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Ear Issue

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Eve | 18:59 Mon 14th Nov 2016 | Health & Fitness
9 Answers
I've noticed quite often over the past couple of weeks that I seem to have some liquid like stuff in my ear, the one I have a grommet in.

I put some olive oil drops in ages ago, must be a couple of months or so now, to try and see if it would clear any wax in case it helped as my grommet wasn't working and it's not that long since I had this one put in. Grommet is still not working.

It doesn't feel really watery as such, no colour I can see, no smell. If I put my finger in my outer ear (usually due to the irritation) it's like I've had olive oil in it but I haven't put any in, recently anyway.

I don't have any really acute pain save the usual Menieres ear issues, pressure and tinnitus (which has been worse recently) and general discomfort, though my ear has felt irritated inside. It's my worse Menieres ear. My hearing has been really annoying recently, lots of blocked type feeling though I did have a bit of a cold recently on top of a chest infection, the cold finished a few weeks ago.

Could it be the olive oil drops working out somehow after all this time rather than it being any kind of discharge?
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\\\Could it be the olive oil drops working out somehow after all this time rather than it being any kind of discharge?\\

No.

It rather sounds like an inflammation, not necessarily bacterial, called Otitis Externa which may well be allergic, particularly seen in patients with Grommet tubes.
You need some steroid drops which may well settle this down..e.g hydrocortisone ear drops ( I think that they can be bought OTC but not sure.
Question Author
Thanks Sqad, much appreciated. I will see what Boots pharmacy has tomorrow.

Have a good evening.
Aye. I believe Meg had the same problem.
Question Author
Just an update. Boot pharmacy said you can't buy steroid ear drops over the counter and had a lot more pain and discomfort this morning and felt off so got to speak to a GP who called me in to have a look.

He said the grommet is out and is sitting in my ear canal. No big surprise there as I knew it wasn't working.

He said there was no fluid but that the eardrum is red and retracted and signs of possible infection so has given me a course of Amoxycillin.

He said to let ENT know about the red and retracted eardrum thing and antibiotics, as I needed to contact them anyway about the grommet coming out, and to see what they say.

So I have done that (left a message) and waiting to see what they come back with about an appointment.

While I think about it, they mentioned last time about the possibility of a T Tube grommet which would usually be put in under a general anaesthetic, and to consider that as they can last up to five years.

Do you have an opinion on them as to whether it could be a much better option than keeping on having normal grommets inserted under a local anaesthetic? The grommets I have had have been great while in.
I think that you are very brave having the insertion of a Grommet without a G.A.

T-tubes (many kind) have longer phalanges that fit under the ear drum and hence stay in longer. I will try and find a picture of one of the T-tubes for you.
Question Author
Ahh, thanks for that, see where they got the name from haha! It does sound like one of those might be the better option as two of the three grommets I have had in so far have come out quite quickly.

It's actually OK under local once they have got the level of anaesthetic right in your ear. I have been told I have a high pain threshold though :) That said, I can attest to how deeply unpleasant it is when they go in without sufficient local. That was awful!

They said that can do the T Tube under a local but it's reserved for those with very high pain thresholds and I think I drawn the line at my bravery there and would opt for a general.

Is it a relatively quick job under a general?
Depend upon the skill of the surgeon, but the actual operation should only last 5-10 mins.
Question Author
Brilliant. Thank you so much for your help.

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