1. < Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT)

Ear Fungus

Posted by imallears @imallears, Jan 29, 2020

Hello,

I am profoundly hard of hearing in both ears. I had many ear infections as a child and have been wearing hearing aids for 40 years. This past year I
had 2 episodes of fungus in the ears and several ear infections. Medications for
the fungus have not worked too well. My ENT Doctor recently cleaned out my right ear today (
Wednesday the 29th) which has fungus and which caused a severe ear ache ....haven’t had ear aches since I was a child.
I am to see him again this Friday and bring with me Iodine and a dropper. He will clean out more of the fungus and paint my ear with the iodine and give me instructions on how to administer iodine drops and for how long.
I have read how iodine is effective in killing fungus and bacteria in general and how it may be effective in treating fungus in the ears. I have little ear wax and know that ear wax has anti microbial properties. No hearing aid in that ear until I see him again.

My question is...has anyone ever been diagnosed with ear fungus and what did you use beside RX medications to treat the fungus or ear infections in general. I think the fungus may be resistant to any medications at this point so the iodine would be a preventative measure. I was using apple cider Vinegar and water on occasion to ward off ear infections but it is very drying to my ear canals. I also use mineral oil on a semi regular basis.
I am happy that the Dr is not going to prescribe anti fungal medications again and I believe he realizes it is ineffective to do so.

Thanks for any info
FL Mary
,

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imallears | @imallears | May 22, 2020

@mrstaylor
Hi
Good for you and you shall now be know as the Fungi Fighter. Watch out for the alcohol and vinegar as it is very drying and may make those ears itchy.
If you do decide on the iodine...it was so much more expensive than I thought it would be.

FL Mary

REPLY
1 reply
lioness | @lioness | May 22, 2020

@imallers. When I had the itchy ears @gingerw recommended the vinegar/water and I used it also put in once a week I think it was and it does dry the ears so used mineral oil via Mary on ears. Im haveing dry flacky ears again so will use the cream Dr. gave me if it doesn't work I will go back to m.o

REPLY
mrstaylor | @mrstaylor | May 22, 2020
In reply to @imallears "@mrstaylor Hi Good for you and you shall now be know as the Fungi Fighter. Watch..." + (show)
@imallears

@mrstaylor
Hi
Good for you and you shall now be know as the Fungi Fighter. Watch out for the alcohol and vinegar as it is very drying and may make those ears itchy.
If you do decide on the iodine...it was so much more expensive than I thought it would be.

FL Mary

Jump to this post

I know that moisture is needed for fungus to thrive - they like damp - so I am going to get the ear dry - but not too much 😉

REPLY
julio56 | @julio56 | Jun 17, 2020

La efectiva toilette de los oídos, por parte del ORL con buena aspiración bajo visión del microscopio es la base del tratamiento, luego usar antimicoticos en loción, Thimerosal, algunos usan Ácido Bórico en polvo. Aclarar al paciente que a pesar de todo, puede recidivar .

REPLY
Amanda Burnett | @amandaa | Jul 7, 2020

Hola @julio56 bienvenido a Mayo Clinic Connect. Estoy de acuerdo, tomar antimicóticos y, con los consejos de los médicos, el ácido bórico con algo de alcohol puede funcionar. Has tenido problemas con las infecciones del oído?

REPLY
lioness | @lioness | Jul 7, 2020

All these fireworks seems like a month we have had 5hem has made my tinnitus ring more. Anyone else have this problem?

REPLY
ginafl | @ginafl | Aug 11, 2020
In reply to @imallears "@lisalucier Hi, I brought the iodine with me as instructed but he did not need to..." + (show)
@imallears

@lisalucier
Hi,

I brought the iodine with me as instructed but he did not need to use it. He cleaned out some more debris and I believe used boric acid powder and declared the ear squeaky clean. I’m seeing him in 2 1/2 weeks for a follow up. If my ear gets wonky (I can tell by how things sound) he told me to go ahead and put some iodine drops in that ear. I have been reading up on Iodine and it’s effectiveness for fungus in general. His colleagues and other patients have used that particular treatment and gotten good results.

