Ear pain that hurts

connieprice1
connieprice1 Member Posts: 300 Member
Hello everyone, Connie is over 4 months now from last radiation treatment. In the last week she has experienced severe ear pain and I have heard a lot of people on this site say they have experienced it. She goes in for another CT scan in a little over 2 weeks. Is this normal or should we be more concerned, I don't know if it is a side effect or possible cancer problem. So far it has not effected her hearing and I am hoping it is just another side effect of radiation. Should we do anything or just bring this up in 2 weeks? I have been working hard lately but my wife comes first. Sometimes I think we are trying too hard to get our old life back. I don't know why but it seems like everything has been getting to me lately and I am losing confidence that we will ever get to anything close to normal. I have thought about just filing bankrupcy and get it over with. Trying to run a business and cope with all this is getting to me somewhat, I feel I am losing all control of our future. We owe so much money and trying to save our business and take care of my wife is all I can handle. Thanks, Homer

Comments

  • jim and i
    jim and i Member Posts: 1,788 Member
    Don't give up
    Homer, Don't give up. I do not know if you are a believer in God but I can say that if it was not for my faith, I would have given up weeks ago. The one thing I know is that we can't control anything but our reaction to events in our lives. I say that but I do often forget it for a time.

    Jim and I had our life planned out. He is retired and I was going to retire in January, 2012. We had paid off bills and saved a little inj order that we might travel. Now all that has changed. I had to resign my position and we are now living off our savings and Jim's Social Security. Everyone tells us that things will not be the same after treatment, that we will have a new normal. That is a hard thing to think about. I do not know how you have handled a business and being a caretaker, I don't think I could, but don't give up, except control. I have found that when I let go and let God take control, things work out.

    May God grant you peace and comfort and perseverance through these tough times.

    Debbie
  • jim and i
    jim and i Member Posts: 1,788 Member
    jim and i said:

    Don't give up
    Homer, Don't give up. I do not know if you are a believer in God but I can say that if it was not for my faith, I would have given up weeks ago. The one thing I know is that we can't control anything but our reaction to events in our lives. I say that but I do often forget it for a time.

    Jim and I had our life planned out. He is retired and I was going to retire in January, 2012. We had paid off bills and saved a little inj order that we might travel. Now all that has changed. I had to resign my position and we are now living off our savings and Jim's Social Security. Everyone tells us that things will not be the same after treatment, that we will have a new normal. That is a hard thing to think about. I do not know how you have handled a business and being a caretaker, I don't think I could, but don't give up, except control. I have found that when I let go and let God take control, things work out.

    May God grant you peace and comfort and perseverance through these tough times.

    Debbie

    Duh!
    Homer,
    side effe3cts can cause the ear pain.
    Forgot to answer your questions. Unless the doctor is going to see her too I would call. Many
  • nwasen
    nwasen Member Posts: 235 Member
    Ear pain
    sometimes ear pain isn't really coming from the ear. It could be the nerve endings saying this is where there is pain. Maybe she could get another CT scan sooner instead of having to wait over 2 weeks. Pays to ask.
    Don't lose confidence but do realize you may have a "new: life. I am not a believer in God or religion but I do believe in the power of love. So wherever you get that from; reach out.
    We aren't in control of much to begin with now are we? If we were, we wouldn't have cancer!! So figure out what is most important to you and your wife (I am guessing it is your wife) and the rest will shake out what it will.
    Hope that doesn't sound too pat but it really is the truth....or was for me. I took care of me and knew my job and everything else would somehow be what it was supposed to be.
    Hope your wife's scan is negative and the ear pain is just a side effect of our friend that keeps on giving: radiation!
    Peace
    Nancy aka toughcookie
  • Greg53
    Greg53 Member Posts: 849
    jim and i said:

    Duh!
    Homer,
    side effe3cts can cause the ear pain.
    Forgot to answer your questions. Unless the doctor is going to see her too I would call. Many

    Ear pain
    Hi Homer and Connie,

    Sorry to hear Connie is having the ear pain. That is one side effect that I never had, so no good advice whether to see the doc right away about it. If it's really bothering her though, that's what the doc's are there for and I wouldn't hesitate to call them to move up the appointment. And Homer, you are such a stand-up guy, whether supporting Connie or others here on the site, I just wanted to say hopefully everything works out well for you two. No good advice, except to say take some deep breaths, take it one day at time and if karma is real - good things will eventually come around to good people like you.

    As always positive thoughts headed your way!

