I think I have Otitis Externa. It has been on and off for years now but today it's kicking really hard!
I can't even chew from the pain....

Can you swallow???

Jack Daniels always seems to help!

Yes I can swallow.
I am seeing a doctor tomorrow. I already know what I will be told, but I will just see one anyway.

Add to that the spring allergy and peach allergy that is manifested as urticaria all over my body....ugh, I am very miserable this time of the year.

Otitis Externa is usually a fungal infection of the outer ear. Abcess of the canal is an infection of the tissue of the ear canal that can be very painful and usually requries antibioics.

Otitis MEDIA is a middle ear infection which is usually painful and also requires antibiotics in many cases.

Come to the office tomorrow and I will check it out.

Just take a plane to JFK and a taxi to my office which is near LaGuardia.

Well Lucky we all hope you feel better. Take it easy

hope you are feeling better man. You can still smoke a cigar right?

Hope your ear gets better Lucky. When you feel better, celebrate with a nice CC.
My doctor took me out of work again. I had an operation to remove a herniated disk in my neck. The surgery was not a complete success. It is stable but the disk did not fuse correctly and the disk beneath it collapsed.
I'm in pain and I hate taking meds. Ever since this injury and surgery I have struggled at work.
The thing is, this is nothing compared to what some other people with major illness go through so I kind of feel guilty when I complain. I start to forget to count my blessings.
To all those with any pain or illness, get better quickly. All the best to you.
Mike.

Thanks a lot guys.
Doc, Otitis Externa could be caused by things other than fungal infection. I think I have a boyle/carbuncle. I've been having this pain on and off since 2004 when it first kicked in.

I scratch my ear a lot with cotton buds (worst habbit ever) and I shower two or three times daily, a lot of water in the ear.

That's what I love about this forum. You can go to every other cigar site on the net and never see the words "Otitis Externa". Sounds like the name of an obscure Roman senator.

Constant irritation by cotton swabs will cause otitis without bacteria.

With bacteria, boils and carbuncles are typically caused by Staph aureus. The tiny scratches you make with the swabs are likely getting infected.

The simple solution is to stop using cotton swabs in the ear. Carbuncles and boils will drain on their own.

Since it we are on the topic of ears, is it normal to be able to breath out through your ears? I can't breath through them, at least I haven't tried. Also I have the bad habit of swabbing my ears. I am trying to stop I swear. So here is the thing, I think I have a scab or something in my ear. How do I know? I was poking at it in my ear and it hurts really bad, not like touch the eardrum bad, but bad enough if I keep poking it I might pass out...

Also you guys recommend ear syringes? Last time I went to the ear doctor he said to only clean the outside and if it really bothers me to flush my ears with warm water using an ear syringe.

You can't breath out of your ear, there is a tympanic membrane (ear drum) there that is in the way. If you can breathe out of your ear then you probably have a perforated membrane, and in that case you'd know it since you'll probably be having hearing problems.

From my little one month experience with otolgy, I think you have the same thing I have; Otitis Externa.

I just used an anti-inflammatory ear drops and it's much better now.

You can't breathe through your ears because as Lucky said the tympanic membrane (ear drum) is in the way. Also the eustation tube is about as narrow as a piece of Angle Hair pasta.

The only thing you should put in your ear is your elbow.

Stop with the cotton swabs. Also 2-3 showers a day will dry the skin out. One shower a day should be sufficient

I am ashamed to say this, but sometimes my ear itches too much that I use the tip of my car key to scratch it, and I scratch it hard. I know, this isn't the way a med student should act, at all, specially one looking forward to specialize in Ear, Nose and Throat.

I have been told a few years back that I have a perforated membrane. But the doctor said that it would heal in a few months...

Anyways I can only "breath" out from my ears when I am blowing my nose or something. It is pretty distinct sound and feeling...

Anti-inflammatory ear drops over the counter or do I need a prescription?

Also I have a history of ear infections and having ear tubes in my ears... But the ears should have dropped out a while ago so I don't think that could be the problem.

Maybe my bad hearing is due me listening to music with in-ear buds for extended periods of time. (Something like 1 hours plus I have been known to keep them in for as long as 6 hours and longer...Manufacturer recommends max 1 hour a day.)

Yeah, my ears don't hear that well, the compression sucks due to the hole in my ear. So it sucks when people mumble and stuff. I used to have the best hearing, like I would pass hear tests with flying colors...

Lucky, I hope you work this out my friend! STOP SHOVING YOUR CAR KEYS INTO YOUR ORFACES! hehe. Somehow I never put together that you were a medical student; I'm impressed, that is commendable.

That said, I too am a closet Q-Tip ear reaming aficionado. I'm careful about it though. And what in the HELL is with the generic brands with the wimpy hollow plastic rods and the skimpy tips. Like ccsiglo says, YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!!!

Son, I experienced a temporary hearing injury due to firing handguns at indoor ranges with mediocre hearing protection. Now I only shoot with both ear inserts AND headsets. If you lower the volume I would imagine things might improve...I hope so anyway. Rock on, regardless.

Ignore medical knowledge about the appropriate usage of body holes: I can yell with my pupils and I regularly talk out of my ass.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: aphexafx,

LOL!