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Left ear feeling blocked and crackling feeling. Can't hear well out of it

Posted , 4 users are following.

emily70447
emily70447

Hello,

basically, about a week ago I think I caught a cold, it started with a sore throat & sort of fever/bad stomach one night, and then I got a flight (my ears popped a lot during this flight, though not unsual for me in such instances), and then I got the mucus and coughing. One night, maybe 6 days ago, I felt a tickle in my ear just before going to bed so I decided to clean my ear using a cotton bud (as I usually would do when I get a tickle), and it seemed fine when I got into bed, but then I started getting a pain. I fell asleep and woke up in the middle of the night with a very painful sharp pain in my ear. It was awful. I have never had problems with my ears before. I took a pain killer and mananged to fall asleep. The next morning it was not as painful but it felt like there was a marble or something rolling around in my ear, and if I remember correctly a bit of a crackling sound. It felt more painful/uncomfortable/noisy when I tilted my head in certain positions. My bfs mother said it could be that when I used the cotton buds in my ear, I pushed the thing that was tickling inside, further down to my ear drum. A day or so later, she put 2 drops of this stuff "Ciflox" I think it is called, into my ear, she said it would eat whatever it was that was irritating it. I was not sure about using it but she reassured me and so I trusted her. It stopped the feeling that something was moving around in my ear and the crackling, and my ear then only felt blocked and I couldn't hear very well out of it. Then 2 days later she put 2 more drops in my ear, and this morning (next day) we tried to wash out my ear with warm water, but not sure we suceeded. My ear still feels blocked and I can't hear very well out of it. I am afraid I have damaged my ear somehow. Also sometimes when I move my jaw in a certain way, I feel a little crackling sound inside it still. I still also have mucus and the same side of my throat as the ear (left side) has been the most sore side during this cold.

I should also mention that I suffer a bit from TMJ, especially in the evenings when I am tired, my jaw gets very tight sometimes and it is mostly from the left side again. I am used to also getting this crackling sound/feeling on the left side of my jaw when I open my mouth too wide/yawn or similar.

Any ideas on what has happened to my ear? I am getting anxious and will perhaps go to the doctor if it my ear still feels this way tomorrow, but I don't want to just take any old ear drops or tablets unless I have to. I am worried I shouldn't have taken the Ciflox either sad

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • janete84732
    janete84732 emily70447

    Posted

    Hi Emily,

    Let's wait for others to reply as I have just had my surgery. I think you will be ok as it is still healing. How long did you have the Stapedectomy surgery?

    • janete84732
      janete84732

      Posted

      I mean how long ago/When did you have your Stapedectomy surgery done?
  • lm80
    lm80 emily70447

    Posted

    Personally, I think it's unwise to apply antibiotic to an area that you don't know is infected or not. You could create more problems. I know the doctor would also say don't use cotton swabs.  The only way to find relief is to see the doctor, sorry to say.  With the proper tools, they can see what's going on in there.

    I have had ear issues my entire life and I too get that popping sensation like there is a trapped air bubble and/or "something moving around". My doctor just recently told me that these things may be happening due to eustachian tube dysfunction.  Look up some at home treatments for that to see if it helps.

    Good luck!

  • Olizzieo
    Olizzieo emily70447

    Posted

    Hi Emily, definitely go and see the doctor. He can look inside your ear. If it needs washing out, he can make sure all of the wax came out. It sounds like it is still blocked up. You have definitely not done anything to your ear by putting Ciflox in there, it has probably mixed with everything else and just blocked up even more. I wouldn't ever put anything in my ears again though, unless the doctor prescribes it. I can guarantee nothing dangerous has happened but only your doctor should clean your ears out so that they can make sure everything has come out. smile
  • jessica1789
    jessica1789 emily70447

    Posted

    Hi emily70447.  Did you go to the doctor? What ended up happening?? I am going through the same thing right now and freaking out! It felt as if my eardrum ruptured bc fluid and a little blood drained also relieving a lot of pressure. But now it feels full no pain. After putting some drops in nothing comes out when I turn my head to drain it.
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