Ear problems

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Earlier today I started having problems with my left ear. It sounds/feels like it does when you have a lot of water down in it, kind of muffled and hollow sounding. It doesn't hurt, but I can feel/hear a pounding in it and it is making me crazy. ARG. It dosn't hurt per se, but does make my head feel funny. No balance issues yet, but I'm pretty much a klutz all the time anyway, so who can tell?

How do I make this thumping, muffled thing go away? It is very distracting. I already tried alcohol down the ear to dry up any water that might be in there. It didn't help.

 

[Carols Clucks]

I would try an allergy pill and see if that clears your sinus passages and allows your ear to drain too

 

[redhen]

Put something warm on it...(heating pad, heating bottle..)
And lay ON that ear/side, on the warm pad.... maybe it will help your ear drain??

 

[Johndeere96]

I've had the exact thing with me left ear but I had some pain was gonna go to the doctors bit didn't ive still been having problems 2-3 weeks later but it's always getting better

 

[Skip]

Garlic works well for ear infections. Take a small piece of garlic, wrap it in tissue and put it gently in your ear. Or, use fresh garlic oil. My family always used garlic oil, and it worked for us.

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Thanks, y'all. I put a steamy washcloth in a cup and kept it held to my ear for a long time last night. It seems to have helped. The noise is gone so far this morning. It was very strange.

 

[sfw2]

GO TO THE DOCTOR!

I was having the same issue with mine, last week. By yesterday, I actually broke down and went to Patient First. Couldn't take the stabbing pain in my ear any more. Turns out I have a sinus infection AND an ear infection.

 

[Annie75]

If it doesn't hurt when you do it, try to gently hold your nose closed and gently blow until each each 'pops'. It could be that the little eustachian tube between your ear and throat (it drains gunk away) could be swollen and blocked. This is helpful if you have 'glue ear' or otitis media which is a build up of fluid behind the ear drum which can cause the symptoms you describe. You can also try taking a medication for sinus because it should help reduce the swelling. You may actually have a mild sinus infection which is blocking everything up.

I understand what you mean about the pounding noise/sensation and I find I get it when I'm congested (not necessarily a runny nose or anything, just a general stuffy head).

Source of my advice? Years of ear infections, middle ear infections, sinus problems and URIs from a poor immune system. Don't panic if you do end up getting dizzy or spinny, especially when lying down and rolling over in bed, the pressure can affect your balance a bit.

It's not permanent, just uncomfortable

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

I did the steam thing last night and took some tylenol. I had a headache pretty much all day yesterday. It was wonky all evening and then perfectly fine this morning. Dunno.

Thanks for all the advice though. I will try it all should it come back. Let's hope it doesn't though.