How can I get fluid out of my inner ear? It's making me dizzy and is killing me. Doctor already tried antibiotics and they didn't help. Does anyone have any ideas?

You may have a blockage in your inner ear caused by the tiny crystals in the eustachian tubes becoming dislodged. I had this and was referred to a physiotherapist who had training in fixing this. (Not all are). The treatment involves turning your head in such a way as to guide the crystals back into place through the labyrinth of your inner ear. 3 sessions and I was right as rain.

Hydrogen peroxide, blowdryer to the ear, sleep on a sock filled with salt, or warm olive oil. Most are old remedies for infected ears or fluid in the ears.

What you have is swollen clogged eustachian tubes. Yes kids get 'tubes in the ear' when they have this form all their millions of colds. When we get allergies it often happens to adults too. I just started getting it at age 35, and never before.

First I went to the ENT DR and they lanced my eardrum and drained it. Next time I got it i thought, I dont want to do that again! How can I fix this at home???

So I have recently discovered a solutionto do at home that actually works. It involves getting nasal spray and irrigation into the eustachian tubes via the nose to reduce the swelling and let the liquid (mucus and pus) drain. Find the instructions here: http://www.earadicator.com
I have written extensively on this subject and do not have time to repeat it all here. I also added video instructions here.

You can also read tons of Testimonials on the site from people who did it and say it is amazing.

Limit your salt intake . Too much salt retains fluid in your ears. Just take sudafed everyday until it clears up.

Well, allergy can causes persistent middle ear fluid. Antibiotics are to cure or prevent an infection, not to clear up the fluid. Normally fluid it's self will just go away naturally. If it doesn't then you may need a small and simple surgery to remove it. As always surgery should be last choice. I don't know of any drugs off hand or treatments to empty out your ear, but I suggest being persistent with your doctor until you come to a remedy for this.

recently i moved and the allergens in this area have wrecked my sinuses. i do suffer with constant "fullness" and ear pain. i've suffered for a year and i'm tired of meds. is surgery an option? my ear tube is dysfunctional and holds fluid so i live with unsteadiness! why are we forced to live this way? can't we demand a better option? there's got to be one!

hey akustik, any change in your condition?? your symptoms sound extremely similar to mine-I hope you found something or someone that can help.. please let us know, I have seen my GP 3 times and 2 different ENTs, i've been on decongestants and meczaline and had hearing tests... nothing works so far, and no diagnosis, they are urging me to get an MRI.. scary....

pseudovent if you ask a doctor

You can try the old home remedy, by rolling a newspaper into a cone and placing the pointed part in the eart and burning it on the opposite end. Usually works for when you cant POP your ears. Ask your parent's permission first. hehe

I have had fluid behind my ear drums this past summer as well. They have brought me considerable dizziness. My ear infections go away, and them come back. Each time, my doctor puts me on antibiotics, and then a 15 day course of Allegra D 12 hour, with sudafed in it, which helps eliminate the fluid / mucus that is in my ears. The fluid in my ears make me dizzy, like when I stand, it feels like I'm rocking on a boat. It is EXTREMELY annoying and scary at times. It is also debilitating. However, I notice that when I take the Allegra for at least a week, the mucus goes away, and so does the dizziness. I do not know why the fluid keeps coming back. I'm thinking I should have to take a decongestant everyday, to keep the fluid from building up in my ear.
I was told by my doctor that antibiotics alone won't get rid of the fluid. An over the counter medicine you can try is Claritin D , 12 or 24 hour, with the nasal decongestant in it. Try it for 2 weeks straight. Hopefully that will do the trick.
Also, I have read that though an ear infection may leave the ear, the fluid can remain, sometimes for a week, sometimes for a year or more. The ear is more suseptible to infection if there is fluid in it. Alot of information on the web is confusing concerning ear infections. Some are pro antibiotics, others are not.
Return to the doctor (or a different one) and explain that your dizziness is disrupting your daily life. While not harmful to your body, dizziness can pose a threat if you are losing your balance.
Also, I have found that as my ear infections get better, I guess as the fluid is leaving my ear canals, it can also feel strange, like another kind of dizziness or head pressure feeling. Who knows. I hope this helps...I know you're suffering. It will be ok!

