Mastoiditis: What treatments did you get? Left untreated?

Hi my father has been diagnosed with mastoiditis and the infection is in the bone behind the ear. They have put tubes in his ear and he has been on a month of oral antibiotics and then 6 weeks of a port put in and gets antibiotics twice a day for 6 weeks. He is still in severe pain and has lost 40 pounds. Nothing taste good and the infection is draining in his throat. He has given up. Please help. They say there is no surgery for this but I read otherwise. Help

@jtatum, welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I can see you are very worried for your dad. According to this article (https://www.healthline.com/health/mastoiditis#treatment) the first line of treatment is antibiotics. Surgery might be considered if antibiotics do not clear the infection. Perhaps in your father's situation, there are other factors that make surgery too risky.

I'm tagging fellow members @nrd1 and @jenlink who may have some tips and experience to offer.

Jtatum, Antibiotics, while necessary, are hard on the system and can be quite draining. How many more weeks of antibiotics does he have left? Has his care team suggested taking probiotics?

Not that I am aware of. He just finished his 6 weeks of the port antibiotics.

I think you should go see an otologist with a copy of your CT scan. I was recently diagnosed with mastoiditis and my ENT doctor said he recommended that I at least get an opinion from someone who specifically deals with this. I'm in the process of getting an appointment with a doctor my insurance approves. My ENT said if I start getting headaches, dizziness, swelling behind the ear that I should go to urgent care. Please don't let it go. The ear is near the brain!

Welcome @agis14 and @koleke. I have to agree with Koleke and her ENT that getting a second opinion from a specialist familiar with mastoiditis is a good idea.

The posts from members like @cromeo112 @nrd1 @jenlink @camapp1 @jtatum in this related discussion may also be helpful for you.
- Mystery Illness: Mastoiditis or something else?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mystery-illness-1/

Have either of you been given antibiotics to help treat mastoiditis?

Hey! upon reviewing the CT scan (recent from 3 week ago) it says the mastoid airways are clear. But I was never treated for the mild mastoiditis from 2 years ago. I’m not sure if it’s something that goes away on its own, but my headaches and dizziness do remain. Only because I do get some ear aches here and there, I think I will ask for an ENT or otologist just in case there’s some underlying thing. Thank you!

Good morning,
I have suffered with repeated sinus infections and my left ear always stays plugged, feeling as is there is fluid in it. I also have chronic pressure behind my ear with a lymph node or gland that swells and becomes tender at least once a month. And a dry cough. My ear doesn't clear after antibiotics. The other sinuses respond to treatment.
My PCP has finally sent in a referral to an ENT.
As a young child with chronic ear infections on the left side, my adenoids were removed at age 5. Ears got better. Then chronic tonsillitis and strep. So my tonsils were removed at age 20. As an adult starting at age 40 sinus infections started. Now 68 I have chronic sinus infections, muscle pain, fatigue and weakness.
Anyone else suffering the same?

Hi @rocknrobbn, welcome. I moved your question about mastoiditis to this existing discussion:
- Mastoiditis: What treatments did you get? Left untreated? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mastoiditis-untreated/

I did this so you can read previous posts and connect easily with members like @agis14 @jtatum @koleke @cromeo112 @nrd1 @jenlink @camapp1 and others.

It's a good start that you now have a referral to an ENT specialist. Have you started a list of questions to ask?

Thank you Colleen.
I just realized this was a possibility when I was reading an article about chronic sinusitis that doesn't resolve.
I would appreciate any questions to ask an ENT. All I have come up with is surgery as a solution.
Also, do you have any names of ENT's that are well respected in Tucson AZ. I want to go out of network. I have not been happy with my other specialists within network.
Thank you for writing to me.
Happy holidays:)

My ENT sent me to an otologist. It was a great decision. The ENT said that my mastoid bone looked very inflamed on the CT scan, but the otoligist says it looked fine and gave me an eye drop to use in my ear. It cleared up the draining within a few weeks and now I'm going to the follow up to get an all clear! (Hopefully). We drove 400 miles to see him but definitely worth it. He said there's only 12 practicing otologists in the US????? Hope you get to see a specialist who can help you!!!