Posts by crimsonbear66

Hey everyone!

Just checking back in to give you an update... I went to the dentist for some X-rays to see if my teeth had anything to do with all this, but everything looks fine. No inflammation or granulomas to speak of.

Things have definitely taken a turn for the worse lately. Both ears feel completely plugged, my head is pounding, and I've got this cough (mostly in the mornings). My nose is either running constantly or totally blocked, and I just feel wiped out and exhausted... 😢

I haven't had a fever at all, nor have I had one since this whole thing started.

What should I ask when I see my doctor on Monday? What should I push for so I can get this sorted out quickly?

Any advice would be appreciated...

Angela Wright said:Look, man, just grab a handful of sea salt, mix it into some steaming hot water, drape a towel over your head, and start inhaling... everything will finally click once you've done that.👍

When everything else fails, I promise I'll give this a shot too... 😉

Peter Stewart6 said:Edematous changes in the maxillary sinus mucosa.
It could be caused by a viral or bacterial infection, though there's also a chance it's just an allergy to...
So, I’ve got a deviated septum. It's leaning pretty heavily to the left. Honestly, it feels like a constant battle with my own breathing.
(turbinate), meaning the top part of the nasal divider that leans more toward the left side.
My nasal passages... they've shifted to this side.
Hypertrophic mucosa in the lower respiratory system (dry type). This could be linked to...
Because my nose is so stuffed up, I’ve been forced to breathe through my mouth. It’s making my mucous membranes feel incredibly dry. Just... parched.
If you're smoking, breathing in that air from a central heating unit can really take a toll. It’s also worth noting that staying hydrated becomes even more critical when you're dealing with those factors.
It’s also worth noting that you might be able to find some relief on your own. You could try picking up a mucosal moisturizer from a local pharmacy to help soothe things.
For my throat, I've been using Acidosalusov Lactobacillus, and for my nose, Nisita ointment... honestly, it’s way more effective than anything else.
Any kind of drops should work since they help moisturize the nasal mucosa. It helps with the congestion and makes breathing a lot easier.
It’s just nasal irrigation.
I'm glad to hear you don't have polyps anymore. I don't know... honestly, it feels like they don't always have to be there.
That's true. If the bleeding is actually related to that, maybe it just broke loose and leaked out.
It all sounds like earwax buildup to me, which is actually a good thing.

If you ask me, I’d probably go for an allergy test first. It just seems like the logical next step before jumping straight into an ultrasound.
Take Belodin and Tafen. Just... make sure you get allergy testing done tomorrow. Don't wait too long.
Kati, you should probably get started on those medications right away. It’s better to jump on it now so things don't take a turn for the worse while the infection is still acute.
It’s really important that you start treatment right away. She made an excellent point about making this a priority. Honestly, I think the best move is to just listen to her and follow her advice exactly.

You guys aren't going to lose your minds. You're being good patients here. It’s obvious you already went to see your own doctor...
You ask questions, you look for information, and you listen to what people have to say. Just keep moving forward. There's more to do tomorrow.
Just run the tests first. That way you'll actually know what you're dealing with. It might just be some random allergen causing all this trouble.
Which one of you is struggling? Just keep your head up and push forward. Be brave—it really isn't as bad as it feels.🙂

Hi there!
Actually, I think I'll hold off on the allergy testing and the Belodin for just a bit. I want to deal with this immediate swelling and pain first... I think Tafen helps with that, if I understood correctly... anyway, I have an appointment with my doctor on Friday, so I'll do the allergy tests then. Does anyone know where I can get a second opinion on this X-ray? I feel like I'm totally lost here, but I noticed a little bump or lump on the image right under my eye, where the swelling and pain are. 🙂 I don't see it in the left sinus, though... does anyone here know how to read an X-ray? I could upload the photo if that helps. 🙂

And thank you so much again for taking the time to help me out. 🙂

jadesailor14 said:I actually have to head in for allergy testing myself (probably for the 50th time in my life! 🙄))
The doctors told me I need to be off all medication for at least a week beforehand.
At the local community health clinic, they don't really make you book an appointment; you just show up with your referral and they fit you in.
It’s probably best to give them a quick call and try to swing by today or tomorrow!

