Annoying Ear!

[paulaoneill]

My ear drum seems to keep popping in and out as if there is pressure like when on an plane. It is not sore but is driving me a bit mental! Anyone got any ideas?

[smudge]

Paula - As Andy says, you should visit your GP.

Having said that, I had the same problem a few weeks ago & it drove me potty too. The Doc said my ears were completely clear of wax or anything else & sent me away with no medication.

I found the only thing that cleared it was holding my nose, blowing, then swallowing - I also took Sudafed tablets for my sinus problem & it soon disappeared. 

[happy_face]

As ears and nose is connected you'll often find by using a spray to clear your nose the popping will go away.

Although you might not feel that your nose is stuffed the tissue could be inflamed or irritated and by using something like Otrivine that would reduce any swelling. As a child I had every ear problem in the world and has been taught always to use nasal spray or drops as soon as anything starts with my ears.

Give it a go and I'm sure you'll fell much better

[tubeway]

I am training at the moment to be a hearing aid audiologist    so hear goes (lol)

You may have water in your OUTER ear - your inner ear is sealed. This can cause the cerumen (wax) to swell and can cause your ear to feel bunged up.

You could have a blockage of your eustachian tube (this is quite common)this links the middle ear to the nasopharynx part of the throat -  which would hold the pressure in your ear, and cause your tympanic membrane (ear drum) to flex to adjust the pressure.

You would be best to let a professional have a look - dont try to do anything yourself - you can do a lot of damage sticking things in your ears - the golden rule is never put anything in your ears that is smaller than your elbow.

[beamer]

...except maybe earplugs.

Sounds like your having difficulty equalising the pressure in your ears. Some people do have problems with this. Try waggling your jaw when it happens, or opening your mouth wide as if to yawn.

Do you live/work in a building with a lift?

[flaming]

I agree.  Trouble with fluid in the inner ear, the eustachian tube, is that it can't be seen or shifted easily.  It could b that you had a heavy cold, and some of the mucus gets blown into the ear when you blow your nose.  It can take a long time  for it to become normal.  Neo-clarityn anti-histamines shrink down that area, but the best ones are available on prescription - i.e. the non drowsy making ones. If it's water globules in the outer ear, a doc. or nurse  can see it with an ear tube thing and could decide what to do.  They don't like syringeing the ear these days that procedure being standard practice in times past.   Please, everyone, avoid standing close to loud music coming from speakers in clubs as that is one cause of ear damage.

[tubeway]

Most medical practices will suck out the wax rather than syringe these days - the use of syringing could cause perforated eardrums in some cases.

The comment about noise is very valid - it usually causes at least a temporary loss (caused by the fluids in the cochlea returning to normal). But extreem or continued exposure to loud sounds can cause irrepairable damage to the hair cells in the cochlea - which can result in hearing loss or at worse deafness.  It is not just old people who buy hearing aids these days.