Ear suddenly feels clogged

[Anonymous]

Just take some decongestant or allergy medicine. You likely have allergies or the start of a cold or other illness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sudden sensorineural hearing loss can present as feeling one ear is clogged.

Maybe see an ENT and get tested, if it is the etiology timely steroid dose is important for possibly regaining function.

This is an incredible overreaction until the far, far, far more common causes are explored and ruled out.

DP

No it is not. You only have two weeks in which to try and gain the hearing back.

Time is of the essence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sudden sensorineural hearing loss can present as feeling one ear is clogged.

Maybe see an ENT and get tested, if it is the etiology timely steroid dose is important for possibly regaining function.

This is an incredible overreaction until the far, far, far more common causes are explored and ruled out.

It’s a time sensitive diagnosis. And if the manual extraction of cerumen doesn’t work- this should be placed on the OPs radar. A viral/post viral etiology has been postulated, and ‘tis the season of viruses.

OK, but that's like telling someone with a headache that they should be getting ready to call a neurologist to look for cancer. It's possible, but unlikely enough to be absurd.

There's a saying in medicine-- when you hear hoofbeats, think horses not zebras. What you're describing isn't even a zebra.

Wish I had seen a post like this when I wondered why I felt like I was under water/ear clogged. Kept assuming it would unclog itself, all that. Permanently deaf in that ear. Maybe getting into the ENT even a few days earlier would have helped.

Same. I’m partially deaf now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sudden sensorineural hearing loss can present as feeling one ear is clogged.

Maybe see an ENT and get tested, if it is the etiology timely steroid dose is important for possibly regaining function.

This is an incredible overreaction until the far, far, far more common causes are explored and ruled out.

It’s a time sensitive diagnosis. And if the manual extraction of cerumen doesn’t work- this should be placed on the OPs radar. A viral/post viral etiology has been postulated, and ‘tis the season of viruses.

OK, but that's like telling someone with a headache that they should be getting ready to call a neurologist to look for cancer. It's possible, but unlikely enough to be absurd.

There's a saying in medicine-- when you hear hoofbeats, think horses not zebras. What you're describing isn't even a zebra.

Wish I had seen a post like this when I wondered why I felt like I was under water/ear clogged. Kept assuming it would unclog itself, all that. Permanently deaf in that ear. Maybe getting into the ENT even a few days earlier would have helped.

Maybe. But do you go to a neurologist for every headache?

No wonder health care spending is ridiculous in the US. People are crazy when it comes to assessing risk.

A nonsensical comparison does not make you correct.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am guessing the poster who is minimizing sudden sensorineural hearing loss is not an otolaryngologist because otherwise they would know it occurs with some increased frequency/incidence in recent years.

I am guessing they are medical adjacent- maybe a PA or NP.

If they are a physician- well what do you know, so am I (the original poster to alert of the possibility of sudden sensorineural hearing loss).

It’s along the lines of informed consent- even if the chances are extremely low (ie death during cholecystectomy) if they are severe (such as life altering functional loss- such as sense of hearing) it’s worthy of notification.

Thank you, Doctor.

Do they have any theories as to why SNHL has happened more in recent years?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am guessing the poster who is minimizing sudden sensorineural hearing loss is not an otolaryngologist because otherwise they would know it occurs with some increased frequency/incidence in recent years.

I am guessing they are medical adjacent- maybe a PA or NP.

If they are a physician- well what do you know, so am I (the original poster to alert of the possibility of sudden sensorineural hearing loss).

It’s along the lines of informed consent- even if the chances are extremely low (ie death during cholecystectomy) if they are severe (such as life altering functional loss- such as sense of hearing) it’s worthy of notification.

Thank you, Doctor.

Do they have any theories as to why SNHL has happened more in recent years?

I am not aware of any theories supported by convincing data. Unfortunately it is an enigmatic disease.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sudden sensorineural hearing loss can present as feeling one ear is clogged.

Maybe see an ENT and get tested, if it is the etiology timely steroid dose is important for possibly regaining function.

This is an incredible overreaction until the far, far, far more common causes are explored and ruled out.

It’s one of the first symptoms. It’s considered a medical emergency because time is of the essence to begin treatment. If you go to urgent care and they can’t visualize a problem, head to the ENT. Better safe than sorry.

+1 this was me last year. had a cold, not a terrible cold, but a cold and then an ear infection. Did doctor on demand and got antibiotics. Had temporary hearing loss in that one ear and it never came back. When to the ENT a month later and they said if I'd come in when it was first happening, they'd have gievn me prednisone immediately and it would probably not now be permanent hearing loss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:COVID onset can present this way.

