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Ear fullness and sudden hearing loss in one ear

Posted , 4 users are following.

matt04891
matt04891

I am 38 years old and in pretty good health. Almost 3 weeks ago I awoke in the morning with my right ear feeling plugged, but not the normal "I have a cold" plugged. It turns out after seeing an ENT that i had suddenly lost some of my hearing.

I just finished a 2 week course of prednisone and my hearing has been mostly restored which I'm thankful for. What worries me though is that my ear still feels stuffed. Almost feels like I have cotton plugged in it.

Can anyone tell me if this is something they have experienced or know what this is and if this subsides eventually?? It's terribly annoying to deal with, especially outside.

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • rajikp
    rajikp matt04891

    Posted

    Hi. Do u have any other asocciated symptoms along with blocked feeling.... U disnt mention if a CT scan or MRI has been done

  • dizzyear
    dizzyear matt04891

    Posted

    Did the ENT start you on steroids or offer you the steriod shot in your ear.  This is the standard treatment for sudden hearing loss.  I went through the same thing about 1 year ago.  I think it is common to also have a MRI to rule out Acoustic Neuroma.  For me it did take a few weeks before I recovered, not sure if the steriods helped or just recovered on my own.
    • matt04891
      matt04891 dizzyear

      Posted

      I took 12 days of prednisone pills. The hearing has gotten better but it still physically feels like I have cotton in my ear even though I'm hearing better. Was your situation similar? Hoping the ear fullness just takes a little more time to regulate.

    • dizzyear
      dizzyear matt04891

      Posted

      I think the next option is the steroid shot.  This is stronger and has better recovery results than the oral steroids.  You might check back with the ENT and see if this is worth trying.  The sooner after the hearing loss the better, so don't delay.  Other than that, you might just need to give it some time.  It did take me a few weeks before I felt close to 100%.  

    • dizzyear
      dizzyear

      Posted

      FYI, the shot is given through the ear drum right to where it is needed.
  • leila29439
    leila29439 matt04891

    Posted

    Hi matt

    It could be a fluid build up in your middle ear.  Mine was caused by an ear infection caused by the flu.  Antibiotics and penicilin cleared the infection but left me death with lots of popping and crackling.

    My doc tested my hearing with a musical tuning fork.

    I could barely hear it with my death ear and could mostly hear it with my "good" ha ha ear.  Then he put the tuning fork in the centre of my forehead.  I could hear it clear as a bell with my death ear (first thing I had heard in weeks) and barely hear it with my "good" ear.

    Within seconds I was swallowing yucky stuff.

    My ears continued to drain for 8 hours with 2 major mouthfulls and 2 very significant dizzy spells.

    Today my ears aren't completely better but there is an 80% improvement.

    I tried finding info on sound waves draining ear fluid but couldn't find anything.

    I hope this helps and wish my doc had tried it weeks ago.

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