Hello, Mary. I'm learning so much from you. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

I have extremely dry ears also. The ENT says this is the cause of my 'plugged up' feeling in the right ear. It feels like it's stopped up most of the time, with fluid behind the ear, itches and is quite bothersome as well as I can't hear! Sometimes I have earaches, for several days or overnight. Don't know why..... have tinnitus which naturally is worse at times, crickets or rushing sounds. Tinnitus is in both ears, but always in the right ear. Today it's worse.

The doctor told me to use hydrocortisone cream in both ears every couple days. It feels wonderful! Apparently, the extreme dryness causes the fullness, feeling like fluid is behind the drum. Stops the itching, removes any wax which I never used to have but do some now. It may reduce swelling, since it's anti-inflammatory. I'm not totally clear on what's happening, but makes sense the swelling would affect hearing???

I see the hearing aid person in 2 weeks, at Mayo Jax. I decided to stay there for help, at least for now. I know this can be a precise process, so I'm working with them. I trust them to give me the true skinny.

Also, getting an amplified phone, etc. Julie was telling me about telecoils and loops....so much to learn I really don't want to know! But, need to hear, eh? So, we do this and enjoy the next parts of living! Thankful!
Blessings to you.
Elizabeth