Ear problem reoccured

When I started traveling again in early May, I was worried due to my last trip that has caused me acute middle ear infection. It turned out the traveling was fine. I felt confidence. As long as I chew some candies during take off and landing, I'd be okay.
Then the traveling continues. I was out of town every week for 2-3 days!
I was not feeling well during the last trip to Surabaya last week. And on Monday (May 31) when I started to work in the office, I felt uneasiness in my left ear, and I had this headache too on the left side of my head.
I decided to see my ENT doctor in the evening after work. Then she said that the left ear drum is swelling and the right side is same but not as bad as the left.
Man, I was planning to swim last Sunday but somehow canceled. And I have another trip coming next week.
My doctor inserted two tiny cotton balls in my left ear and drop some liquid medication onto the cotton. It's supposed to be like a compress to sooth the ear drum. I need to put the ear drops 4 times a day. She prescribed me antibiotics and medicines and I to come back on Wednesday.

She asked me to exercise and to get fit. Flying when you are not fit can cause this kind of problem. And my sinusitis must be controlled too.

I have decided to cancel the trip to Singapore and Manila, and delegate this to my colleague.

Following up my ear condition and going to dentist

Following my ear condition, I had my fourth visit to ENT doctor on Jan 20, 2010. It was supposed to be Jan 11, but somehow I wasn't able to get through clinic phone line. It seemed busy or something. So on Jan 18, I had spare time and decided to go to the clinic and see what's happened. It turned out that their phone lines were having problem, and they still waited for technician to fix it. It has been happening for one week and support hasn't come yet? That's bad because the clinic is serving patients.
I finally made appointment.

I haven't gone to dentist yet because I always went home late in the evening and during that time dentists are usually finish practicing.


My ENT doctor checked me as usual. She said there's still some redness, so I'm not allowed to clean the ear for awhile. I told her that due to othe AC temperature in my office which is cold, my nose is sometimes blocked. She asked me to wear mask.
I can go flying but with some precautions:
1. Eat chewy candy while taking off
2. Apply nose drop before taking off
3. Use nose drop while I'm on the trip
4. Take her prescribed medication while I'm on the trip

She also asked me to go to dentist ASAP to treat whatever problem with my teeth. She said, if I don't care about it and keep the situation going on, it will be infection around eye area and even pus will fill in the eye cavity (ewww.....)

Now............ About dentist.
I decided to check out a dental clinic near my place. It's called Ritz Klinik Gigi, located in Joglo, Jakarta Barat.
It opens from morning up to 9 PM and it also opens on Saturday and Sunday.
I made appointment for Sunday morning (Jan 24).
The dentist checked my teeth. She said, there's nothing serious with my teeth. They are in great condition considering that I haven't been to dentist for 2-3 years.
I only have plaque on my back jaw area.

The small gap where meat sometimes stuck is not a problem. I just need to give more attention to it, e.g. flossing more. Dentist cleaned the area. She found tiny whole in there when cleaning. So I may go to see her again next week.

I'm glad the teeth are fine and didn't cause the sinusitis. Then..... Should I undergo surgery ???????

Acute middle ear infection and sinusitis

Oh my, sounds so scary, huh???
Yeah, I also was a bit scared hearing that terminology when my ENT doctor told me what the condition called which is happening to me after my long trip end of November 2009 to KL and Hua Hin.

As I posted previously, I was sick during my trip. After 3 days back in Jakarta, my left ear started to feel blocked again. In the morning, the blockage is tolerable, but it gets worse in the evening. I feel like I'm wearing that big motorcycle helmet which covers your head and it's difficult to hear clearly. It's dangerous to drive at night because I'm not alert of traffic situation. I use my right ear intensively and always go closer to people who's talking to me so I can hear clearly. It's so sad, you know, can you imagine what I had to do when I meet customers? I feel like a handicap.
After experiencing this for one week, I had a time to go to my ENT doctor. She examined me and told me that the inside left ear looks really red and swollen and she can't give any treatments before it normals again.

I asked what it's my condition called in medical term, it's: Acute middle ear infection, or acute otitis media.
And I asked more: what cause it?
Doctor: The flu. You were flying during the flu and got blockage in the ear. It Should have been examined once you landed.
Me: I went to a doctor 2 days after that because I couldn't stand the headache and asthma. The doctor checked my ears, he said they are fine.
Doctor: Yes, but did you go to ENT doctor? If it's GP, he may not be able to identify the symptoms of the condition.
Me: No, he's a GP.
Doctor: Ah, no wonder.

(What a good conversation. I love my doc!)



So she gave me antibiotics and other medicines (Dec 14, 2009) and nose drop to fix my running nose of the flu. Oh the nose drop is really good! It dry out my nose quickly but must apply three times a day, not practical because I need someone else to help me to put in the drop into my nostrils.
During the time, I go to physiotherapist to get treatment because of my coughing. It caused chest and back pain. Ughh........
The next appointment with ENT doctor was Dec 24, 2009. After 10 days taking medicines, I didn't feel any better... yet. She gave me another prescription with the same medicine to continue what I have been having.
She asked me to take X-ray of my sinus, to compare the condition from the first X-ray in August 2009. I asked what about my continuous coughing. She then asked me to take thorax X-ray.
After I finished at her clinic, I went straight away to Pramita Lab for x-ray. It cost me around USD 40 to get three types of X-rays.
I can get the result on Dec 26, 2009, but I only had a chance on Dec 28, 2009.

My last appointment with ENT doctor was on Dec 31, 2009.
I feel that my left ear is getting better. I still feel small blockage, but it stays like that, not like previous one. My nose is almost dry too.
I showed her the X-rays............
The good news was my lungs are fine, nothing abnormal seen.

But my sinus X-ray showed bad sign. It's almost filled with fluid, not air. Doctor said, usually when she sees patient condition like, she would recommend the patient to have surgery to remove the fluid. But for now, we must fix the ear infection first. One step at a time.
She asked whether I have problem with my upper teeth. I said I think so, I may have several cavities, but haven't gone to dentist for years.
Another fact I get from my doc: problem with upper teeth can cause sinusitis condition.
If we don't treat sinusitis, the worse is it can affect the organ in skull base..... Eeekkksss....!

So, here's the plan:
- Fix ear infection
- Fix cavity in upper teeth
- Monitor the sinusitis after overcoming teeth problem
- No flu for 6 months then will take another X-ray for my sinus so it will give better x-ray picture.
- No flu means = no stress, healthy lifestyle, go to sleep early, exercise (very very important for people who's having allergy) and stay under morning sun for 30 minutes.
Sounds a repetition from what I did in 2007!

Ok, it's my 2010 resolution then!

Picture of acute otitis media