Tonight, I suddenly developed a clogged feeling followed by a loud ringing in my ear. It has been a few hours since this first started and it has not let up even a little bit. It is so uncomfortable, if it doesn't stop, I will have to call the doctor in the morning.
Has this ever happened to any of you? Anyone know the cause?
Went to the doctor today, I have a middle ear infection.
A friend at work had that happen early last year. She wiated to see if it would go away on its own. Drove her nuts. She did end up going to the doc and got drops for her ears. Cleared it up right away, though she used th edrops for a week. It was not an ear infection but something else--and was not wax buildup. I think she had said it had to do with a swelling or something.
I suggest that your ear has become congested. Try taking a decongestant. What has worked for me is pseudoephedrine which, in Oregon anyway, has to be purchased from behind the pharmacist desk. Brand is Sudafed. Sudafed PE is now made up of a different product and doesn't work for me.
If you're not dizzy, I suggest that this is not serious and will clear up once the congestion has cleared up.
Probably allergies, as the first post suggests. That was my immediate thought. You could try an allergy med that contains a decongestant.
The other possibility is ear wax build-up - if a large chunk is blocking your eardrum, you could feel very full and blocked. If you hearing is affected, that could be it. You can try an ear wax softener but that takes a few days to work. There are ear cones that help to soften ear wax as well - available at health food stores. Don't get the kind with a heavy wax coating. You need to know how to use them and you need a helper.
A third option of course is to go to your primary care physician and have someone take a look in there - they can tell if there is fluid behind the ear drum, redness in the ear canal or around the Eustachian tubes. They can see if there's wax buildup and they can wash it out with a special device and a squirter full of water - I've had it done several times and it only takes about 20 seconds and is not painful. I did not need an ENT - just my internist or physician assistant.
Good luck.
You didn't put a q-tip in it at all, did you? If you did, you could have really hurt your ear. (I did that. NEVER again!!)
If a decongestant doesn't help, do get to an ENT. So sorry!
Could simply be ear wax that has built up and suddenly shifted in your ear canal, blocking the canal. This has happened to me before and the symptoms were just like what you describe. It's very easily fixed -- but do not attempt home wax removal at this point; see the doctor tomorrow. If it's wax, the doctor can syringe it and check to be sure it's all out. But you need the doctor also to check that nothing else is wrong. Better to check than to self-treat.
I could very well be allergies. Or an inner ear infection or even damage to the hairs in your ears. But ringing in the ears can also be a sign of blood pressure issues. (Doc told me this when I had an issue with my ears). If it doesn't subside or returns, it's probably worth a trip or call to the doctor.
If you have allergies it could be drainage. A neti pot could help. Good luck!
Lots of reasons. Do you have allergies? This happens to me sometimes if my sinuses are blocked - some afrin takes care of it. Other reasons are a sinus infection, wax in your ear, etc.
If it doesn't go away or if it is recurrent, make sure you see an ENT because it can also be a symptom of more serious things, like meniere's disease, etc.
seasonal allergies creating sinus drainage.....backfilling to the ears!
common for many, many people.
last night, I slept with the attic fan running. I woke to a swollen cheeks, eyes, & clogged ears. Since I take Singulair (for my asthma) & Zyrtec daily....I didn't worry. By the end of this week, I'll probably be on nasal spray & ear drops....& probably eye drops, too. Love pollen!
If it persists, go to see an ENT. They have the proper tools to fully check out your ears.