I was wondering how long it would take for someone to chime in with this one. Bozo.

Why are you thinking about loud? What is the point of name calling?

Oh, and I will say it again for your benefit, a clogged ears were my first symptoms of COVID.

Because not everything is covid that's why. It doesn't matter anymore what the symptom is, it is automatically called out as covid. PMS? No, Covid. Irregular heartbeat, could it be anxiety? No, Covid. Knee pain? oh that's covid too doncha know!

OP's issue isn't covid! It's sinuses.

OP--you may have COVID

Of course not eveything is COVID but some things are COVID or may be COVID.
I will continue to talk about COVID as appropriate, even though the mere mention of it makes you very uncomfortable for some reason.

DP. If everything is a symptom of covid, then nothing is a symptom of covid. I don't understand your goals in bringing up covid in situations where it is highly unlikely to be relevant, but whatever they are, you're not achieving them.

Too bad you don't understand.
Yes, I have a a world-impacting agenda for letting the OP her illness may be COVID. You have figured out the conspiracy. You got me. I have been caught.

Except you didn't do that, and it's kind of sad you don't realize that. Symptoms lose meaning when everything is a low-probability symptom. Do you really not understand that?

COVID exists. It is not fiction. It has not gone away.

That's quite the non sequitur. Covid isn't going away period. Given your apparent anxiety level over it, you're going to have a rough time if everything is a covid symptom to you.

The OP may or may not have COVID.

Correct. In the same way that any one of us may or may not have covid. I fail to see how that is helpful to point out, particularly without a clear reason to expect one or the other.

Because...she may have COVID, that is why it is helpful. There is a clear reason, she is more likely to have since she she is showing particular symptoms as compared to say your or I who are not sick right now. You hate to hear the word COVID so much you are not making sense at this point. Choosing to defy logic doesn't mean logic goes away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am guessing the poster who is minimizing sudden sensorineural hearing loss is not an otolaryngologist because otherwise they would know it occurs with some increased frequency/incidence in recent years.

I am guessing they are medical adjacent- maybe a PA or NP.

If they are a physician- well what do you know, so am I (the original poster to alert of the possibility of sudden sensorineural hearing loss).

It’s along the lines of informed consent- even if the chances are extremely low (ie death during cholecystectomy) if they are severe (such as life altering functional loss- such as sense of hearing) it’s worthy of notification.

Perhaps, but an online forum is not an appropriate venue for such notification. You may be an MD, but I question whether you're still practicing. Or perhaps ever practiced after residency.

Oh wait. I get it. Insurance hack here. Makes sense now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am guessing the poster who is minimizing sudden sensorineural hearing loss is not an otolaryngologist because otherwise they would know it occurs with some increased frequency/incidence in recent years.

I am guessing they are medical adjacent- maybe a PA or NP.

If they are a physician- well what do you know, so am I (the original poster to alert of the possibility of sudden sensorineural hearing loss).

It’s along the lines of informed consent- even if the chances are extremely low (ie death during cholecystectomy) if they are severe (such as life altering functional loss- such as sense of hearing) it’s worthy of notification.

I hope your residency program is going well, but I don't think you're going to get that fellowship you were hoping for.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Now my other ear is clogged and very painful - feels like the ear infection I had back in college. So weird - this came out of nowhere - still zero cold or allergy symptoms. I just took some Advil so I can go back to sleep and have a minute clinic appointment tomorrow. Hopefully they are decent at diagnosing this stuff? My PCP is not available until next week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sudden sensorineural hearing loss can present as feeling one ear is clogged.

Maybe see an ENT and get tested, if it is the etiology timely steroid dose is important for possibly regaining function.

This is an incredible overreaction until the far, far, far more common causes are explored and ruled out.

It’s a time sensitive diagnosis. And if the manual extraction of cerumen doesn’t work- this should be placed on the OPs radar. A viral/post viral etiology has been postulated, and ‘tis the season of viruses.

OK, but that's like telling someone with a headache that they should be getting ready to call a neurologist to look for cancer. It's possible, but unlikely enough to be absurd.

There's a saying in medicine-- when you hear hoofbeats, think horses not zebras. What you're describing isn't even a zebra.

Wish I had seen a post like this when I wondered why I felt like I was under water/ear clogged. Kept assuming it would unclog itself, all that. Permanently deaf in that ear. Maybe getting into the ENT even a few days earlier would have helped.

Same. I’m partially deaf now.

Me too. Partially deaf in one ear. Same feeling of water clogging my ear while on a beach vacation. By the time I saw an ENT I was outside the important time window to start antibiotics. If this is something urgent cares give priority to (now I know) what does OP have to lose by going.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sudden sensorineural hearing loss can present as feeling one ear is clogged.

