I have been experiencing pressure in both ears for over 8 weeks now and I'm trying to figure out where to go from here. I'm a 27yo female, no history of ear infections or allergies. Timeline of symptoms and events below:
day 0 - Ear pressure (both ears) started ~24 hrs after a flight. Over next week pressure becomes increasingly uncomfortable. Often (but not always) a wooshing (not ringing) in both ears, occasional pain and infrequent spells of dizziness (length ~ 1-10 min).
day 8 - See PCP, no inflammation, infection or build-up, she recommends taking pseudofed throughout the day to relieve pressure and return in several weeks if it doesn't go away. Start taking 30 mg pseudofed every 3 hours while awake, which generally keeps pressure at bay though it was very bad first thing in the morning or if I missed a dose.
day 10 - coughing begins, deep and very phlemy
day 11 - Fell ill with a 102 degree fever and coughing significantly worsens. Fever breaks within 48 hours, ear pressure is very bad, Urgent Care prescribes Z-pack and cough meds.
day 24 - cough subsides, pressure remains
day 26 - "new" cough begins, more a reactionary cough to a feeling of something stuck under my tongue
day 30 - see ENT, still no inflammation, infection or buildup visible. Endoscopy reveals swollen lymph nodes on back of tongue, prescribes anti-inflammatory nasal spray for pressure and 10 days of avelox for lymph nodes.
day 45 - By end of abx, cough is gone. Pressure remains significant. Flew twice in 3 days, pressure was slightly worse while flying though I used 'Earplanes.' Briefly experienced diminished hearing after flight.
day 51 - Hearing test showed hearing is "excellent." Pressure is less than when I had the fever and cough but still generally constant. Occasional sinus pain in face. No dizzy spells. Follow-up with partner of original ENT results in new prescription of a muscle relaxer to rule out issues from TMJ (have some jaw popping).
day 60 - No improvement since starting muscle relaxer
Any thoughts as to what this may be? I'm trying to be prepared and ask the right questions of my ENT. What tests should I ask about so I can get past this? A friend who is an RN of 30 years was thinking maybe fungal sinusitis and suggesting an MRI?