Just a quick note on anatomy now...
Posts here are mostly OK. However, on a note of pedantry, the ear is composed of outer, middle, and inner. The inner ear is quite sealed off from the outside world and comprises those nice semi-circular canals that give you the wonder of balance sensation (or not for some poor buggars). It is the middle ear to which we refer here. This is usually a sterile compartment housing the three little bones involved in noise conduction (maleus, incus, stapes). It is bordered by the tympanic membrane at it's junction with the outer ear canal (meatus) and it's distal extension is the (referred to above) eustachian tube. The latter has a muscular opening in the nasopharynx. A common cause of blockage and fluid build up in the middle ear is congestion (remedied by decongestion). If chronic congestion is the cause of this then there may be something more than Sudafed administration to be done, e.g. anti-histamine therapy, localy acting steroids [e.g.fluticasone], surgical intervention like polypectomy if polyps causing the problem, sinus wash, etc). Acute problems may be due to inflammation or infection. GP may advise antibiotics. Finish the course and you should see resolution with no sequelae. fingers crossed.
Ciao ciao
Nige