The doctor should give you prescription ear drops to get rid of the fluid. My daughter had this problem. The doc said it was swimmer's ear. I'd ask your doc about ear drops to get rid of it.

I don't know you guys... But I have also recently acquired this ailment, and oh my gosh is it awful or what?! I have not had it as long as some of you other people, but it no doubt sucks all the same. (Well, the longer it lasts, the worse it is, I'm sure). No offense. As others of you, this has also disrupted my life. Actually, that is the understatement of the decade. Disrupt doesn't really seem to do it justice. "Stopped my life" is more like it. There are days when I can't go to work, because that would involve leaving the house; and leaving the house would involve driving. That's not happening.
At times it feels like I'm on one of those carnival rides, where you climb into a basket seat and are spun around and around backwards in circles. It's definately worse when I move.
My doctor gave me an anti-dizziness medication called Meclizine. It does NOT work. All that does is make me sleep. But the dizziness doesn't stop when I'm sleeping - It just gives me the craziest dreams. -Not the fun ones, either. Actually, this whole ordeal is a nightmare. I'm hoping to find a doctor who has actually experienced this, because up until now, doctors are like, "You are dizzy? Oh, that's nothing. That's no big deal. Whatever." It's like the word "dizzy" has a wimpy connotation, or something. Or they don't take it seriously enough. They don't get it!
I know - we should all put our dizzy heads together and come up with a better, more forceful-sounding word that describes dizziness, but packs a bigger punch with its sound. Like, enervatediscombobuladdled, for example.
Well, good luck to all of you who suffer! And if anyone knows of any other home remedies not mentioned, please let me (and everyone) know!

I suffered for many years with fluid in my ear. Anti biotics or decongestants did not work for me. Finally I went to an ear specialist he gave me a 7 day dose of prednisone,,,,yipee,,,,problem solved,,,,have not had any problems for 2 years.

When children have this problem a grommet is inserted into the eardrum to allow the fluid to drain. I don't know why this can't be done when adults have this problem.

I have had fluid and ear popping caused from a very bad case of candida. Antibiotics would make it very bad. I have begun to deal with the candida with diet and probiotics but the fluid in the ears has yet to go away.

I usually have this problem in my right ear after a cold or sinus infection, and it takes a few weeks to get rid of the fluid. I find that OtC meds like Alleve D or Zyrtec D are good for keeping my nose dry (you want to be as dry as possible), and Mucinex is a good expectorant - it helps to bring the fluid out. I had tubes put it my ears as a child, but as an adult, I've been able to clear up the problem with my above method whenever this happens (usually within 3 or 4 weeks).
Also, I'm not sure if there's anything to it, but my ear always feels a little better after I exercise.

I currently have fluid in my ears and was giving a nasal myst and Allegra to take. I was told it can take 4 to 6 weeks for the fluid to drain.

I have the same problem. I have been this way for awhile. I just got through taking Prescription Decongestant, and Antibiotics. And I still can't hear out of my ear. The fluid is still there. So tommorow I will be calling the Dr. to let him know so that he can send a referral to the ENT Dr. I don't want to get the tube put in my ear. So if theres anyone that knows home remedies can they please email them to me at Aquagreenwater@yahoo.com Thanks

Aqua Lee

I had this problem and the ear Dr put a tube in and it drained the fluid out.

i also have fluid but mine is behind both ears... i dont have any pain.. i feel kinda dizzy and like i have no cordination in my hands arms ect... i find it to be worse in a car.. or at night time.. or at a higher altitude.. does anyone else expierence things like this?? e-mail me at alicia1484@surry.net i would love to hear from someone that has expierenced what i have been going through for the past 2 years

I HAVE TAKEN SUDAFED FOR YEARS AND STARTED FEELING SPACEY HEADED, THEN I GOT REALLY HOT ACROSS THE BACK OF MY NECK AND FELT LIKE I WAS GOIN TO PASS OUT. I GOT REALLY SICK AT MY STOMACH WENT TO THE ER THEY SAID IT WAS INNER EAR INFECTIONS .WELL ITS BEEN FOUR MONTHS BEEN TO ER 3 TIMES DR TWICE AND FIVE SCRIPTS OF ANTIBIOTICS SO FAR I FEEL BETTER, TIL MEDS RUN OUT AND 3 DAYS LATER IT STARTS AGAIN NOW THEY WANT A CAT ,ANYONE ELSE DONE THIS

Antibiotics will only reduce the inflamation of the infection and won't necessarily removed the fluid from behind your ears. Dependent on how long you have had the fluid present, I would recommend seeing your doctor again and asking if it is necessary to see and ENT specialist. It may be necessary to have some ear drains or gromets implanting (this is usually a last resort!) In the meantime, as long as you're not taking any other medication, take some Sudafed or any decongestant tablets. Remember to check with a pharmacist if you're in doubt about any other medications you're taking

Hope this helps!

