Ear Drainage

[Chuck]

This morning I woke up with a little clear fluid draining from my ear. No pain, dizziness or any other symptoms. I don't usually use Q-tips, but yesterday my ear felt like there was a little hair tickling on the inside, so I gently twisted it to remove the excess wax and whatever was itching. That seemed to take care of the problem. I used to be a pediatric nurse, so I know to be careful about using those swabs. A doctor once told me it was fine to do that from time to time, and not just jab a swab in there. Anyway, several hours after getting up this morning, my ear feels a little irritated, but not what I'd call painful or itchy. The drainage has stopped. When I drank my morning cup of coffee, it felt really good to my ear when I swallow the hot liquid.

Any idea what this is or what to do? I'm thinking I may have an ear infection. We live very remote in the bush. Haven't seen anyone to catch anything from in several weeks. No way to get to a doctor without chartering a bush plane ($$$$$), so that's out. I have things like Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE), Oil of Oregano, and some homemade herbal oils and salves such as Balm of Gilead, a salve I made from spruce pitch, Comfrey salves, plantain, yarrow and a few others. Should I dab a little inside my ear, or would that cause more harm than good? I'm also thinking I should start taking some GSE and/or Oil of Oregano internally. What do you think?

Thanks a bunch!
Jenny (Chuck's wife)

[luvmyvet]

hey Chucks wife, lol

it sounds like your ear drum may have ruptured.

our oldest daughter (and myself) have dealt with it numerous times and have scar tissue and loss of hearing.

Its been a number of years, but my first instinct is to NOT put anything into your ear at this point and if taking a shower or washing your hair, place a cotton ball in the affected side and coat the outside with vaseline to keep water/bacteria from entering.

ours always healed up on their own, but can leave scar tissue as mentioned above.
I'd take extra vitamin c or other immune supporting herbs when it would happen to us to help lessen ear infections.

there are other problems that can cause drainage from the ears, but without an injury of some kind it sure sounds like a ruptured ear drum...

[Chuck]

Thank you very much for the information. I started on vitamin C today. Also took some oil of oregano internally. While holding it in my mouth, that ear sure did start burning for a few minutes. Oregano tends to burn where there's infection, so maybe that's it, or a ruptured ear drum. I'll take your advice on keeping water out of my ear while showering.

Thanks again!

[LANCER]

Please don't pour hydrogen peroxide in that ear! My left eardrum was ruptured when I was 6 years old and my mom poured peroxide in, not knowing it was ruptured. I hit the ceiling and screamed and ended up in the E.R.

I've never had clear drainage [unless it was clear at that early age, so I don't know what that says about your problem.

Good luck & God bless!

[Animal Lover]

I am totally deaf in left ear. And, 65 per-cent loss in the other ear. New specialist told me never, ever to let water get into either ear. If you find that it is infected, try and get an anti-biotic. Don't end up deaf, please.

My mother let me go though years and years of burst absesses in both ears wo Dr.'s help. Deafness is the result!!! It is horrible, so don't let it "heal on its' own." It probably will. But, the consequences of not taking proper care of it, are not nice. Good luck

[Chuck]

You two sure had a rough time of it. Wow! Thank you for your concern and advice. I have been taking oil of oregano three times daily. After the first does yesterday, it didn't burn up into my ear anymore. No more drainage and feels normal. I'll keep taking the oregano oil for a few more days. That's powerful stuff! Wouldn't want to be without it.
Thanks again!