Expert: Bailey - 3/15/2007

Question
Dear Bailey,
   Recently I have been having some strange symptoms and I am hoping you can help me out with some answers.I know you have dealt with asthma for many years and I do have a little asthma occassionally however this feels different somehow....my ears seem to block up with either air or fluid and I hear my own voice inside my ear and then I get this feeling of being closed off in the sinuses across to the ears and down into the base of my throat which makes me feel as though I am going to smother as my throat seems to go tight and my voice goes like I am losing my voice all hoarse and croaky....the muscles on the sides of my throat and neck all get really tight and pulled down as though they are pulling my collarbone and shoulders up around my ears ...its very un-nerving....what would cause this to happen in this way?...I feel as though the tubes are all filled up with air or something in an upside down triangle shape...I have congestion in my sinuses that drips down into my throat and congestion in the tubes in m,y throat. This blocking and unblocking of the ears and sinuses over hours really is un nerving me please help if you possibly can.

Answer
Hi Marj,
  This sounds like a sinus infection. Do you have any other symptoms like dizziness, ringing in the ears, or headaches? Does the feeling get worse when you bend your head down and forward? This would also indicate a sinus infection. Since it all seems to be affecting your ears and throat, you should make an appointment to visit an Ear nose and throat (ENT) specialist if possible. Many people with asthma also suffer from chronic sinus infections so that would be the first thing I would recommend looking into. I hope you get to feeling better soon.
-Bailey