I’m so germaphobic about my ears and hearing aids which are pristine. At the beauty parlor I used Vaseline coated cotton balls when it’s time to wash. We’ll see how things go. I commend my Doctor for not resorting to prescriptions this time as it is obvious the fungus was resistant to any medications.

FL Mary

Jump to this post

Hi Mary, I have been fighting left ear fungus for over a year. They too gave me steriod antibiotics first which I think ruined me? Can you explain in detail how to do the iodine? I have 2%Lugols... I feel as if it has gone to my left sinus too... Left ear left sinus now. Its pretty scary. I so appreciate any help. Thank you so much.

REPLY
1 reply
ginafl | @ginafl | Aug 11, 2020
In reply to @lisalucier "Hi, @imallears - dealing with episodes of fungus in the ears and several ear infections sounds..." + (show)
@lisalucier

Hi, @imallears - dealing with episodes of fungus in the ears and several ear infections sounds difficult. The last ear infection I had - a double ear infection I got through scuba diving training in a lake - was beyond painful.

Though @kimpossible @morgellonsintx2 and @addie11111 were talking about fungus in a thread on Lyme Disease, they may be able to speak to ear fungus and and treatment beside RX medications. @parus and @gingerw also may have some ideas on this.

What did your doctor say about this at your Friday appointment, imallears?

Jump to this post

Are you saying Lyme can cause ear Fungus? Thank you

REPLY
imallears | @imallears | Aug 11, 2020
In reply to @ginafl "Hi Mary, I have been fighting left ear fungus for over a year. They too gave..." + (show)
@ginafl

Hi Mary, I have been fighting left ear fungus for over a year. They too gave me steriod antibiotics first which I think ruined me? Can you explain in detail how to do the iodine? I have 2%Lugols... I feel as if it has gone to my left sinus too... Left ear left sinus now. Its pretty scary. I so appreciate any help. Thank you so much.

Jump to this post

@ginafl
Hi,
I remember I did not even know I had ear fungus but I get 3 to 4-month checkups. He initially cleaned out my ears and told me to get Povidone iodine 10% solution which I did. It has a longer lasting antiseptic effect than the lugol's 2%. I got a CVS brand.
For 2 days I used a dropper and filled the ear canal per his instructions...probably the whole dropper for each ear. Leave in for five or six minutes and then put a cotton ball in it and then did the other ear. I did this morning and
night. He told me not to wear hearing aids for a couple of hours after I did that and on the third day I saw him again and my ears were all cleared up. Iodine is not cheap anymore. I still have my bottle. And I do remember him specifying Povidone 10%. He said his peers have reported great success with their patients.
Be careful and cover your clothes because your know this stains.

FL Mary

REPLY
2 replies
ginafl | @ginafl | Aug 12, 2020
In reply to @imallears "@ginafl Hi, I remember I did not even know I had ear fungus but I get..." + (show)
@imallears

@ginafl
Hi,
I remember I did not even know I had ear fungus but I get 3 to 4-month checkups. He initially cleaned out my ears and told me to get Povidone iodine 10% solution which I did. It has a longer lasting antiseptic effect than the lugol's 2%. I got a CVS brand.
For 2 days I used a dropper and filled the ear canal per his instructions...probably the whole dropper for each ear. Leave in for five or six minutes and then put a cotton ball in it and then did the other ear. I did this morning and
night. He told me not to wear hearing aids for a couple of hours after I did that and on the third day I saw him again and my ears were all cleared up. Iodine is not cheap anymore. I still have my bottle. And I do remember him specifying Povidone 10%. He said his peers have reported great success with their patients.
Be careful and cover your clothes because your know this stains.

FL Mary

Jump to this post

I so appreciate your instruction I pray it works for me too. Thank you! x

REPLY
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