Partygirl:

did you find out anything that might help yet with removing the fluid i have the same problem or if anyone else has heard of an antibiotic that might help other then penicillin. Thanks!

I have the same problem you have. I have too much fluid in one of my ears - it's called Meniere's Syndrome. I'm going to an ear/nose and throat specialist. To reduce the fluid in my ears the Dr. put me on a low sodium diet and on a diuretic. I'm scared of taking the diuretic because I normally suffer from low blood pressure. I was just diagnosed a few days ago. I know the feeling though - it is the worst thing ever. Now when you have one of those dizziness attacks the only thing that helped me was Valium. Meclizine did not work for me at all- the Valium is the only thing that helps get rid of the dizziness. That made me really sleepy too and it's not something you can take every day, but that's the only thing that helped me get rid of my dizziness. I still feel unbalanced though and my vision seems blurry - Dr. said that is considered dizziness too, but it's not like it was at the very beginning. I was so sick that I couldn't work for a month. Dr. also recommended Vestibular Rehab basically they help you get used to living with the dizziness because this is something that may never go away. Oh and Dr. also mentioned something about injections inside the ear - but I'm not too sure about that. I think that would be my last resort. I read a lot of things on here about people using Sudafed to dry up the fluid - I'm going to try that because I think these doctors all they want is money. The Chiropractor might be a good idea too - because I never had this problem before but I fell down the stairs a few months ago so maybe there is something wrong with my spine not letting the fluid drain properly. I have seen two different ENTs and I was just diagnosed after suffering from this for a month and half. I even had to go to the emergency room at first. I had two CT Scans done - of my brain and of my ears and had an MRI, I also had a whole bunch of tests done. I even had to go to a neurologist. This has not been easy at all and I'm still not cured. Good luck to you because I know how bad you feel. I hope you feel better soon and if you hear of a better solution please let me know.

Hi, take a ear syringe and put peroxide in it, insert in each ear for 10 min. do this 2/3 times a week. you have eustachian tubes that don't drain well and possibly your body produces too much ear wax. peroxide will get rid of ear wax congestion to really help allow ears to drain and stay away from wheat/dairy products! and you might consider nasonex, it dries up the excess fluid on your ears to keep away dizziness and nausea. works really well! canadian/india pharmacies offer it for a lot cheaper than usa markets. I highly recommend sticking with the name brand on this one. I tried the generic version of nasonex and the fillers in the generic gave me headaches but Nasonex is great, non-habit forming, etc. Usually I only go for natural cures but haven't found a natural product that kicks butt like nasonex. I use nasonex solely for fluid in the ears not for allergies that it really is used for. hope this helps!

Homeopathic doctor I used to go to when I lived in Houston gave me this remedy:
2 Tablespoons Honey
2 Tablespoons Distilled Water
2 Tablespoons Vinegar (I used white)
20 drops of Kyolic Garlic Extract
20 drops of rubbing alcohol
Mix all ingredients together thoroughly & put in a glass bottle that has a rubber dropper lid (you can buy these at health food stores.) Place the closed bottle in warm water to warm up the solution a little. Shake the bottle before use. Place 4 drops in the affected ear (keep your head tilted so solution doesn't run out). Repeat dosage every 3-4 hours as needed.
Used it on both of my boys when they were babies when they had an ear infection. They only had one ear infection each. They smelled a little like salad dressing but it worked!

FYI: Honey is a natural antiseptic. Garlic is a natural antibiotic. Alcohol dries up fluid. Vinegar is also antibacterial.

