Ok, so this morning I woke up with a ringing in my right ear that persisted for several hours. The ringing has seemed to mostly stopped, but now everything sounds muffled in that ear.
I have no idea what could have caused this or why, and I don't know if this is something to be worried about. Ear infection? Going deaf? I have no clue. Help!
That must be a little bit embarrassing, but I hope is that, at least it will mean that it's nothing serious, well besides the potential lack of adequate hygiene, but nothing too distressing.
But anyway, yes if you aren't sure about what it is you should probably go to the doctor, there was one time my brother was complaining all day because he said he had something in his eye, and the next day when he went to the doctor it turned out it was infected, it wasn't serious and it healed 3 days after he started doing and taking what the Doctor said, but the Doctor said that it could have gotten serious if he had waited more, so you never know, it's probably best if you go as soon as possible, even if it's a false alarm, just to be sure.
That must be a little bit embarrassing, but I hope is that, at least it will mean that it's nothing serious, well besides the potential lack of adequate hygiene, but nothing too distressing.
What's embarrassing about it? You go see an otorhinolaryngologist, they vacuum up your ears, and you walk out hearing better. I've had it done twice that way.
I used to get them flushed out with warm water by my PCP, but one time the built up wax formed a plug and water got stuck behind it. Horrible pain for two days before I could see an otorhinolaryngologist. Well, horrible pain until I got a prescription for painkillers the next day after a trip to the ER.
Oh, I just meant going to the doctor and it turning out to be that, but I probably get embarrassed to easily.
Dags90 said:
What's embarrassing about it? You go see an otorhinolaryngologist, they vacuum up your ears, and you walk out hearing better. I've had it done twice that way.
Well I tend to be really neat, so I'd be embarrassed if something indicated that my hygiene is not sufficient, I wasn't trying to make anyone feel bad though, and I did say she should go just in case.
Dags90 said:
I used to get them flushed out with warm water by my PCP, but one time the built up wax formed a plug and water got stuck behind it. Horrible pain for two days before I could see an otorhinolaryngologist. Well, horrible pain until I got a prescription for painkillers the next day after a trip to the ER.
And I didn't know it could get like that, anyway sorry I didn't mean to offend you, or anyone, I was just saying that to Topaz because I thought he wouldn't mind.
Well I tend to be really neat, so I'd be embarrassed if something indicated that my hygiene is not sufficient, I wasn't trying to make anyone feel bad though, and I did say she should go just in case.
And I didn't know it could get like that, anyway sorry I didn't mean to offend you, or anyone, I was just saying that to Topaz because I thought he wouldn't mind.
It's generally not advised, and ill advised, for people to go spelunking in their own ear canals with a Q-tip. As any otorhinolaryngologist worth their overly long title would say, "Never stick anything bigger than your elbow in your ear". Queue everyone trying to put their elbow up to their ears.
It's generally not advised, and ill advised, for people to go spelunking in their own ear canals with a Q-tip. As any otorhinolaryngologist worth their overly long title would say, "Never stick anything bigger than your elbow in your ear". Queue everyone trying to put their elbow up to their ears.
Really?!
But if I didn't, then my ears would get sticky and disgusting...
Are you really not supposed to do it?
I had heard it before but I thought that the person who told me was just making excuses since he was a slob and he kinda looked like a hobo.
Also, aren't elbows too big to fit into an ear?
Don't you need to be a contortionist to manage to get it all the way up there?
Really?!
But if I didn't, then my ears would get sticky and disgusting...
Are you really not supposed to do it?
I had heard it before but I thought that the person who told me was just making excuses since he was a slob and he kinda looked like a hobo.
Also, aren't elbows too big to fit into an ear?
Don't you need to be a contortionist to manage to get it all the way up there?
Really. Put the Q-tip down. Slowly. The point is very much that elbows are too big to fit inside the ear canal. [footnote]http://www.aafp.org/afp/2007/0515/p1523.html[/footnote]
Really?!
But if I didn't, then my ears would get sticky and disgusting...
Are you really not supposed to do it?
I had heard it before but I thought that the person who told me was just making excuses since he was a slob and he kinda looked like a hobo.
Really. Put the Q-tip down. Slowly. The point is very much that elbows are too big to fit inside the ear canal. [footnote]http://www.aafp.org/afp/2007/0515/p1523.html[/footnote]
Sounds like tinnitus to me.
