Dealing with frequent ear infections

So, I’ve been dealing with this ongoing ear issue for quite a while now—it’s becoming a real headache. It all started with my left ear about three years ago. At first, it was just intense wax buildup and constant itching, but things escalated when I’d notice spots of blood on a Q-tip after cleaning. Since then, it's been a cycle of frequent infections, clogged feelings, clear fluid drainage, ringing, and just straight-up pain. Well, starting this year, the same "fun" began happening in my right ear too—and for the last twelve months, the wax in my left ear has actually turned black. In the beginning, I saw a primary care physician who looked inside and basically told me everything seemed fine, though she did mention some slight inflammation here and there. She prescribed hydrogen peroxide for the wax, but that didn't do a thing. Then came Garasone drops and Locacorten cream—also zero effect. Most recently, an ENT specialist gave me Maxitrol drops, which helped a tiny bit, but only very briefly. Honestly, I’m just exhausted by this whole situation; I’ve visited the doctor so many times without ever finding a real solution. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions?

Nathan Brooks4 said:So, I’ve been dealing with this ongoing ear issue for quite a while now—it’s becoming a real headache. It all started with my left ear about three years ago. At first, it was just intense wax buildup and constant itching, but things escalated when I’d notice spots of blood on a Q-tip after cleaning. Since then, it's been a cycle of frequent infections, clogged feelings, clear fluid drainage, ringing, and just straight-up pain. Well, starting this year, the same "fun" began happening in my right ear too—and for the last twelve months, the wax in my left ear has actually turned black. In the beginning, I saw a primary care physician who looked inside and basically told me everything seemed fine, though she did mention some slight inflammation here and there. She prescribed hydrogen peroxide for the wax, but that didn't do a thing. Then came Garasone drops and Locacorten cream—also zero effect. Most recently, an ENT specialist gave me Maxitrol drops, which helped a tiny bit, but only very briefly. Honestly, I’m just exhausted by this whole situation; I’ve visited the doctor so many times without ever finding a real solution. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions?

What's the status of your tonsils?

I'm honestly guessing things aren't looking great. I deal with throat issues pretty frequently, too—it's a recurring thing for me. The only real testing I’ve done regarding these symptoms was a nasal swab about two years ago, which came back totally clear. 😕
I also had a sinus X-ray done back then; if I recall correctly, there was some slight shadowing near my left maxillary sinus, but my doctor mentioned it wasn't anything that required antibiotics.
Oh, and just as a side note—my blood work looks fine overall, but there were two specific markers that fell slightly outside the normal range: my platelets were low, and my sedimentation rate was also low. My doctor didn't actually bring it up when we reviewed the results, so I just happened to notice it myself once I got home.

Nathan Brooks4 said:I'm honestly guessing things aren't looking great. I deal with throat issues pretty frequently, too—it's a recurring thing for me. The only real testing I’ve done regarding these symptoms was a nasal swab about two years ago, which came back totally clear. 😕
I also had a sinus X-ray done back then; if I recall correctly, there was some slight shadowing near my left maxillary sinus, but my doctor mentioned it wasn't anything that required antibiotics.
Oh, and just as a side note—my blood work looks fine overall, but there were two specific markers that fell slightly outside the normal range: my platelets were low, and my sedimentation rate was also low. My doctor didn't actually bring it up when we reviewed the results, so I just happened to notice it myself once I got home.

Go get an ASO titer test (antistreptolysin O, so you don't mix it up with a liver panel). Honestly, wasting time with swabs is completely pointless and your doctor knows that perfectly well ; if you have bacteria lodged deep in your tonsils, it's most likely some kind of Streptococcus. An ASO test detects the antibodies that develop against beta-hemolytic Streptococcus organisms. They show up within one to two weeks during an acute infection and can stick around for months. A normal result for adults is < 100 IU/ml.
Since these frequent inflammations have now spread to your ears, things have become a lot more complicated, especially since your hearing is being compromised.
Demand that she runs that specific test and insist on a more thorough investigation of your tonsils, because they are clearly the root cause of this entire mess.
If they are chronically inflamed—which they almost certainly are given how long you've been dealing with this—they aren't serving any purpose anymore. It’s better to just have them removed, because right now they're nothing more than a breeding ground for bacteria that are actively sabotaging your health.
Bottom line: get the ASO test, then go see an ENT again, but get a second opinion. It feels like your current doctor is just going through the motions with you.