Thanks. I'm also seeing doctors near the local community health center. I had some sinus imaging done at the pulmonary clinic—they sent me up to the first floor for that—and the doctor mentioned I could head straight to the allergist, but I just couldn't make the time today.

What does "no therapy" actually mean? Does that include things like Operil or Tafen? What about Nos Sinus? That shouldn't matter, right? Or calcium? I'm definitely not starting Belodin until after the tests.

Or does it just mean staying off allergy-specific meds?

Peter Stewart6 said:Oh, don't mention it. Try Googling the Eustachian tube first, then take a look,
there's a really solid article on the upper respiratory system by Dr. Mark Kleončić,
m.kleoncic@example.com, everything is explained clearly there.
If you aren't happy with that doctor at the hospital, just ask your own GP
for a referral to the Mayo Clinic ENT Department; you shouldn't have to
deal with someone being cranky like that—you have other options.

They'll check your nose, ears, and throat, and they'll probably take some swabs, since there's
a chance you caught a viral infection that turned into a bacterial
infection. It's possible the pain is from a wisdom tooth coming in—that can be really un-
pleasant—but if you have sinus issues that haven't been treated, it could all
contribute to these symptoms. Don't worry too much; they most likely requested
the audiogram to see if there's any hearing damage caused by the
inflammation. The main thing is that you went to the doctor. Just take it slow, one step at a time,
be patient, stay warm, listen to whatever the doctor tells you, and everything will
be fine. Hang in there.🙂

Hi there...
So, I headed over to the clinic today and spent quite a while chatting with my doctor about everything. She actually felt the swelling under my eye and sent me for a sinus X-ray because of the pain... Apparently, she found the same thing in my medical records from an imaging scan seven years ago too... Polyp in my right sinus... So, I just got my new results back—not the old ones, the recent ones. It says there's edematous swelling in the lining of both maxillary sinuses and a deviated septum leaning to the left... though I have no clue what "leaning to the left with Christ" is supposed to mean. It also mentions hypertrophy in the lower respiratory system lining. Interestingly enough, that polyp I had actually vanished on its own... it’s just gone now. The doctor put me on Tafen and Belodin and sent me for allergy testing. She didn't tell me I needed to go right away, so I haven't yet. I'm wondering if it's okay to take the Belodin while doing the tests, or if I should finish the meds first? She did say to hold off on the audiogram for now, since she thinks dealing with this is the priority...

Man, I think I'm going to lose my mind. Honestly, I've never been the best patient... 😢

Peter Stewart6 said:Don't worry too much. It’s actually a good thing you went to see an ENT specialist. Dealing with acute rhinitis can be such a hassle.
Congestion issues. Dealing with a deviated septum and some nasal spine irritation. Also having trouble with my Eustachian tubes being blocked.
Right side; eustachian tube.

In short:
The Eustachian tube is basically this narrow little channel that acts as a bridge between your middle ear and your upper respiratory system.
The pharynx connects to the middle ear, essentially acting as a bridge that carries air from the nasal cavity over there. It’s basically what handles all that pressure regulation.
It’s all happening in the ears. Basically, the middle ear drains through the Eustachian tube and out through the nose...
It also acts as a drainage channel for secretions—which is exactly what happened in your case.
Divers often run into this issue quite frequently.

