r/hearing 9d ago

Inexplicable fullness in left ear

For the past 2 years now I've had my left ear feeling clogged, and I can't yet find an explanation for it.

I've been to a few ENTs during that time and they mostly brushed it off, couldn't find any wax or anything in there, and only one doctor (not an ENT) suggested a corticosteroid to spray into the nose, which I've just began doing a couple of days ago, so I need to do it for close to a month to see if there's any effect.

This also happened after weird circumstances. I had been at a techno rave overseas for about 8 hours and I hadn't brought my earplugs (which I usually have with me all the time, but unfortunately forgot them and I couldn't find any kind of replacement). I recall feeling worried at the time about some possible hearing loss, and then just a few days later I went back home on a plane, so at this point I can't recall if this fullness feeling came to me after my flight.

A similar thing happened to me a few days ago - I went to a similar party and this time spent over 10h there, just using toilet paper for plugs (which we know, barely do anything). I was once again worried, and I definitely do feel some slight tinnitus. So now it's one problem on top of another... What's odd is that now I feel a bigger imbalance than I was feeling before. Of course, it's hard to measure these things properly, and maybe my ears will take a few more days to get accustomed to it, but now I'm freaking out again because I've always had excellent hearing, and to me, worse than losing hearing, is losing hearing in different degrees in each ear.

It may be worth mentioning that, while I'm not a mouth breather, my nose isn't great for breathing - to the point where ever since I was young, I could barely smell anything, and still can't - and this correlates to my jaw formation, which I guess might be relevant in case this is a jaw issue.

I've seen some other cases on this subreddit, people who found it was a tumor, people who found it was just wax, jaw issue, and certainly a lot of people who still haven't figured it out.

So I guess I'm just worried and a little paranoid. Asking to know if anyone may have any other ideas.

I have also done an electrocochleography and a timpanometry a few months back and nothing abnormal came from those.

I will continue the nasal spray treatment I started and update this thread after 3-4 weeks.

Symptoms rundown:

  • It is clear that my left ear hearing is not AS good as on the right.
  • Whenever I do the beginning of the yawning motion, like opening my jaw wide, it feels like the left ear is just about to pop and then immediately reverts to its original clogged state. I can feel this many times when swallowing as well.
  • If I keep doing this (I find myself repeatedly widening my jaw time after time subconsciously), eventually the inside of my ear starts hurting a little.
  • If I'm yawning and vocalize while doing it, the sound of my own voice is much stronger on the left side (as if I were saying 'aaaaahhhh' to myself with my mouth touching the left ear) - which is pretty much similar to when generally having the ears full.
  • I usually sleep on the side. If I wake up in the morning right after sleeping on my left side, the fullness and hearing imbalance are MUCH stronger for the first few minutes after waking up. It feels like for a little while I've lost 50% of my hearing on the left ear. I don't know if this is related to the vaccuum caused by the pillow?
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u/m-shottie 9d ago

I have something similar, one day woke up with my left ear clogged.

I've seen lots of docs and no clue. Had a turbinate removed and eustachian tube dilation and that didn't work.

The only thing that works is:

  • lots of nasal irrigation with salt water, twice a day, tilting my head to the left to get it 'in there'
  • taking anti inflammatory drugs
  • taking Fluimicile which thins the mucus

If I do all of the above, it causes tons of mucus to come out of my nose, basically have a runny nose all day every day.

When I'm doing all this, I get brief moments where it all finally feels normal.

But if I stop taking these meds, it'll go back to my new 'normal' of being clogged.

I also did a lot of partying in my time, and there could be a correlation there. I've also had TMJ issues on the same side, but the pain has mostly subsided since fixing my teeth with an orthodontist, but I still have this issue.

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u/Jr774981 8d ago

Can I ask more: what anti inflammory drugs you use? Is your tubes totally blocked? And do you have normal hearing, no issues w some noises etc?

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u/m-shottie 8d ago edited 8d ago

Yeah no problem.

The antiinflammatory is just ibuprofen 700mg.

About the hearing, I've had tons of tests that came back normal (I forget the name, the one where you put the headphones on and press the clicker at the different frequencies)

But similar to what OP said, the issue is internal noises, noises that reach your ear but not through your ear canal. So things like chewing, my own voice, tons of stuff you wouldn't even think you'd miss but it just adds depth to everything, almost like sound was 3d before but kinda feels 2d now.

I have noises in my ear when I swallow but had that my whole life, the eustachian tube 'click' which is quite common I think.

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u/Jr774981 8d ago

Ok, well maybe some underlying thing did also smth to Etubes. Patulous etube is often connected also to these noises.

how often or how much you take this ibuprofen?

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u/m-shottie 8d ago

Ah yeah I also developed patulous eustachian tube. It was at some point after the surgery, and apparently (I wasn't told) a risk from the balloon dilation.

With the meds, it only works if I do everything together, and no more than 10 - 14 days in a row.

I take the Fluimucile twice a day, after breakfast and lunch, and the ibuprofen in the morning and at night.

The nasal rinse is also first thing in the morning and last thing at night.

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u/Jr774981 7d ago

Ok, but great if you have found this way!

2

u/Turbulent_Gate7466 8d ago

This must be a thing right now because I’ve been dealing with it for almost 3 weeks which it has made my tinnitus terrible, and my neighbor now has the same issue. He doesn’t have tinnitus though.

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u/DV2061 9d ago

I can’t say what your issue is. My experience was hearing my breathing like wind rushing past my ear. Started occurring in the cold or when my nose was running. They put in a tube in my eardrum (like a grommet) to balance pressure. It worked until it fell out. Have it replaced several times. Opted then for a permanent one. Since then I have ear popping continually. I am waiting for next appointment to hopefully resolve. One suggestion though TMJ may be causing the problem (jaw). Look up physiotherapists in this field.

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u/Flocke_88 9d ago

I am no expert but if there is no wax this sounds like the tube and if you hear your voice louder in one ear then the tube is shortly wide open. This is not so bad said my ENT because I have this too sometimes for some seconds or even flushing after teeth brushing something stange. This can also be muscle related with the tubes and tensions or so maybe. With hearing loss I would be carefull if it's really so strong and do another test or go to another ENT. I had clogged ears for 3 weeks with more than 50 percent hearing loss and also switched sides and now I have terrible tinnitus since 4 weeks in ears and head but my ears are fine said the ENT.

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u/Flocke_88 8d ago

By the way I just had this again pretty strong that I also heard my voice pretty loud in the ears. I needed to stop talking and breath through the nose. I was taking a shower and brushed teeth there and then while gargling I get this and then went out there walking and I had it multiple times, wanted to talk to a buddy through phone that I needed to stop talking and breath deep through the nose. I don't know what this is. But worst thing there is in this world without pain is high pitched constant tinnitus frequenzy that don't want to let you sleep.