For all you dizziness sufferers out there, i hear your pain and can fully understand. It's more than annoying to debilitating depending on the day. I've had this problem for about 5 yrs or so. Only recently have I tried something different and it's helping. You wouldn't think it but accupunture will help drain the inner ear fliud. I went to the accupunturist twice and after the second session, she told me she thought my inner ear was inflamed and I had fluid in it. And, btw, i never told her that I thought it was that. I'd only researched it online. Yet, she was dead on correct. After the first session, she swaying motion whe lying down to sleep dramatically decreased. It was weird to feel somewhat stable after yrs of feeling dizziness in bed. Now, just so you know, I'm not done, still going to my sessions to help fix this problem but wanted to share the news for all those sufferers who's tried all the western doctors with no success. Don't give up, there's hope for us all. Make sure you go to a reputable accupunturist!!! My doctor has over 30 yrs of experience and she's a doctor of Oriental Medicine (OD) and licensed in the US. So, do your research. Good luck!

I developed acute dizziness 3 days ago, when lying down on my side and the room spins violently..have to be careful moving head up and down and side to side when standing, dizziness occurs and loss of balance,, Dr. said it was vertigo caused by a problem in inner ear..Dr. prescride Rx. meclozine 12.5 mg one pill 2x daily..(causes drowziness) today is my second day of taking med. slept 10 hrs. last night with no dizziness or room spinning, still have to be careful walking (no sudden moves)..yesterday within 4 hours after taking first dose the severe headache I had was gone and dizziness was not as intense..cannot go out, or drive until vertigo is gone and/or drowziness from medication has passed, have to be on med. for 10 days.

Also, you should go to a chiroprator and get xrays taken to see if your spine isnt curved properly. Mine wasnt and he told me that could be the reason my ears dont drain properly. All makes so much since. Im just so happy I found that ENT when I did. If you have tension in your shoulders do a lot of exersizes to release that tension because that tension is what causes dizziness.

Try putting both the palm of your hands on both ears (left palm on left ear and right palm in right ear) so it will cover them, then push/press your palms gently to your ears, make sure you push/press your both palms in the same time to your ears, then let go. Now keep doing that. I did this process and It helped me drain fluids out in my inner ears and helped me pop my ears also. I think what it does is when I push my palms in my ears it actually opens the ears is like sucking it by pressure from the palms and you would find that fluids will come out everytime you do it. Good luck hope this helps people. Ps just make sure you push your palms gently to your ears don't be to rough.

I had the same problem and I went to an ENT and he prescribed me a nasal spray. I use Veramist. It clears the fluid in my ears and takes the dizzy feeling away completely. Also, I went to a Chiropractor and my spine that connects to my head is not curved properly and could be the reason my ears don’t drain properly. I am in the process of correcting that right now. So I guess I will see if that helps too! Good luck with this...

I had the same problem and I went to an ENT and he prescribed me a nasal spray. I use Veramist. It clears the fluid in my ears and takes the dizzy feeling away completely. Also, I went to a Chiropractor and my spine that connects to my head is not curved properly and could be the reason my ears don’t drain properly. I am in the process of correcting that right now. So I guess I will see if that helps too! Good luck with this...

Folks, I have been experiencing this for six months now... it started early July and here we are ending the year. I am so frustrated and worn out it's not even funny. I had to take a two-week leave of absence from work, then came back for only two hours a day for a week or so, then four hours a day for two weeks. My paycheck was painful, but I'll tell ya, I'm about ready to lose my mind. I can't even THINK about what direction to go anymore...

I've been to my PCP, to Urgent Care, to Quick Care, to TWO ENT's... I've had a CT scan of the sinuses and an MRI of the head. I've been on antibiotic after antibiotic and it clears it up, but a couple days after finishing them, it's back. Seriously, I get so freaked by the debilitating dizziness that I started having full-blown, severe, panic attacks every day. I just can't go on like this anymore. I'm afraid I'll not be able to keep working, driving, etc... it is so damn scarey! I just don't know what direction to go anymore ~ I feel like I've been knocking my head against a brick wall trying to get help and find answers for the past six months... I... am... just... tired...

Someone please HELP!