Here’s the link. It’s all laid out there pretty clearly if you want to take a look.
The upper respiratory system can be a real headache when things start going wrong. It’s basically the gateway to our bodies, handling everything from the nose down through the throat, and when inflammation kicks in, it feels like everything just shuts down. When you deal with issues in this area, you're looking at the nasal passages, the sinuses, and the pharynx. If there's an issue with the mucous membranes—like swelling or that heavy, congested feeling—it usually means the body is reacting to something, whether it's an infection or just seasonal allergies. That kind of irritation can make breathing feel like a chore. It’s easy to underestimate how much these small structures matter. Even a little bit of congestion in the sinus cavities can lead to pressure that makes your whole head ache. It’s a delicate balance, and once that equilibrium is thrown off, it takes a minute to get back on track.

Everything really needs to be closely monitored. If you feel like you need a second opinion from an ENT, go get one.
Go see an ENT specialist for a more thorough checkup if you aren't happy with this. It's your right.
Well, there you have it.🙂

Thanks a lot, but unfortunately that link isn't working so I can't check it out... 🙂 I’m heading to my primary care doctor tomorrow to get a referral for an audiogram. My ENT told me to get it sorted ASAP, so I want to move fast... I'll ask her for some advice too. Honestly, I’m not exactly thrilled with the doctor over at the local clinic. He can be pretty cranky, which makes it hard to tell if he actually knows what he's doing. But I'll go see him tomorrow and just try to talk to him man-to-man. Hopefully, he'll just sit down and explain things calmly...

So, what else should I be looking for in terms of follow-up or more detailed checks? Just want to make sure I actually know my stuff... 🙂 What could that pain and tension under my right eye mean? Also, would a wisdom tooth have any impact on ear congestion...

Thanks...

Raymond Kelly20 said:Man, I don't get how they wouldn't have done an ear swab if you're actually having symptoms.
Viruses and bacteria both love to cause this kind of stuff.
You could always hit up your primary care doctor and get a referral for an ear swab, just to see what the lab results say. They showed me all sorts of things once; I think it costs about $50 maybe like $120 or something.
The way I ended up getting a swab was by seeing a specialist first. He gave me a full rundown, looked everything over, and then used a vacuum/suction tool to clear my ears out—using air, not water, which is key. Then he told me I really needed swabs. He was actually pretty decent about it, though; he suggested I go back to my regular doctor and handle it through insurance since doing it through him would cost two or three times more.
So I got the swab, got the results, and the report was a mess. I went back to my GP with the results, and she immediately tried to push some antibiotic on me, even though my specialist specifically said, "don't take anything orally," and that ear issues should be treated locally/directly in the ear.
Naturally, I went back to my specialist after that. He gave me some ear drops. I haven't gone back for a follow-up yet because work has been insane and I haven't had a second to breathe, and I really should have cleared this up before the holidays, but my ears feel fine now.
You mentioned it was just a little dried blood, right? So it’s not constant. If you had actual bleeding in your head, I'm pretty sure that blood would be constantly draining out of your ear. But hey, I'm no doctor, so it could be anything.

A granuloma is an inflammatory process, and it basically pumps toxins into your system. In a worst-case scenario, it can lead to heart valve issues. Sometimes you can actually see it or feel it.
It can also trigger all kinds of infections once it flares up. Dental areas are super sensitive, but I doubt a tooth issue alone would make your ear bleed.
Anyway, if you've got the cash, just go see a private specialist.

Plus, you aren't considering the most obvious possibility.
Maybe you just had a tiny pimple in your ear canal that popped.
Back when I was a teenager, my ears were acting up all the time.
Hormones spiking, body reacting, stuff like that.
You never know.
Anything can happen in the ear canal.
I know it sounds stupid, but it's totally possible.

hmm, I don't know... if it were just a pimple, my ear probably wouldn't still feel so clogged and pressurized. plus, the area right under my eye feels tight and a little sore too...
I'm going to see my primary care doctor tomorrow to see what they say, since I need a referral for an audiogram anyway... hoping for some actual answers 😕

Angela Wright said:I bet this will grab your attention. Take a look. And check

Hmm, that first link is way too dense. I could spend hours lost in there just trying to guess what to do. The second one is a bit more simplified, focusing on just a few causes...