Maybe see an ENT and get tested, if it is the etiology timely steroid dose is important for possibly regaining function.

This is an incredible overreaction until the far, far, far more common causes are explored and ruled out.

It’s a time sensitive diagnosis. And if the manual extraction of cerumen doesn’t work- this should be placed on the OPs radar. A viral/post viral etiology has been postulated, and ‘tis the season of viruses.

OK, but that's like telling someone with a headache that they should be getting ready to call a neurologist to look for cancer. It's possible, but unlikely enough to be absurd.

There's a saying in medicine-- when you hear hoofbeats, think horses not zebras. What you're describing isn't even a zebra.

Wish I had seen a post like this when I wondered why I felt like I was under water/ear clogged. Kept assuming it would unclog itself, all that. Permanently deaf in that ear. Maybe getting into the ENT even a few days earlier would have helped.

Same. I’m partially deaf now.

Me too. Partially deaf in one ear. Same feeling of water clogging my ear while on a beach vacation. By the time I saw an ENT I was outside the important time window to start antibiotics. If this is something urgent cares give priority to (now I know) what does OP have to lose by going.

Was this from an ear infection? I’m not fully understanding what causes the deafness.

I’m going to minute clinic today to get this taken care of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sudden sensorineural hearing loss can present as feeling one ear is clogged.

Maybe see an ENT and get tested, if it is the etiology timely steroid dose is important for possibly regaining function.

This is an incredible overreaction until the far, far, far more common causes are explored and ruled out.

It’s a time sensitive diagnosis. And if the manual extraction of cerumen doesn’t work- this should be placed on the OPs radar. A viral/post viral etiology has been postulated, and ‘tis the season of viruses.

OK, but that's like telling someone with a headache that they should be getting ready to call a neurologist to look for cancer. It's possible, but unlikely enough to be absurd.

There's a saying in medicine-- when you hear hoofbeats, think horses not zebras. What you're describing isn't even a zebra.

Wish I had seen a post like this when I wondered why I felt like I was under water/ear clogged. Kept assuming it would unclog itself, all that. Permanently deaf in that ear. Maybe getting into the ENT even a few days earlier would have helped.

Same. I’m partially deaf now.

Me too. Partially deaf in one ear. Same feeling of water clogging my ear while on a beach vacation. By the time I saw an ENT I was outside the important time window to start antibiotics. If this is something urgent cares give priority to (now I know) what does OP have to lose by going.

Was this from an ear infection? I’m not fully understanding what causes the deafness.

I’m going to minute clinic today to get this taken care of.

not the PP but I had an ear infection and lost all hearing in that ear for a few days and then it came back maybe 10% per day. I was taking antibiotics but what I did not do was take prednisone and a month later when I finally went to the ENT they told me that could have saved my hearing. Now I have tinnitus and hearing loss which seems to have been related to whatever infection I had at the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sudden sensorineural hearing loss can present as feeling one ear is clogged.

Maybe see an ENT and get tested, if it is the etiology timely steroid dose is important for possibly regaining function.

This is an incredible overreaction until the far, far, far more common causes are explored and ruled out.

It’s a time sensitive diagnosis. And if the manual extraction of cerumen doesn’t work- this should be placed on the OPs radar. A viral/post viral etiology has been postulated, and ‘tis the season of viruses.

OK, but that's like telling someone with a headache that they should be getting ready to call a neurologist to look for cancer. It's possible, but unlikely enough to be absurd.

There's a saying in medicine-- when you hear hoofbeats, think horses not zebras. What you're describing isn't even a zebra.

Wish I had seen a post like this when I wondered why I felt like I was under water/ear clogged. Kept assuming it would unclog itself, all that. Permanently deaf in that ear. Maybe getting into the ENT even a few days earlier would have helped.

Same. I’m partially deaf now.

Me too. Partially deaf in one ear. Same feeling of water clogging my ear while on a beach vacation. By the time I saw an ENT I was outside the important time window to start antibiotics. If this is something urgent cares give priority to (now I know) what does OP have to lose by going.

Was this from an ear infection? I’m not fully understanding what causes the deafness.

I’m going to minute clinic today to get this taken care of.

not the PP but I had an ear infection and lost all hearing in that ear for a few days and then it came back maybe 10% per day. I was taking antibiotics but what I did not do was take prednisone and a month later when I finally went to the ENT they told me that could have saved my hearing. Now I have tinnitus and hearing loss which seems to have been related to whatever infection I had at the time.

Oh my gosh, I did not realize that was a risk. I will mention it today. Thank you.