    Greg
  • DrMary
    DrMary Member Posts: 531 Member
    Why wait?
    Did Connie have a neck dissection? If not, is she getting any lymphedema? (It commonly follows the dissection, but I hear folks can get it just from the radiation.) Doug had some bad ear pain after his dissection, both from the nerves having been moved and from the pressure of the swelling. Has she been grinding her teeth? (Some folks do, in response to acid reflux or sore throat.)

    I mention these as possible reasons, but I would certainly put in a call, as it could also be an ear infection, which should not wait. And two weeks is too long to stay in pain, regardless.

    Don't be discouraged - it's really tough to find out you are not really done with side effects and such, but she is getting better and you both will find that new normal. You have shown amazing strength throughout this, Homer - hang in there!
  • Dav1965
    Dav1965 Member Posts: 132
    My story
    I finished rads and chemo in Oct 2010. About May 2011 i started having ear pain real bad. At each visit i would tell my oncologist that my ear hurt and he would look in there and say he could see nothing wrong. About 3 weeks later it started hurting so bad tears would come to my eyes 2 or 3 times a day. So i made an appointment with my oncologist and he looked in my ear again same thing he could see nothing wrong. This time he made an appointment for a ct scan. Well the scan showed radiation deteriated the bone that holds my jaw in place and i have a cyst in the bone in the same area. When i move my jaw now it sound like a bunch of grinding going on in there. I am on oxycodone and oxycontin for the pain. I am in more pain now than before the surgery. I have just started physical therepy the last couple weeks. So we will see if it works. Good luck and God bless. David
  • Greend
    Greend Member Posts: 678
    tubes
    I ended up getting tubes put in and that fixed my ear pain. Don't know if yours is the same but mine was a simple fix.
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    Homer
    I hate ear pain.   That was one of my symptoms, of course, when I had cancer.   Now it seems, they tell me that it is a side effect.   I asked my docs if I would ever get rid of the ear pain, they say they don't know.   Of course right now, both ears are clogged, and there is pressure, and the left one, still has pain on and off.  

    Homer, you are an amazing man, and such a good husband and great support to Connie.   Never doubt that.   Your love, your committment and honor for your wife shines through in every post.    

    It is difficult, trying to settle into a 'new normal', and honestly, it is really frustrating at times, that our lives are forever changed.   Some of us, more than others.     I thought I would be back to work in no more than six months.   I never thought my neck would still hurt me every day.  I sure never thought my mouth and tongue would still be hurting over two years out, and that I would have a stricture...    And of course, the medical bills.   There are days, that I can feel a little cheated, and I wish that I could have my old normal back.  My job, working full time, and being able to get my own home, instead of living here, and having to 'granny sit'.  I have enough to take care of just me, and some days, she is just overwhelming.

    I am not sure sometimes what the answer is.  Maybe its praying to see the clarity of what is truly important,  knowing what is attainable in the 'new normal' and what we need to let go.    Well, kind of like the serenity prayer.  Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

    Homer, you and Connie are always in my prayers, sending extra today.
  • Greend
    Greend Member Posts: 678

    Homer
    I hate ear pain.   That was one of my symptoms, of course, when I had cancer.   Now it seems, they tell me that it is a side effect.   I asked my docs if I would ever get rid of the ear pain, they say they don't know.   Of course right now, both ears are clogged, and there is pressure, and the left one, still has pain on and off.  

    Homer, you are an amazing man, and such a good husband and great support to Connie.   Never doubt that.   Your love, your committment and honor for your wife shines through in every post.    

    It is difficult, trying to settle into a 'new normal', and honestly, it is really frustrating at times, that our lives are forever changed.   Some of us, more than others.     I thought I would be back to work in no more than six months.   I never thought my neck would still hurt me every day.  I sure never thought my mouth and tongue would still be hurting over two years out, and that I would have a stricture...    And of course, the medical bills.   There are days, that I can feel a little cheated, and I wish that I could have my old normal back.  My job, working full time, and being able to get my own home, instead of living here, and having to 'granny sit'.  I have enough to take care of just me, and some days, she is just overwhelming.

    I am not sure sometimes what the answer is.  Maybe its praying to see the clarity of what is truly important,  knowing what is attainable in the 'new normal' and what we need to let go.    Well, kind of like the serenity prayer.  Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

    Homer, you and Connie are always in my prayers, sending extra today.

    Sweetblood question
    I know this is probably stupid to ask but have you tried mucinex (sp)? Sometimes it works great on my right ear to relieve pressure. I get the generic brand and it helps 50% of the time.
  • arndog64
    arndog64 Member Posts: 537
    Greend said:

    Sweetblood question
    I know this is probably stupid to ask but have you tried mucinex (sp)? Sometimes it works great on my right ear to relieve pressure. I get the generic brand and it helps 50% of the time.

