<s>[INST] I have been having deep ear pain on and off for months now with the feeling of drainage going DOWN my throat from my ear. No drainage to the outside whatsoever. A few years ago I had eustacian tube Dysfunction with all of the pain, pressure, hearing loss, etc. this is NOT that. It’s been going on on and off for the past few years after that time. Right now I’ve had a low grade fever for 6 days, generally feeling unwell, have lost about 6 lbs, and this ear pain and TONS of drainage which is starting to drive me just crazy. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Can you help? [/INST] Hello, I would consider a low grade otitis externa as a possible source of some of your symptoms...Consider clotrimazole 1% DROPS---this can be ordered online, as it is hard to find in pharmacies sometimes...use twice a day X 7 days. If this doesn't help, then get back with me. In the meantime, if you cannot "pop" your ears and relieve the pain/pressure, then you are probably right that it is NOT ET dysfunction---but if you can, start a nasal steroid spray twice a day C next few months. You could also have sinusitis causing the drainage...that would require a visit to an ENT. Finally, if you have poor sense of smell and fatigue with the low grade fever, there is a chance that you have COVID. If symptoms worsen, then get this checked out. In the meantime, follow strict social isolation. </s>