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What Causes Liquid In Inner Ear Despite Neti Pot Usage?
Question: Ive been using netipot for past 2 days to clear up the last of a very bad sinus and inner ear infection. It seems to have helped a lot - more than i thought it would - sinuses no longer inflammed and my left ear seems to be less congested. However now it feels there is liquid in my inner ear and some of it is draining from my ear drum. I keep checking w Q tips to see and its just clear fluid that smells strongly of ear wax. I am wondering if my eardrum might have small tear in it now? The pressure is a lot less than it was and also the outer eardrum area very sore. What do u think is going on?? Ive had this infection etc for at least 2 months.
Brief Answer:
It is possible you have a perforated ear drum.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
From your description, it is very possible that your eardrum is now perforated. The only way to know for sure is to see a doctor who can look inside your ear canal and get a good look at your eardrum.
In the meantime, please leave your ear alone, because if the eardrum is no longer intact, bacteria from the outside can get past your eardrum into your inner ear, even from a clean Qtip. So please don't put anything in it now. Also, as much as the nettipot helped, I would advise that you not use it again until you get this sorted out. The reason I am advising this is that fluid from nasal irrigation can go up from your throat into the eustachian tubes (ear canals that connect with the throat) and cause changes in pressure in the ear.
It's possible, I suppose, that the clear fluid is from something else, like water in the ear canal from taking a shower; but given your description, it sounds like a perforated ear drum with drainage.
I don't want to alarm you with this, and I see that you are already thinking that it is perforated. In some people with recurring ear infections, ENT doctors perforate the ear drum with tubes to allow infections to drain out more easily. As you describe, usually there is less pressure once the eardrum perforates.
Please let me know if I can help further.
Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, MD
It is possible you have a perforated ear drum.
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
From your description, it is very possible that your eardrum is now perforated. The only way to know for sure is to see a doctor who can look inside your ear canal and get a good look at your eardrum.
In the meantime, please leave your ear alone, because if the eardrum is no longer intact, bacteria from the outside can get past your eardrum into your inner ear, even from a clean Qtip. So please don't put anything in it now. Also, as much as the nettipot helped, I would advise that you not use it again until you get this sorted out. The reason I am advising this is that fluid from nasal irrigation can go up from your throat into the eustachian tubes (ear canals that connect with the throat) and cause changes in pressure in the ear.
It's possible, I suppose, that the clear fluid is from something else, like water in the ear canal from taking a shower; but given your description, it sounds like a perforated ear drum with drainage.
I don't want to alarm you with this, and I see that you are already thinking that it is perforated. In some people with recurring ear infections, ENT doctors perforate the ear drum with tubes to allow infections to drain out more easily. As you describe, usually there is less pressure once the eardrum perforates.
Please let me know if I can help further.
Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, MD
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Thank you. I have actually been praying for eardrum to burst bc i needed relief from the pressure. I actually dont feel any liquid coming out i cant tell if it is but my ear feels very wet on the inside past the eardrum and the pressure is way less than it was. I do have an appimtment w my ENT tomorrow just hate not knowing whats going on and also i am supposed to be flying on wednesday and am trying to see if i need to cancel my trip. Do u think using neti pot could have caused the mucus in tube to break up? Bc honestly until yesterday it felt like i had glue stuck in my tube .
Brief Answer:
Yes, it is safe to fly with a perforated ear drum.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
It is safe to fly with a perforated ear drum because the perforation allows the air pressure to equalize on both sides of the ear drum better than when the ear drum is not perforated.
I don't know if the nettipot caused the mucus to break up or not - I suppose it is possible. The saline is really supposed to just wash out the nose and sinuses, but if it went down your throat some of it can affect the eustachian tubes.
I'm including a diagram for your reference.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anatomy_of_the_Human_Ear.svg
Yes, the thickened secretions can cause a feeling like there is glue. There is even a term called "glue ear" for when people use pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) more than just 3 days or so, and the secretions dry in the eustachian tube/middle ear.
I hope you have a good trip and recover fully from your infection soon!
If you have no further questions, you can go ahead and end the transaction and rate it.
Yes, it is safe to fly with a perforated ear drum.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
It is safe to fly with a perforated ear drum because the perforation allows the air pressure to equalize on both sides of the ear drum better than when the ear drum is not perforated.
I don't know if the nettipot caused the mucus to break up or not - I suppose it is possible. The saline is really supposed to just wash out the nose and sinuses, but if it went down your throat some of it can affect the eustachian tubes.
I'm including a diagram for your reference.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anatomy_of_the_Human_Ear.svg
Yes, the thickened secretions can cause a feeling like there is glue. There is even a term called "glue ear" for when people use pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) more than just 3 days or so, and the secretions dry in the eustachian tube/middle ear.
I hope you have a good trip and recover fully from your infection soon!
If you have no further questions, you can go ahead and end the transaction and rate it.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Thank you
Brief Answer:
Have a good trip!
Detailed Answer:
I hope your ENT appointment today went well and that you are on the mend.
If you have no further questions, please go ahead and close this exchange and rate it.
Best regards,
Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, MD
Have a good trip!
Detailed Answer:
I hope your ENT appointment today went well and that you are on the mend.
If you have no further questions, please go ahead and close this exchange and rate it.
Best regards,
Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, MD
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
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