blocked ears

[emmie]

sqad or anyone in the know, I have been given pseudoephedrine to take three times a day, and cetirizine dihydrochloride once a day, neither of which i have taken as yet. My ears as mentioned have been blocked for nearly a month, with a heavy stuffed head feeling, pains side of my ear, down to my neck,
and movement of head brings on headaches sometimes, would either of these help, as feel so overwhelmed with medication currently. Can severe acid reflux cause the ear problems, because i have that in abundance.

[237SJ]

Do you sleep lying down? When I had really bad blocked sinuses/ears years ago, I slept propped up on pillows. That did`nt have a huge effect on my ears but the gravity definitely helped my sinuses. They won`t drain if you are lying down.

[emmie]

tried lots pillows, just seem to sink again, but not it's more a battle of the brain, how to get it to see things in a clear way, get some perspective back into the game, but it's been a very rough month all told.

[boxtops]

This nasty coldy coughy bug has been doing the rounds here - it's taking about six weeks for people to get over it. It's not nice.

[237SJ]

When I say propped up, I mean sitting up. I had to do that once (over a few days) to clear a really bad sinus problem.

[emmie]

boxy, wish it would go, i have been imagining all sorts of horrible things, and that just makes it worse.

[Sqad]

Sinuses are badly designed by our "maker"........they only drain in the upright position and even then, the drainage "hole" is half way up the sinus cavity allowing only half drainage.

[emmie]

sqad, what are you doing up at this hour, i reckon the whole body is a design fault, so many things can go wrong, one health problem can mimic another, and the brain the most powerful tool we have, well most people, is open to suggestion and often fails because of what we absorb from the outside world, mostly without realising it.

[Sqad]

em...I always get up at 6.am local time, which is 5.am UK time......have been an early riser all my life.
Feed the cats, empty the dishwasher and put away the crockery followed by a swim (which has been put n hold temporarily).

[emmie]

how are you coping with your surgery, well i sincerely hope.
I have stuff going on that makes no sense whatsoever, so will ring the GP later to have a chat. I might have solved if that's the word one problem but leaves so many question unanswered.

[Eve]

I am rubbish at staying propped up on pillows too but find a V pillow great. You don't seem to be able to get the cheaper ones like you used to, more exensive pricier ones are all I have found, but my mum found an old one at home and it's been pretty much glued to me at home since then :) It helps cushion me a bit too with the backpain from the gallstones and try and sit with a hot water bottle behind my back on my work chair to keep me more upright or forward a bit as well as cushioning. I don't necessarily have it hot, just having water in it helps prop me up and cushion more.

[emmie]

i haven't found anything that works, and am stuck now for other things which are causing anxiety, even saying it to docs makes no sense

[boxtops]

There are lots of V pillows on eBay, reasonably priced, and pillow slips for them too http://www.ebay.co.uk...at=See-All-Categories

[Eve]

Could you break things down a bit, make a list of what is wrong in order of how much it is bothering you and see if you can target the worst and work down to try and at least make some of it better and maybe feel like you've helped sort something out rather than letting everything overwhelm you.

Could you try something like a gentle relaxation class like meditation to help relax you and switch off a bit and it might help just to have some good posture and breathing and get you a bit more rest which could help with you trying to switch off and get to sleep.

I often find I get quite tense when I'm suffering with something which doesn't help when you're feeling crap so it might help relax you a little in general and remove some of the tension which can contrinbute to things like headaches and muscle aches.

Thanks Boxtops, much cheaper than I've found in the shops, I really need to start thinking about looking online for more stuff - too much of a go look in the shops kinda girl :) Tempted to get another one so one each for the sofa and my bed and some more pillowcases for them.

[emmie]

jenna, so many odd things, perhaps they are all linked but no one can put it together. When i eat anything, get an instant flush in my face, and can hear the gastric juices swishing around, add in pain in left side of tummy, and pain around the sides, which i believe are the kidneys, but i'm not an anatomist, but it's like pressure as to actual pain, same for pressure between shoulder blades, comes and goes. Earlier had lunch, and the same happened, only my heartbeat went through the roof, and took several hours to get it down. I have suggested things to docs, but can't get an app till next week. It started with a really bad cold/virus, and had crashed from one thing to another.

[Ann]

Poor you em - as you probably know, I've been suffering (and worrying!) too. My sore throat won't go away - nearly 5 weeks now, but I added to the problem myself when I scalded my throat with hot tea the other morning while taking a tablet. But happy to report my sinus problem is finally going, felt much better today and getting a little stronger each day (had cold, cough, sore throat, sinus probs since 8 Dec!) Had another scare the other day so been worrying over the weekend, every time I coughed I got a clear thin (vaginal) discharge - seemed exactly the same kind as I got from my sinuses. I had been using a decongestant so wonder if it affects the cervical mucus too? Perhaps Sqad would be kind enough to comment please? Imagined all kinds of things, just don't read the internet! but happily not had any today so fingers crossed that problem is solved - I'm terrified of going to the doctors, so was just willing it to go on its own accord! Hope you feel better soon em .........x

[Sqad]

Ann,,,,,if the vaginal discharge is clear, non offensive and there are no other vaginal symptoms e.g post coital bleeding or pain on intercourse, then i would just monitor the situation.It is not uncommon for the cervical mucosa to produce excess secretions or indeed a cervical erosion may be to blame.

give it a couple of weeks and if there is no "let up" then see your GP.

[emmie]

sqad, whatever this virus or other that's doing the rounds, i know a number of people who have been ill for weeks, it knocks you off your feet. I struggled to get to grips with it for the past month, and can totally sympathise with Ann and anyone afflicted, the reason i have been panicky is that this is the third such bout over a year and a half, so when this started had hoped it would be a week of feeling poorly, then get better, but like Ann has said it's dragged on and on.

[Sqad]

emm....I understand, but all predisposing and underlying factors have been investigated in your case.