OpenHealth Q&A

Understanding My Ear and Throat Discomfort

For the past few weeks, I've been experiencing significant discomfort in my ear and throat. Although I've scheduled an appointment with an ENT for next month, I feel puzzled about my current symptoms and my apparent decline in health. As a 39-year-old woman who seldom falls ill, when I do get sick, it tends to be quite severe. On July 13, I went to sleep with a sensation of fullness in my left ear, but I dismissed it as minor. However, I woke up the following day with that same nagging feeling, accompanied by a painful sore throat that intensified, leading to a loss of voice. For several days, I relied on Mucinex and ibuprofen. I also experienced bouts of diarrhea during this period. On Thursday afternoon, after vomiting, I started to feel slightly better, although the sensation of a clogged ear persisted. Early Saturday morning, around 4:30 AM, I awoke to a distressing situation—my ear was popping, I was in excruciating pain (rating it at an 8 on the scale), and clear fluid was leaking from my ear. I rushed to my local urgent care as soon as it opened at 7 AM. Unfortunately, the doctor was unable to see my eardrum due to the accumulation of white frothy fluid. She diagnosed me with an ear infection and prescribed both oral antibiotics and antibiotic ear drops, advising me to continue taking ibuprofen. She also recommended that I return for a follow-up in a week—or consult my primary care physician, though I hadn't established care after switching insurance. During my follow-up visit, I informed the doctor that my ear was no longer leaking or painful, but it continued to feel full with diminished hearing. He noted the presence of fluid behind my eardrum and attributed it to allergies. He prescribed a nasal spray (fluticasone) and suggested using Sudafed and Benadryl. I picked up some pseudoephedrine while collecting my prescription. However, I feel like I'm experiencing a setback: three days ago (August 3), the sore throat returned, intensifying on the left side, which corresponds with the plugged ear. The ibuprofen seems less effective now, and the ear fullness remains unchanged—no relief or movement noticed. I also woke up today, August 6, with a headache. As mentioned, I have an ENT consultation scheduled for September 6 and am on the waitlist for an earlier appointment. I'm concerned about the worsening of my symptoms. Should I consider going back to urgent care? Any advice for pain management would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to read this and for any insights you may have! EDIT: I've been taking cetirizine nightly for years and usually do not experience allergy flare-ups, as I'm diligent about taking my allergy medication. Although I'm uncertain about my specific allergens, my symptoms seem to persist throughout the year.

Answers (1)

8/6/2025, 8:02:15 PM

OpenHealth AI

I'm sorry to hear about the discomfort you're experiencing. It's understandable to feel worried given your symptoms and the challenges of managing your ear and throat issues. Let’s break this down.

Main Points

1. Ongoing Symptoms: Your ear fullness, sore throat, and overall discomfort warrant follow-up with a healthcare provider sooner than your scheduled ENT appointment.
2. Current Management: You've tried multiple medications, but it's important to consider adjustments based on your worsening symptoms.
3. Potential Triggers and Monitoring: Allergies may still play a role, but the return of your sore throat signals a need for re-evaluation.

Explanation

Your symptoms, including ear fullness, sore throat, and headache, could be due to unresolved ear fluid and possibly related allergies or infections. The earlier diagnosis of an ear infection and the prescribed antibiotics might need reassessment if you're experiencing ongoing discomfort. The return of your throat pain suggests inflammation, which can be recurrent and may require more targeted treatment.

Next Steps

1. Immediate Care: Since your symptoms have worsened, consider returning to urgent care or getting in touch with a primary care doctor for a follow-up sooner than your ENT appointment. Explain your symptom changes, especially the return of throat pain and headache.
2. Pain Management: While you are taking ibuprofen, if it's becoming less effective, you can try:
   • Warm Compress: Apply a warm cloth to the affected ear for 15-20 minutes several times a day to help relieve pain.
   • Hydration: Drink plenty of fluids to help thin mucus and keep your throat moist.
   • Stay Elevated: Try to sleep with your head elevated to reduce pressure in your ears.
3. Monitor Symptoms: Keep track of any changes in your symptoms, including the specific areas of pain (ear vs. throat) and any other new symptoms you experience. This information will be helpful for your healthcare providers.
4. Allergy Management: Continue taking your cetirizine and follow the new nasal spray instructions. If you're not seeing improvement, don’t hesitate to discuss potential alternatives with a healthcare provider, as there might be other allergies contributing to your symptoms.

Remember, your comfort is important, and timely action can help ease your symptoms. If anything changes rapidly or if you experience severe pain or other alarming symptoms, seeking urgent care is always advisable. Please let me know if you have any other questions or need further assistance!