Recurring muffled ears ! Help

[bloomblue]

I keep waking up feeling like my head is under water.

I can't really hear well. The last time I had it was in November. That time I had no cold / congestion.

This time I've had a very slight dry nose.

I've also had it previously. Every few months and not usually linked to a cold.

I suffered from this on and off for about a year, 10 years ago and then it stopped. I feel like it's coming back again and it's really annoying.

The last time it just eventually passed when I took decongestant liquid for a few weeks, as the GP said it's like a cold that won't clear.

Has anyone had something similar ? Usually it's not linked to a cold. I just wake up in the morning and my hearing is muffled and my head feels like it's under water. It's never linked to any ear pain.

I’d still get your ears looked at, it sounds like wax.

So the muffled hearing is 24/7? Could it be ear wax? Have you tried adding ear drops to help soften any wax so that your body can clear it? Or it can be micro suctioned.

I haven't had my ears looked at in ages. When it was happening years ago, it was not wax. So as it feels the same and has the same pattern, I assume it's not wax. But you're right, I should get someone to look in my ears.

It's 24/7 for a few days and then it lifts again until the next time.

I called the GP today who gave me some antibiotics.

Anyone

You can always try an antihistamine pill along with an antihistamine steroid nasal spray to see if it helps.

An ENT should look at your ears. Any sort of sudden and unresolved hearing loss, including your previous history, should be checked out. It could be something simple (ear-wax build-up) or something requiring more medication or intervention (steroids, MRI etc).

Best of luck, OP

Yes I have had this for the last few months in one ear. Fuzzy, muffle feeeling and sound in my right ear. Comes and goes. No pain. No blockage. Makes me really dizzy and unsteady at times also.

The Dr said it was more likely an inner ear pressure problem - a lack of pressure in the canal that causes my drum to slacken )or something like that) and I need to re pressurise it.
i do this by holding my nose and blowing out through my ears to “pop” it.

he said it probably happened when I did have a cold or sinus infection at some point and will take time to right itself. It’s been quite a while and it is definitely improving. Has come back a bit more recently when I’ve had headcolds.

he gave me a steroid nasal spray, Beconase, but I never really kept it up.

It's even worse today than yesterday. My hearing has worsened significantly too. No pain in my ears but I have a massive headache.

I'm so fed up !

I have had these exact symptoms and they persisted on and off for 18 months - it was miserable. Eventually I was referred to an ENT specialist and an MRI scan showed that it was blocked sinuses and glue ear (which is far more common in children). I had a simple operation to drain the sinuses and fit grommets in my ears and the symptoms disappeared immediately. Might be worth googling those conditions to see if they could be applicable to you.
Hope you are able to get it sorted - you have my sympathy as it really is horrible.

It's back again guys !

It resolved and now it's worse than ever ! Including a ringing.

I literally can't hear anything. It's so horrible.

I've got an appointment tomorrow.

Can this really just be wax ? What's up with it coming and going like this ??

Really suffering today.

It has a pattern. It starts and get worse over 2-3 days and then it goes away again. Then a week or so later, it starts up again.

@bloomblue hey! What was the outcome? Im having the same symptoms its driving me insane! Are you still suffering?

@TrínaCheile hey! What got rid of it? Im suffering and getting so dizzy xx

I’m lactose intolerant, I get that if I have any cow’s milk (usually milk chocolate!)

I had to stop all dairy. I couod not even eat cake as it sets me off (it has milk in it and a topping sometimes of cream).

It sucks.

Cut dairy out. For three weeks. See if it helps.

@RentalWoesNotFun & @LuckyCharmz thank you! Will try anything! It does say dairy makes mucus thicker! Xx

I got referred to the nhs dietician and it was her who said “yes some of my patients gave noticed a difference when they cut out dairy”.

I also go to acupuncture privately. You can see the difference within ten mins. However it just comes back again. Especially in wet or damp weather. Sometimes it’s back the same day. Which sucks. But at least I know im on the right track. it’s just Im so full of it that it doesn’t all go.

Chinese medicine talks about damp foods. It’s googling them and swapping that helped me. For example a banana is damp so swap it for something else that isn’t.( It’s nothing to do with it feeling damp btw) so you could try that too.

im also thinking of lymphatic drainage massage. Haven’t tried it yet but am going to google as I can currently hear my heartbeat and it’s pissimg me right off!