I am on my ninth day of antibiotics (Augmentin 875 mg. twice a day) for a sinus infection and ear infection. The sinus infection appears to have cleared up for the most part, but I am still having problems with my ear. The pain is way down from where it used to be, and my main complaint is pressure and a completely plugged ear (eustatian tube). My ear has been plugged now for ten days. I went back to the doctor yesterday for a recheck. He said the eardrum is no longer red and bulging but isn't "normal" yet. He gave me another five days of the Augmentin and gave me a prescription for the steroid, Prednisone. After reading the information about the Prednisone and its possible side effects, I have decided against taking it.

Is there anything I can do to speed the ear in "popping?" I am constantly yawning, swallowing and have been chewing gum. I hear a crackling noise in the ear which the doctor said is good and that the ear is trying to clear.

I would appreciate any help or suggestions.

Yes, you can do the Valsalva maneuver, close your nose and mouth, then pretend your blowing out your nose. This gets my E. tubes up and running everytime after recovering from an infection. It may takes some practice at first, but once you learn how to do it you will be glad. Good luck.

Thank you for your reply. My doctor actually gave me these same exercises yesterday. Can you give me an estimate on about how long they take (how many days) before the eustatian tube clears up? I'd really appreciate it. Thanks again.

Assuming the infection is gone and there is just non-infected fluid trapped and the inflammation is down, this could provide instant relief. However, you don't want to blow too hard because you could blow out the eardrum on your good side (assuming you had the ear infection on one side only). It's really a fine line to walk. Do you have ETD causing recurrent ear infections on one side? Another thing that worked for me before I learned this trick, I went downtown and rode an elevator up and down 40 floors a few times and that would also clear my ear.

I'm not sure if the infection is gone or not. Yesterday the doctor said that the eardrum didn't look "normal" yet but that the bulging and redness were gone. The pain is minimal (almost non-existent) but there is still a ton of pressure and the nagging plugged ear. This is the first ear infection I've ever had, and it is only on the right side. I'm still doing the exercises, and I will say that the pressure seems less this morning. I guess I will just keep at them.