Could this be a CSF leak? Ear being strange

[AnneBoIeyn]

I admit I'm a bit of a worrier when it comes to my health, in fact I'd go as far as to say I have health anxiety, so I'm not sure if I'm being ridiculous or not.

About ten days ago my right ear was a bit 'leaky' - at first there seemed to be a lot of wax, then there was a watery discharge, as if I'd had some water trapped in there and it'd just drained out. Not a lot at all, just the tip of my finger feeling/looking damp if I put it in my ear and a sort of 'squelchy' sound when I pressed it - not a stream of it running out of my ear or anything. I hadn't washed my hair or showered so I don't think it was trapped water. It cleared up by the following day so I assumed it was just 'one of those things'.

Anyway, it's just happened again in exactly the same way. Wax, then a bit of wetness/squelchiness. I have washed my hair today, so it could be that, but even though it's drained a bit there does seem to be more left in there. I also have a bit of a cold if that's relevant.

Of course being me I've scared myself silly consulting Dr Google! From what I can gather though CSF leaks from ears are always accompanied by damage to the inner ear (which as far as I know I don't have) which he allows the fluid to leak out and a headache, which I also don't have. And they're usually the result of trauma.

Of course the GP is closed today so I can't call for advice and don't want to waste their time if I'm being ridiculous anyway!

Has anyone had a spontaneous CSF leak from their ear, and if so, does this sound familiar?

Sorry for being a bit TMI and also a hypochondriac!

Sounds normal to me if the ear discharge is water coloured. I would personally just ask a pharmasist for advice, not really one for the gp.

Oh that's a good plan, hadn't thought of that. It'll be easier to go to Boots in the morning than be on hold to the GP after a bank holiday too!

No need to apologise but I'd really not have thought so OP. A spontaneous CFS leak is not a common phenomenon at all. I have a medical condition which makes me more prone to them, have had one before and it was appalling. Intense pain, dizziness and headache that spread to the neck. I could barely function and ended up in A&E begging for relief and usually cope ok with medical things.

I would imagine the squelching sensation is wax in the ear and water from showering. If there is excess wax in the ear (which is pretty common) then even a small amount of water will remain in situ a while. Wax is ultimately waterproof and designed to stop things getting deeper in the ear so it won't easily absorb any water that incidentally gets in there every time we wash our hair and so on. Earwax varies between person to person and it's very normal for it to be 'wet' and sounds inside the ear will be very amplified.

Unless you've recently had a traumatic head injury or are having a lot of pain in the ear or pus (which would be thick yellow, green, bloody and smell bad) then it is not likely to be infected either.

Best thing you can do is leave your ear alone, not put your finger in it and it will 'dry' out.

@dontgobaconmyheart thank you so much for taking the time to respond, I feel so much calmer after reading that. Yes, that's pretty much what I read but I worry so much about my health I didn't know wether to believe it iyswim. Thank you so much for explaining it all so thoroughly.

I'm so sorry you suffered so much, I hope you're completely recovered now 💐

It does seem a little better now.

I have a few other health conditions including an autoimmune condition so I'm hyper vigilant about my health, which I think has turned into health anxiety. Having to watch for even the slightest signs of infection has made me so aware of every twinge and symptom that I do think I've become a bit obsessed.

I might pop into Boots tomorrow, just to put my mind at rest.

My audiologist told me that's quite common with a mild outer ear infection for your ear to feel slightly damp and sometimes smell slightly. He recommends buying some Earcalm spray which usually sorts mine out in a few days.

Happens to me and my son when we have a cold and blocked ears. Nothing to worry about especially if you don’t have a headache along with it.

Highly unlikely. If you have any option to test for sugar, CSF tests positive. You've not had a traumatic head injury so possibility is vanishingly small

If it us CSF I would have none left! My ears leak a watery substance a lot, I get outer ear infections all the time i barely remember a time one of my ears wasnt leaking!

As a pp stated doctor advised Ear Calm and it does work so it's worth a try.

However, no matter what if you're worried about something get it checked for your own peace of mind.