Hey guys
I had been sick for about a week and a half until I could finally afford to see my doctor. He checked everything, my eyes, my ears, my nose.. said everything was fine except that my glands in my throat looked a little irritated. He told me it could be turning into a sinus infection. He prescribed me a new medicine called "Ketek" (which is specifically for sinus infections and bronchitis)... take 2 pills at the same time once a day for 5 days. Well, after I started taking it, I developed a horrible cough. The other day, I was coughing so hard it felt like there was tons of pressure on both my ears. Yesterday, by the end of the day, my left ear felt like it was kind of numb, and I could barely hear out of it. Feels like there's tons of pressure in that ear also. Also get sharp pains in that ear too. I asked my parents what to do last night and they told me to get a cotton ball, put peroxide on it, drip it into my ear and hold my head the opposite direction to let it drip inside.. and then keep the cotton ball in my ear while I sleep so everything drains onto it and also sleep on my left side where the cotton ball was so it COULD drain.. well, it's the next morning, I'm at work, and still no change. In fact, I am getting more pains in my left ear than I was before. and it hurts to tip my head to that side. It's not really like an *unbearable* pain... more like a sharp irritating pain... know what I mean? I also get pains in my right ear every now and then. Not sure what to do next?

unfortunately, I'm an expert on sinus problems, since I'm a long time sufferer.

Swollen glands are a sign of a virus, not an infection. However, you can have both a virus and a bacterial infection at the same time.

You might have an ear infection, so I would see the doctor again about that.

But it doesn't sound to me like you have a sinus infection. Sinus infection symptoms are usually

1. Intense pressure around the eyes, forehead, etc.
2. Discolored discharge from the nose -dark yellow or brown.
3. Dizziness (this is a big one)
4. Sore throat

I know I have a sinus infection when I start getting dizzy, and the pressure builds. If I just have a cough and sore throat, that is viral.

I would imagine the Ketek should take care of an ear infection. Are you still taking it?

For me, plugged up ears are often the start of a sinus infection...but as Chiggins said, it could also be an ear infection.

Keep in mind that if you do have sinusitis, as your sinuses drain it is almost inevitable that you'll develop a cough - preferably a productive one, as that means you're expelling what was in your sinuses.