Thanks anyway, though. I'll dig into it as much as I can...

Raymond Kelly20 said:Look, I’m telling you, stay away from getting water in your ear at all costs.
Maybe just a tiny bit, but only on the outer shell if there's some wax sitting out there.
Water is basically a breeding ground for everything bad.
That corner could be the culprit—it needs to get cleared out.
It might even be some kind of granuloma that's started acting up and affecting everything else.
Did they not even bother to swab it out?

Fair enough, but like I said, I know better than to poke around in my ear and I haven't had issues until now.
A granuloma? (A granuloma is a pathological process where bone tissue is replaced by soft tissue full of blood vessels and immune cells. It's how the body fights irritation from a root canal. It can spread over time and cause bone damage, so you shouldn't ignore it.) I looked that up, but I don't fully get it...

I'm going to get that molar fixed as soon as possible, regardless of this whole situation.

No one did a swab; I clearly either woke the doctor up or interrupted their lunch... luckily they didn't kick me out... But I have a question, where could that blood have come from? That's what's really bothering me. Since the "external exam" showed everything inside the ear was clear, where did that bleeding actually come from and why?

Thanks for the help and the time!

Raymond Kelly20 said:Hey
listen
I didn't go through anything exactly like yours, but I had this constant feeling like one or both ears were just totally plugged up
turned out to be an infection in both ears
did any of those doctors tell you to stay far away from water? Like, seriously, never let water get in there because it just helps the bacteria multiply, especially if you've got some tiny scratch inside
you can get those little cuts just by using Q-tips or even just digging around with your finger
don't do it—no fingers, no swabs, nothing
in my case, the infection hit my eardrum and it actually started bleeding
it's such a shame because that earwax stuff is basically nature's way of protecting us from getting sick, but people just don't seem to get it
if you want, I can give you the info for a solid private ENT specialist in Chicago I've used before
they really helped me out
any idea if they actually did a swab of both ears while you were at the hospital?

P.S. You mentioned tightness on one side of your face... how are your teeth and gums doing? That could easily be the source of the trouble too

Look, I get it—earwax is actually there for protection. I’m pretty careful about hygiene; I never use Q-tips, just a damp cloth or my pinky to clean the entrance. I never poke around inside, and I've honestly never had ear issues before this... But yesterday, everything just suddenly went dead silent. When I tried to wipe the area with a tissue, I found a small, dried bit of blood, and it's happened a few more times since then. Since the doctor took a look inside, I'm wondering if he could see any scratches or damage to the eardrum if the issue is deeper down? To be honest, I have a problematic molar on that same side, and I wondered if they were connected, but since this hit me so fast rather than building up, I ruled that out... I also have a polyp in my right sinus that was diagnosed maybe eight years ago, but the doctors said it wasn't critical enough for surgery...

Look, I'm trying to give you guys as much info as possible. I know nobody has a crystal ball and I’m not expecting anyone to predict the future over the internet, but when you don't even know where to start looking or what questions to be asking... it just makes everything a lot harder...

Peter Stewart6 said:Don't let this scare you. It doesn't necessarily mean anything terrible is going on, but you really should go see a doctor.
Honestly, you should just call 911 right now and tell them exactly what happened. They'll be able to get you sorted out immediately.
The best advice I can give? Don't panic. If you end up calling 911, don't let the fear get to you thinking they’re going to show up at your door within seconds. It's just not how it works.
Look, if you ask me, you should just stick with them. It’s the safest bet. At the end of the day, they’re the doctors. You can get all sorts of advice here, but... yeah. Stick to the professionals.
It’s all just guesswork, really. People spinning stories about this or that... sometimes you end up scaring yourself over nothing at all.

