Trying to self diagnose

[kcladyjane]

A few days ago I started having occasional dizzyness.  Like sitting still and I would get a dizzy wave probably 10 times a day.  Then my right ear started feeling full and pressured.  When I bite down on the right side of my mouth my jaw and ear hurt.  I am assuming I have an ear infection.  I have a dose of the Z-pack sitting around.  Anyone think it is safe to assume I have an ear infection?  I don't want to spend money to go to the doctor...

[thyme4change]

I would pay and see the doctor, but I don't scrimp and save when it comes to my health.  I am f'ed up from taking too many and the wrong kind of antibotics, but others don't seem to have the same concerns as I do.  



How much does it cost you to go to a doctor?  

[Pants]

KC - new studies indicate that a significant number of ear infections are viral, not bacterial - so taking the zpack could do absolutely nothing.
I would also go to the dr.

[Shooby]

  You know your body.  If you think it is something you can manage a few days be it viral or using your Zpack, that is up to you.  I won't advise you to do that but i see nothing wrong with understanding what works for you and taking some of your own measures before going to the doctor.  If you DO use the antibiotic then you do need to inform the doctor when you go if you have used anything.

[mmhmm]

There are other possibilities for the symptoms you describe, kc.  You may be right, and it may be an ear infection; however, you don't know what's causing it.  If it's viral, antibiotics are a waste and aren't a good idea anyway.  If it's a fungal infection, killing off friendly microorganisms with antibiotics can actually make things worse.  It's best to see your doctor.  What you might try is to see if your doctor has a nurse practitioner or physician's assistant connected to his/her practice.  Sometimes, you can save a good chunk of money by seeing one of them for the everyday problems, like this one.  It's worth a try, I'd think, and I'd really discourage taking an antibiotic you happen to have lying around when you really don't know what you're treating.

[thyme4change]

Almost all of my ear and dizziness problems are related to my TMJ - so I instantly thought TMJ when I read the symptoms - all the zpacks in the world won't help that.  

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

Nope - I don't play around with my health. If I have symptoms that last more than a day or two and I can't pinpoint what it is, I'll err on the side of caution and get it checked-out by a Dr - rather than try to self-medicate and "hope it goes away". Playing Doctor on yourself without knowing if what you're self-medicating with is going to help or harm, I wouldn't take the chance. You could cause yourself more damage by self-administering something that wasn't recommended or prescribed by a professional. At the very least, I'd call the pharmacy and describe my symptoms and see if there was any OTC (safe) treatment they could recommend rather than taking the chance on trying something I happened to have on hand that might cause more damage/discomfort.

[Artemis Windsong]

My similar symptoms are caused by allergies.  I do take a decongestant once a day unless otherwise indicated by feeling of swollen throat, dizzy/balance problems and slight ear ache.

[mmhmm]

Out of curiosity, kc, what was the z-pack prescribed for and when?

[Peace Of Mind]

Jun 3, 2013 13:13:26 GMT -5 kcladyjane said:

A few days ago I started having occasional dizzyness.  Like sitting still and I would get a dizzy wave probably 10 times a day.  Then my right ear started feeling full and pressured.  When I bite down on the right side of my mouth my jaw and ear hurt.  I am assuming I have an ear infection.  I have a dose of the Z-pack sitting around.  Anyone think it is safe to assume I have an ear infection?  I don't want to spend money to go to the doctor...

That or it could be a sinus infection.  Z-pack would work for that too.

[mmhmm]

I'm concerned with what the Z-pack may have been prescribed for.  If it was prescribed for a previous, recent ear infection, or sinus infection, it might just be that it was ineffective against the microorganism causing the problem.  If that's the case, throwing more of the same thing at it isn't going to help and is going to hurt.  I don't like messing around with any infection in the head ... ears, teeth, eyes ... too close to the brain for my liking and too many possible complications. Whoever prescribed the Z-pack will know what it was prescribed for and will be aware of the possibility that the organism in question isn't susceptible to that particular antibiotic.

[Angel!]

If you often have ear infections & know the symptoms for yourself & that antibiotics will help, then go for it.  But, since you are asking, I am guessing this isn't the case & you will just be annoyed if you use the Z-pack & don't feel better.  So...

I thought of TMJ as a possibility also.


My other thought is it could be sinuses.  My sinuses make my teeth hurt more than anything else & often cause me dizziness.  Sinuses can also make your ears feel pressure.  I would try some sort of decongestant for a few days & see if that helps before resorting to antibiotics. 

I find it odd that your ear only hurts when you bite down. When I had an ear infection I had massive pain constantly & sound echoed in my ear. I don't remember if I was dizzy though & I don't recall my teeth hurting, which is why I am leading more towards sinus problems.  Antibiotics still could help a sinus problem, but not always.

[kcladyjane]

Thank you everyone for the responses.  I got the zpack prescription a while back when I had swollen nodes.  My Dr. said I COULD try it but he thought my issue was viral.  So I didn't take the drug at the time.  I DO suffer from allergies so that may be my issue.  I will try some decongestant and see if it helps.  I will schedule a Dr. Appt in a few days if that doesn't help.  My insurance pays zero until I use my $3000 deductible so I would be paying whatever the full price of the office visit would be.  I miss my old insurance copay of $25.  Obviously I am being cheap, but I hate to waste money if it is only a viral thing that they can't do anything about.  I guess it is better to be safe.   Oh and I have to find a new doctor because we moved 3 hours away from my old doctor. 

[mmhmm]

When you look for a new doctor, see if you can find a practice that has a nurse practitioner or physician's assistant associated.  Many times, for things like this, that's really all you need and you don't have to pay the higher doctor's fee.  That can save you a buck or two.

Glad you decided to play it safe.

[thyme4change]

Also, when dr. shopping, tell them you will be paying for this out of pocket, and how much do they charge.

[Shooby]

  It isn't "playing around with your health" to wait a few days or try some home remedies.  Most conditions aren't a 911 emergency.  I don't run to the doctor for every headache, sneeze and sniffle.  I usually wait things out for a bit and THEN go unless it is chest pain or i am vomiting blood.  

[Pants]

I actually agree with Shooby. Weird.
(Then again, I just walked around for a week on a broken foot before going to the dr., so am perhaps not wisest person to listen to.)

[thyme4change]

I also agree with Shooby - but a zpack is NOT a "home remedy."  I feel strongly that many things, like ear infections, clear themselves up in a week or so.  My pediatrician said that 2 weeks was the mark where everything was infected and the body was having trouble getting rid of it.  I usually waited 10 days, because that was when I felt bad for my baby and couldn't take it any more.  I follow approximately the same rule with myself.  


I don't take prescription drugs I have laying around the house.   

[Pants]

Jun 4, 2013 8:06:12 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

I also agree with Shooby - but a zpack is NOT a "home remedy."  I feel strongly that many things, like ear infections, clear themselves up in a week or so.  My pediatrician said that 2 weeks was the mark where everything was infected and the body was having trouble getting rid of it.  I usually waited 10 days, because that was when I felt bad for my baby and couldn't take it any more.  I follow approximately the same rule with myself.  


I don't take prescription drugs I have laying around the house.   

You obviously don't have the right kind of drugs laying around. 

Anyway though, I agree that taking the zpack is not the wisest course of action, but there's probably not a pressing need to go to the dr.