Clear ear drainage

Hi @jersey47 and welcome to Connect. That must be so frustrating to find no solution for your clear ear drainage.

@imallears @carlenedd05 and @lioness have experience with ear drainage or ciprodex and may be able to offer you support.

Are you experiencing any other symptoms from the ear drainage?

I've had culture swabs done,but they show normal. My ear has been cleaned out,but 2 or 3 days later it starts draining again. I asked my ENT if it is spinal fluid leaking. had mastoid surgery on both ears when I was younger. Did some digging around and found that chloramphenicol/sulfanilaamide/amphottericin is effective,but he said not to use it too much because the fungus/virus would become immune to it. I'm tired of waking up to soggy pillows. my appointments usually every 2 wks.. same routine. clean the ear out and see if the ear will buildup wax.. the last visit, he told me to use debrox 2 times a day. my next visit is in 1 wk. I'll see how that goes. I know he has consulted with other ENT, and mentioned CSA powder. Myself and another patient in his practice have the same problem,though hers is not as bad as mine. any comments will be appreciated.

Hi, @jersey47 - wanted to greet you and welcome you to Connect. I'd also like to introduce you to @januaryjane @upartist and @charlottescot. They also may have experience with having clear ear drainage and how to get it to stop.

Since there are many acronyms in medicine in general and in pharmaceuticals, wanted to clarify the substance you were talking about when you said "CSA powder." Is this perhaps auricularum (otic) powder used for external otitis?

@jersey47
Hi,

The only drainage I’ve ever had was from treatable ear infections or fungus. I wear 2 hearing aids. I see you asked about leaking of spinal fluid and that you are doing research. Has the ENT mentioned if your eardrum is ruptured or perforated? Can you use cotton in your ear at night to absorb some of the moisture? Does it leak during the day when you are upright? I think 7 months is a long time to go with no answers although I know drainage of this kind sometimes takes a year or more to resolve.
Since he doesn’t know what is causing this I am wondering if you should seek help elsewhere. How long has the ENT been practicing and how often has he seen this problem. I am sure he will understand your frustration and need for an answer.
Do you have any pain or do you wear a hearing aid or use ear buds at all? And do you feel any pressure before the drainage starts?

FL Mary

When I am upright,it is not as bad. Only when I am lying down that it is bad. I stay up late until I fall asleep,so I don't have to constantly use tissues. The only drawback is a damp pillow. I do not wear my hearing aid because it aggravates my condition. My ear drum is good. The ear canal had fungus,but it has been cleared up. My ENT has contacted other docs about my problem. He said that in 30 yrs. of practice he never has such a case. It's not a 15 minutes visit,more like a 30 to 45. He is clearly frustrated like me,but he does not want to give up.

The CSA powder is a compound of chloramphenicol, sulfanilamide, amphotericin. The powder is blown into the ear. Both my ENT and I found it coincidentally. He was told by another ENT. I found it in a pharmaceutical website in Vermont.

@jersey47 I have,nt had any ear drainage but my husband did from a punctured ear drum when he had scarlet fever . He just kept tissues handy . They couldn't do anything for him Sorry I couldn't help

@jersey47
Who wants to be a medical anomaly. The only thing I can add is about ear fungus, if that should occur again, is that I recently had fungus in both ears. My ENT treated it with iodine , told me also to buy a bottle and fill the ear canals and let it drain. I couldn't use my aids for 2 days. On the 3rd day I went back and it was all cleared up and my hearing was so much better.

Hopefully, someone on this forum has not read your post yet and can offer some input. You don't need to be written up in a medical journal.
Try a couple of towels wrapped around your pillow at night if you would rather not put a cotton ball in.

Good Luck,
FL Mary

@imallers I just recently have dry ear canals and now scabs in outer ear . What do you do for these scabs No pain so of course since seniors have to be careful I don't go out so thought you may have some suggestion or anyone else

@lioness

I have very dry ears and my ENT recommended mineral oil . I put it into both canals with a dropper several times a week,
not every day. Or take a Qtip and drop some of the oil onto it and gently apply it to the outer portions ...morning or night. It’s a moisturizer for the ear and won’t clog the canals, just sinks into the skin. Sometimes I exfoliate with a moist washcloth before using the QTip in the morning. Don’t be pushing the tip further in but you know that. It helps with itchiness especially for hearing aid users and has reduced the number of ear infections for me over the last few years.
A large bottle from the drugstore goes a long way and I bring a small vial when I travel.

FL Mary