I know what your going through! My symptoms were dizziness, nausea, pressure in temples, felt sleepy, couldnt focus, noise bothered me too. I had no congestion or any signs of a cold. I started with sudafed and that helped a little with the pressure but didnt get rid of my dizziness and nausea. I started taking Mucinex. That did nothing. I went to the doctor and was prescribed antibiotics and some kind of dizzy medicine. That didnt work either. I heard the liquid in my ear but obviously it couldnt get out. After 2 months of thinking I had vertigo somebody told me to put a hairdryer on my ear. So I did the hairdryer for about 15 mins on low heat for couple of days and I felt like a new person. Hope this helps somebody...ohh put your head over a pot of water and a little salt. That should help your sinuses.

When my sister was small, she had to have gromits inserted into her ears to drain fluid. I wonder if your doctor could arrange for something similar to be placed temporarily in your ear to widen the canal and allow the fluid to evaporate.

The only thing that helps me is "pseudoephedrine",(Sudafed). I know what you mean about the dizziness; scary at first, huh?

a drop of another fluid might be water or hrdgrogen peroxide to allow air space in your canal that will trigger stucked fluid inside your ear.. and tilt your head a.s.a. after you drop water inside it to flow it out..

I have read that chewing gum with Xylitol has an antibiotic effect on the ear canal, when chewed after meals and snacks. Chewing also excercises the canal. I bought some Orbit gum and am trying this. There is also Xylitol nasal rinse. I'm fighting earache and inner ear fluid myself for about two monthes. Four different antibiotics, and an ear specialist apt. coming up. Very tiring. Advil or generic, Allegra (w/ sudefed), Nasalcort nasal spray, and antibiotics are what the doc has me trying now. It may need drained surgically. Keep at the doctor to help you. Call and talk to the nurse to describe your continuing problem and ask for help.

Return to the doctor and never put anything smaller than your elbow into your ear.

I too have suffered from severe vertigo thanks to a viral infection in my inner ear. Some of my symptoms included vertigo, severe head pressure, nausea, sensitivity to noise (I could hear a dog whistle), fatigue and developed some pretty severe anxiety from it for a while (anxiety comes back from time to time). I went to a vestibular specialist that was licensed to perform exercises to re-align the crystals in my ear (this is what caused my dizziness and vertigo). He performed on of these exercises on me and I have been dizzy free for 5 months!! I would HIGHLY recommend finding a specialist in your area: http://www.vestibular.org/find-medical-help/search-for-a-health-professional.php

While my dizziness went away, it turned out the vetigo I had damaged a nerve in my ear so I still have headaches, sensitivity to noise, my eyes are fuzzy at times, I feel fatigued and light headed. I cotinued visiting the specialist above and he gave me exercises that helped reduce alot of these symptoms. I was discharged a few months ago and was told to keep going with my exercises and all should be fine. While i have gotten better I seemed to have hit a brick wall and am not finding myself getting better or worse so I may try these fluid relieving tips given above and see if that helps, as I often feel I have liquid on my ears.

Thanks all for you help and I hope my advice will help anyone interested as well. I've been at the very scary begining of it all and literally thoguht the worst because the symptoms got me fast and were always sparatic.

Good luck to all :)

I have suffered on and off for the past 10 yrs, it is horrible feeling but can only try different things to see what works. Ive been living on antihistamines for most of those years but they have problems in themselves on other parts of your body. I am currently suffering from fluid behind my ear drum at the moment and it is quite frustrating. I have learnt to live with it but it is scary driving the car with kids and not being able to focus onthe traffic properly. I am currently takin St Johns Wort which ive now found out reduces the the affect of loratadine so any attempt i make to try on my ears at the moment wont work. I may try the hair dryer technique and see how i go.

I had the same problem a few years back they diagnosed me with vertigo and gave me pills they said might take years to repair . I took 3 pills and was fine 2 years later nothing it was bad I used to fall and the world was spinning if I find the bottle I will let u know I will look for it tonight

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My son has a bad cold and tonight he told me that he feels something in his ear. I am pretty sure it is fluid. I am going to try a charcoal poultice on his ear tomorrow when he wakes up. I have a book called Charcoal RX and is says that a charcoal poultice will help relieve earache. So I am thinking it might help with fluid in the ear. I will post back to let everyone know how it works.

One note for all of you who have been suffering through several rounds of antibiotics -- try to get on a good pro-biotic to help put good bacteria back in your gut. Antibiotics destroy your immune system and that might be why you keep having to do the rounds over and over with no long term improvement. Just a thought. Thanks to everyone for your helpful posts.