I have suffered ear aches for about 5 years, ever since I had mono. My left ear will ache with the slightest cold breeze, along with the right but not as much. It is a deep inside ache. When I caught mono, I was sleeping next to a cold window in winter with my left side next to the window (makes sense my left ear is the bad one). If it is cold outside and I don't wear a hat, they hurt. If I clean my ears with a q-tip, the next day they hurt. I also get vertigo when the ear pain is bad. If I have a sore throat, it is worse on the left side.
When I had mono, my lymph nodes were very swollen in the back of my neck, worse on the left side. Ever since then I have neck pain and stiffness and aching, all on the left side primarily. I will see a ENT doctor very soon. What do you think? I ask because I currently have a bad left ear ache with off and on strong to slight vertigo, and a slight sore throat. My left tonsil was clogged, I had never had that, and I removed the yucky clog yesterday.
By Andi from Hubbardston, MA
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I've had some of your problems. I had recurring mono for three falls in a row (last year of high school, and first two years of college). That was 20 years ago. I can't sleep with air blowing on me, because I'll get an earache/sore throat. But I've been like that since I was a kid. And I get those icky things in the back of my throat; it's worse when I've got active sinus issues. There is one spot that I can just feel when it's happening, so I go take a q-tip and can work it out. I asked about it at the Dentist's office, and they didn't sound too terribly concerned. The hygienist's husband has the same problem. I kind of wish my tonsils were removed when I was a kid, but that's one of those things . . .
I had a lot more problems with earaches and sore throats when I was in my mid-20's. My wisdom teeth came in, and two were severely impacted. I didn't realize it at the time, but I was constantly getting infections from them. I just thought I was always catching something. Since I had all four wisdom teeth removed, I've had FAR fewer earaches/sore throats. So, if you haven't had yours removed, it's something to think about.
I can't really offer anything else. Just that I understand some of what you're going through. I think that, over the years, I've just learned to cope (like, in the winter, I make sure I keep my sheet pulled up over my ear so cold air won't hit it). I hope that your ENT is very thorough and can offer some help. Let us know how it goes!
Only you can tell when you need to see a doctor, but nowadays I understand some doctors are recommending garlic oil for earache in children to avoid using so many antibiotics. This is how I make it for my great grand baby.
Take some nice fresh garlic cloves and crush them well. Put in your normal cooking oil, any kind in jar with lid.Let sit at least an hour on counter, and after that you can refrigerate. To use, strain out a little oil into bowl or cup and sit cup or bowl in another container of hot water, like a small pan of water which had been brought to boil and taken off burner. Use qtips which are soaked in warm oil and let it drip into ear, rather than poking it into ear. After a few days, take garlic out of oil in fridge and just keep oil capped.
You could microwave on 5=6 seconds, but garlic is supposed to be semi antibiotic and I don't know if that effect would be neutralized with microwaves, so I just use the old fashioned water bath method.After oil is in ear, I put in a little wad of soft cotton just until it stops being drippy.
Does a warm hot water bottle work? Or warm pack.
Several things:
first go to earthclinic.com and look up earaches and mono in the ailments list.
next consider that the lymph system is involved here. I would look for help for the lymph system. Some strong anti-virals/anti bacterials may be in order--grapefruit seed extract, olive leaf, and MMS may help you get rid of this. Many use hydrogen peroxide for ear troubles. Whatever you do, consider holistic-all natural treatments to minimize side effects and actually get results. Drugs tend to treat one symptom and give you several others. Meanwhile the source of the problem does not get addressed.
Good luck to you. I would start with 5-6000 mg Vitamin C, apple cider vinegar and grapefruit seed extract. All this available at a health food store/grocery store and the internet at a site like vitanetonline.com or vitacost.com.
DO NOT mess with this. Mono is a strep infection, it can recur and it can lead to deafness (my grandmother became deaf after this infection), it also can lead to liver damage if you don't take care of it. It could also be something else. Yes, go to the doctor, don't try natural remedies until everything serious is checked out. I have severe sinus problems and need to irrigate my nasal passages a few times a week and take antihistamines etc due to allergies. This could be as simple as that or it could be strep, mono or anything else. Let your doctor diagnose and get something done once and for all. Good luck:)
When you see the doctor, you might want to ask him to check your vitamin D levels. Many people are too low in this, especially in the colder months. It will really boost your immunity to get the level up near the high end of the normal range.
My daughter had recurring earaches, and it turned out to be scar tissue on her ear drum, caused by an infection. The doctor inserted a tube through the scar tissue, and the earaches stopped. After a few years, the tube fell out on it's own.
If your left tonsil is infected, you probably have bacteria entering the eustachian tube on your left side, causing an inner ear infection in the left ear. An ENT is the best doctor to take care of the problem. It might be related to your past problems with mono, or not. It may just be the angle of your eustachian tube (not allowing it to drain well), or it may be an oncoming sinus infection, maybe allergies--it could be lots of things. Doctors always say that sickness hits your weakest point.
In any case, you know where your problem is, so take precautions to wear earplugs or cotton when outside and keep your left side covered. As we travel through life, we all experience lots of changes, most of which we wish had not occurred. Remember that old saying, "You never know what you have, until it's gone." I've found that regularly using a Neti pot works wonders for sinus, ear, allergy, colds, drainage, etc, problems. Hope everything ends well for you.
Tonight my ear just feels hollow and liquidy if that makes sense. Hmm...
Try heating a little baby oil and add a few drops at a time while still warm. Some doctors tell you to do exercises where you lie at the edge of the bed and let your head hang and move your head in circular motion. I think it's got to do with balance. Yoga will help. Goodluck.
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