Fluid in my middle ear - when will it go away? 😭

[Udford]

I came down with a really heavy cold. Last Saturday, my ear started hurting and I lost all my hearing in that ear. By Sunday morning it was agony and started to leak clear fluid which quickly escalated to blood. I went to the minor injuries unit and was given antibiotics. The antibiotics made me really sick so on Tuesday I was back at the doctors. They looked at my ear and said there was fluid behind my ear drum. I was prescribed different antibiotics.

I cannot hear anything out of the ear still. I have tinnitus (constant ringing) and when I talk, it sounds like that side of me is under water (like talking to someone with your ears underwater in the bath!) I’m not in pain anymore and the blood and general yuk coming out of my ear has stopped.

How long does it take for this fluid to drain?! Since I’ve lost my hearing, I feel so short tempered and anxious that I will never be able to hear properly again. Also massively struggling to hear my baby when she wakes during the night.

Should add that I’ve been using decongestants; inhaling steam and being using a steroid spray from a last nasty illness. I’ve also bought a humidifier for the bedroom. No luck!!

Not sure if it’s the same but I have had trapped fluid in my ear twice from swimming.

On both occasions it took around 6 weeks to clear and I agree, it’s horrible.😥

Argh it’s so frustrating 😭

Honestly don’t know what else I can try to clear it.

Did they find any wax build up? If so, I can recommend ear oil for a few days followed by ear suction. Worked for me.

No, no wax build up. He just said that he could see there was fluid behind the ear drum. I was advised to inhale steam, take Sudafed and try and pop my ears regularly. None have worked!

I had this last year and it took about a month to go away.

It can take a few weeks, up to 4-6 in the worst cases. You're doing pretty much all the advice already (decongestants, nasal spray, valsalva manoeuvre), could try antihistamines as they sometimes help dry up things as well. But often it just takes time.

6 weeks 😭

I’m only 1 week in and have already considered bursting my own ear drum to get it out! Argh, driving me insane.

You could try. Taking a drink of something and holding the fluid in your mouth for half a minute/a minute. Try this often and you should feel the fluid trickling out inside your body. I do this when my sinuses play up.

Hope you get better soon op.

@Udford how long did it take to go? I have this just now

@Elliejane About 2 months. I used an Otovent to try and get everything moving but I would only suggest trying this when you’re absolutely sure any infection has cleared.

You have my sympathies! It’s horrible.

I had a similar problem that persisted for a few years. It wasn’t as bad as yours - mine just felt like I had water in the ears or felt like I was underwater etc. It would never clear or pop. I tried everything but nothing relieved it so I resigned myself to it. A year or so later I developed v v bad laryngitis and had a big presentation coming up so needed my voice back. I started gargling salt water and steaming 4 -5 times a day. A few days into this regime my ear popped and it’s been fine ever since. I think the combination of gargling and steaming finally unblocked something! It’s a horrible sensation hope you find something that works.

Omg 2 months or years
I had ETD in 2014 for 9 mths but never the loss of hearing. Thats what I struggling with is the underwater feeling

Will try the salt gargling and steam . I had a cold on holiday nothing major but had to fly home and it wont clear. One ear okish but other not

Sounds like glue ear. Can take months, can clear quickly. Grommets.