It’s important that everything drained out exactly like it was supposed to, especially if you're dealing with that right side of your face.
Under pressure, there's probably a possibility of internal bleeding that could be...
Found a way out. Honestly, it’s probably better that it drained rather than staying stuck inside. Someone needs the relief.
It can happen around the nose, too. There are just so many different factors to look into. Please, take your time and check everything.
You should probably reach out to your doctor right away. There's a chance that the spike in your blood pressure could be causing this.
I'm wondering... could it be some kind of impact to that side of your face or ear? Not that you've mentioned anything like that, though.
Registered. I mean, I’m not jumping to the worst-case scenario just yet, but I think it's probably best to head straight to the doctor to get everything checked out right away.
Don't panic. Just reach out and let us know what's going on, okay?🙂

Thanks for getting back to me. I actually went to the Mayo Clinic ENT Department emergency room today. If you could just take a look at what I wrote in my last post...

I’m still not feeling great about the search results, and I'm honestly still pretty worried. Even though there aren't any visible signs of blood or anything coming out of my ear anymore... if he checked everything and said it looks clear, then where did that blood even come from? There's gotta be some kind of scratch or something somewhere...

I’m not exactly a genius when it comes to deciding my next move... how should I handle this?

Angela Wright said:That is exactly why doctors and the ER exist—to make those calls for you. In my opinion, you're looking at a sinus infection. If you head to an urgent care clinic specializing in ENT, they'll take you in immediately and run all the tests you'd otherwise be waiting days for through your primary doctor and the standard referral process. If I were in your shoes, I’d just go and stop stressing about it. Ear bleeding isn't normal, regardless of what's causing it. Just get it sorted!

So, here's the deal. I was at the Mayo Clinic ENT Department today, and the doctor immediately goes, "You shoved a Q-tip in your ear, didn't you?" I told him no, it just started happening on its own... He looks in with some metal tool and insists everything is clear, but swears I must have used a Q-tip. I told him again, I haven't touched my ears and we don't even have Q-tips at home right now...

He prescribed me some Operil spray and calcium + Vitamin C, then told me to come back Monday for an audiogram...

I still feel this intense pressure, including around my eye, under the eye, and to the right of the eye... nothing is coming out of my ear anymore, but I'm still worried...

Diagnosis (based on a two-minute exam): Acute catarrhal rhinitis (guessing it's an acute sinus inflammation). Deviated nasal septum /sin/ and CATARRHUS TUBARIUS LAT.DEX. (not sure what that last one means)

BTW, I've dealt with sinus issues for years (especially during the winter), but I've never had any trouble with my ears or anything like that... I almost never get sick. I definitely haven't had a cold in the last 11 months, let alone the flu or anything...

Any advice?

So, I slept through it last night because I didn't want to freak out...
Woke up around 11 today and this is where things stand...

My ear still feels weirdly tight and pressurized... not really sure what to do here.

Nothing is leaking out anymore, but I'm too nervous to even touch it in case I make it worse...

I feel silly going to the ER, honestly. Not even sure if this counts as an emergency...

Hey everyone, hope you're all doing well!

So, I noticed this afternoon that my right ear feels totally plugged up. I was just eating lunch when I realized that every time I take a bite, the pressure gets worse and I start hearing this ringing sound... eventually, it got so clogged I couldn't hear anything at all. I tried gently cleaning the area with a damp tissue and saw a little bit of blood... My brother took a look and there isn't any visible cut on the outside, but when I tilted my head, this small, soft red clot—maybe some semi-coagulated blood—just fell out of my ear. That actually gave me some relief. But about an hour later, everything felt blocked again. I used a bit of water to clean it out and found a few more bits on the tissue, which helped for a bit... then an hour later, the exact same thing happened. Right now, my ear still feels a bit stuffed and tense on the inside, but I'm not finding anything else on the tissue, and I don't want to poke around too much and make things worse.😢

I should also mention that the area under my right eye feels kind of "tense," and my whole right side feels like it's under pressure, if that makes sense...

Should I be worried? What should I do? Does anyone have any advice or suggestions?

Thanks a lot