You wanna get one of those washes to clean your earwax out and it should be better. http://www.emedicinehealth.com/tinnitus/article_em.htm
(That link is not as good as the NHS site but I dont know if you can get that outside the UK)
If you keep getting it you should see your doctor.
I also get this occasionally but I have a list of ear problems (I'm hard of hearing anyway).
The first time I had it it sounded like a high pitched buzzing, and I didn't know what it was so I went around unplugging everything in the house.
I'm pretty sure that is why I have reduced hearing in my left ear (I am left handed). It's slight, but I notice it from time to time. Through that is the least of my lasting problems from my time in the service.
Ok, so this morning I woke up with a ringing in my right ear that persisted for several hours. The ringing has seemed to mostly stopped, but now everything sounds muffled in that ear.
I have no idea what could have caused this or why, and I don't know if this is something to be worried about. Ear infection? Going deaf? I have no clue. Help!
You should be worried if it persists day to day. A ringing for a few hours is benign. It may be your ear attenuating to the surrounding noises (usually either trying to increase or decrease sensitivity), it may be a result of pressure or temperature differentials, and certain medications (including Aspirin) can cause tinitis temporarily. It's also one of the first signs of hearing loss, which can happen at a young age if you listen to your music at a loud volume consistently (in-ear buds, when taken out, should only be heard for a few feet around you - with arm's length, and the same limit applies to on-ear headphones and around-ear headphones while off).
If, however, it doesn't go away or becomes annoying - see an Ear/Nose/Throat doc. The first thing they'll do is make a visual inspection, as sometimes bloodflow can sound like tinitis. Then they'll probably do a hearing test to see if the tinitis corresponds to hearing loss. If you have normal hearing and still have tinitis, they might do something like an MRI to make sure it's not a tumor in your head.
However, like I said - a ringing that sticks around for a few hours and GOES AWAY is pretty normal. If it doesn't go away for several days or several weeks, OR it becomes very aggravating, see a doctor.
It's not as lack of hygene that causes wax buildup... it's just one of those things. I've had it multiple times. Every year or so I have to go get an ear washed out. It just happens. I'm one of those horrible people that continues to use q-tips in my ears even though I know I'm not supposed to, though. I don't feel like I'm fully clean after a shower unless I clean my ears, too.
Really?!
But if I didn't, then my ears would get sticky and disgusting...
Are you really not supposed to do it?
I had heard it before but I thought that the person who told me was just making excuses since he was a slob and he kinda looked like a hobo.
That warning is put on there because the US long ago became 'The Land Of The Lawsuit' so companies have to put warnings on everything or someone will sue whining: "There was no warning saying that if I stuck this post hole digger up my nose it could be harmful---***WAAAAHHHH***---I want a billion bucks."
Phasmal said:
Sounds like tinnitus to me.
You wanna get one of those washes to clean your earwax out and it should be better. http://www.emedicinehealth.com/tinnitus/article_em.htm
(That link is not as good as the NHS site but I dont know if you can get that outside the UK)
If you keep getting it you should see your doctor.
Phasmal is right. You should see a doctor if it continues after a few days, but you should try cleaning it out first yourself.
OT: I had hearing troubles in my right ear for years. Wax build up--nothing mysterious. And FYI different people have differently shaped ear canals and produce ear wax with different characteristics i.e. flaky, gooey, etc. That's why some people consistently have ear/hearing troubles and others don't. Like the above poster said, it's not just about good hygiene.
Finally it got so bad I couldn't hear anything in my ear at all. Solution? Did I go to the doctor?
No. I used common sense.
All a doctor can/will do when you have wax build up is clean it out for you. People are warned not to do this themselves because professionals worry about individual idiots more than the general population who can manage simple things for themselves like our ancestors did for eons before licensed M.D.'s came into existence.
Anyway, I took a paper clip and stretched it out with the smaller inner curve pressed together to act as a scoop. I then CAREFULLY dug out a chunk of ear wax the size of my pinky's fingernail.
Look at your fingernail and imagine having a chunk of wax that big stuffed into your ear canal. To this day I can't believe I let it build up that badly.
Ok, so by the time I went to bed the ringing stopped, but when I woke up it seemed it was back (bit hard to tell since the fan is on at the moment). Also, I'm now very dizzy.
Syringing ears isn't a good thing, along with Q-tips or anything like that. Either get some ear drops from a big supermarket or pharmacist, or get sunflower/olive oil and put a few drops in your ear. Depending on how big the build up is you might have to do this for around a week, but it gets there eventually.
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