    Homer,
    You are such an

    Homer,

    You are such an amazing caretaker to your wife. Keep up the fight. Lets hope and pray that the earache is just a side effect and things start looking up in your neck of the woods. Thank you helping me and my hubby during out struggles. Take care sending big hugs.
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    Greend said:

    Sweetblood question
    I know this is probably stupid to ask but have you tried mucinex (sp)? Sometimes it works great on my right ear to relieve pressure. I get the generic brand and it helps 50% of the time.

    Greend
    I was on generic zyrtec, tried generic mucinex, benadryl...oh, the nasonex doc gave me....nothing. Not one bit of relief. :(

    At least the benadryl makes me comatose, and I actually do sleep for a change if I take it.
  • Jimbo55
    Jimbo55 Member Posts: 590 Member
    Homer
    Stay strong Homer, things are tough now but hopefully they will work themselves out for you and Connie very soon. Positive thoughts for you both. Cheers.

    Jimbo
  • mixleader
    mixleader Member Posts: 267 Member
    Pain In The Ear
    I also have been experiencing ear pain in my right ear that was severe enough to bring me to my knees and bring me to tears. There were nights that I was praying to God to either stop the pain or take me home. I was also having pain in my jaw/teeth/tongue/throat, but the ear pain was the worst by far. I visited my various doctors several times and nobody found much. They were in agreement that it was not the ear that was hurting, but it was referred pain from my TMJ disorder and from damaged nerves. I did three nerve blocks at the pain clinic and that didn't help much either. It is too early to say for sure, but for the last several days, I have quite a bit of relief from a nerve drug called Gabapentin (Neurontin). This, in use with either Tyelenol 4 or with Tramadol when it gets really bad, has made me feel better. In fact, I have only had to use the Tylenol 4 since I started on the Gabapentin. Like I said, it is too early to tell for sure if this is truly helping, but after three different doctors told me to try it, I did. I also am now best buddies with my rice pack which I heat in the microwave and use on the side of my face, especially at night. Many times, this helps quite a bit and gets me to sleep.

    Roger
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    mixleader said:

    Pain In The Ear
    I also have been experiencing ear pain in my right ear that was severe enough to bring me to my knees and bring me to tears. There were nights that I was praying to God to either stop the pain or take me home. I was also having pain in my jaw/teeth/tongue/throat, but the ear pain was the worst by far. I visited my various doctors several times and nobody found much. They were in agreement that it was not the ear that was hurting, but it was referred pain from my TMJ disorder and from damaged nerves. I did three nerve blocks at the pain clinic and that didn't help much either. It is too early to say for sure, but for the last several days, I have quite a bit of relief from a nerve drug called Gabapentin (Neurontin). This, in use with either Tyelenol 4 or with Tramadol when it gets really bad, has made me feel better. In fact, I have only had to use the Tylenol 4 since I started on the Gabapentin. Like I said, it is too early to tell for sure if this is truly helping, but after three different doctors told me to try it, I did. I also am now best buddies with my rice pack which I heat in the microwave and use on the side of my face, especially at night. Many times, this helps quite a bit and gets me to sleep.

    Roger

    Hi Roger
    I too use the heat pack, mostly at night to get to sleep when having ear pain, it is the only thing I found that really helps.

    Hondo
  • connieprice1
    connieprice1 Member Posts: 300 Member
    Well, I finally have had a
    Well, I finally have had a chance to check on my post. I always look forward to reading all the nice responses we get from our friends on this site. It is really nice of everyone to send such warm wishes and prayers our way. I guess the prayers worked because Connie has not had any ear pain lately. Maybe I'm just a little jumpy after so many setbacks. You know, I have compared Connie's treatment to a roller coaster ride because their are so many ups and downs and twists and turns. I will admit that I have become closer to the Lord since this ordeal started. I truly believe in the power of prayer since we have experienced true miracles and I have read of so many on this network. To all of you out of treatment, I wish you nothing but clean scans and for those of you still going through the radiation/chemo treatments, I pray you have a full recovery. When I posted on here a few days ago I mentioned that bankrupcy could be in my future. Since then I have decided to continue to work to repay the the good people who put their good faith in my business to begin with. With the Lord's guidance it will work out or he might have a different plan for me. Either way I am not a quitter, Homer & Connie
  • Greend
    Greend Member Posts: 678

    Greend
    I was on generic zyrtec, tried generic mucinex, benadryl...oh, the nasonex doc gave me....nothing. Not one bit of relief. :(

    At least the benadryl makes me comatose, and I actually do sleep for a change if I take it.

    benadryl
    Knocks me out as well. Doc says that is proof I'm not an abuser of meds. :>)