you🤦‍♀️🤣). So appreciate it

@igotdemons

I think I’d push for a referral to ENT as this is a reoccurring issue. Sometimes reoccurring ear infections can spread into the bone behind your ear and this can cause permanent hearing loss and damage, whereby the only solution is to operate. This happened to me in both of my ears unfortunately.

Thanks. Quite a few people saying this..so I will request this...didn’t want to push with something that’s just another “ have to expect it after the menopause “

@MixedUpFiles

I would also look into getting an ear camera so you can monitor your ear condition yourself.

Hi, bit of dumb question...so if I see they’re looking inflamed how does that help me? Can you please explain

Wow @Imaginetoday I'm sorry you're having this issue but glad to have found someone else's experience.

My ear has been blocked for months, I had microsuction which people were recommending on another thread and it got a lot of wax out, but not all, it was quite uncomfortable and hearing was still muffled.

I've had problems on and off with this ear for many years.

I was using olive oil which didn't seem to do much and then the Otex sodium bicarbonate which broke down a small amount of wax.

I was prescribed Optamize a few days ago as it got quite painful, it feels like it's doing something to help clear the ear but not much.

DH is fed up of repeating himself because my hearing is so muffled.

Imaginetoday

When my dd was dealing with persistent infections, it was helpful to me to be able to check at home to know when it had a reached a level that required a trip back to the doctor. I still had the equipment when I damaged my own ear on a flight later on and was able to monitor the healing, or lack thereof, and see the exact point it went from yeah that is annoying to yes, that is diagnostically worse and the doctor will actually do something. It saves me wasted trips to the GP basically.

@MixedUpFiles

Imaginetoday

When my dd was dealing with persistent infections, it was helpful to me to be able to check at home to know when it had a reached a level that required a trip back to the doctor. I still had the equipment when I damaged my own ear on a flight later on and was able to monitor the healing, or lack thereof, and see the exact point it went from yeah that is annoying to yes, that is diagnostically worse and the doctor will actually do something. It saves me wasted trips to the GP basically.

Ok, thanks

@lavieenrosetintedglasses

Wow *@Imaginetoday* I'm sorry you're having this issue but glad to have found someone else's experience.

My ear has been blocked for months, I had microsuction which people were recommending on another thread and it got a lot of wax out, but not all, it was quite uncomfortable and hearing was still muffled.

I've had problems on and off with this ear for many years.

I was using olive oil which didn't seem to do much and then the Otex sodium bicarbonate which broke down a small amount of wax.

I was prescribed Optamize a few days ago as it got quite painful, it feels like it's doing something to help clear the ear but not much.

DH is fed up of repeating himself because my hearing is so muffled.

It’s blxxxdy sore isn’t it! Hope the meds work for you 💐

Many years ago I went through this. Went privately to an ENT specialist. He said my ears were much too clean! They clean themselves and don’t need to use cotton buds.
Also I was told not to have such long hot baths in a steamy room and avoid any dampness.
It was being caused by itchy ears and dampness. Mostly it was just inflammation rather than infection which still hurts and blocks your ears. I had to move my jaw to hear. You can get prescribed hydrocortisone drops to stop the itchiness.