u/Music-Girl-0823

I tried to find something to listen to on my ride home last night, so I checked my college’s radio station on the 0.001% chance I liked what they’re playing. And to my incredible delight, they were playing Red Right Hand!!

It was so strange hearing it out in the wild, but I absolutely geeked out and enjoyed every second of it. & now I miss the show and want to do another rewatch 🥹

Hi everyone. I need to vent because I don’t know what to do next about my ear pain.

Last December, I had intermittent pain in my ear. It ended up being earwax that was hitting the eardrum. I got it removed by ENT #1, and everything was fine. This past May, I got the same intermittent pain. I went to a different ENT (ENT #1 had no availability) to get checked out, thinking that it was the same issue.

It was the same earwax issue, but ENT #2 used a different approach to remove it. Rather than using irrigation, he manually removed it. It was some of the worst pain of my life—I genuinely felt like he was stabbing me in my ears. He was unconcerned and told me that the pain was expected because it was difficult to remove.

For a few days after, my ears were still in terrible pain all the time. It was a constant sharp pain all the time, and loud noises made it worse. I ended up seeing ENT #3 because I was convinced I had ear damage.

ENT #3 told me that she does not see damage and suggested that my pain is TMJ-related (finally the reason I’m in the TMJ subreddit!). This was the first time I’ve ever heard that. Her reasoning did make sense because I do get a lot of headaches and the jaw muscles around my head and ear were tender. But I do not actually have any physical jaw problems (clicking, soreness, etc.), which is why I’ve never thought of this before.

The pain mostly went away after seeing ENT #3, aside from some twinges here and there… except it has come back with a passion in the last two weeks. It feels like how it did after ENT #2—constant and loud noises make it worse. I guess it could be earwax again, but this pain is different and worse than earwax pain, so I’m not convinced.

I know I need to see a doctor (and should have done so already), but I do not know who to see.

I could see a TMJ specialist, but I feel like it’s more than TMJ. This all started after ONE doctor messed with my ears. It has been a bit a tough few weeks emotionally—but I’ve had a million different bodily reactions to stress and trauma, and ear pain was never one of them. That, plus the fact that loud noises makes the pain worse, makes me feel like it’s TMJ and something else ear-related. So maybe I should see another ENT? UGH, I DON’T KNOW :(

Or maybe I’m wrong and the bad ENT #2 did unlock a terrible TMJ symptom that I can’t undo (without specialist help). I don’t even know if that’s possible.

I don’t know what to do and I’m just so, so, so mad that this all started after seeing one doctor.

I’m a new-ish watcher. I watched season 17, part of season 18, and now seasons 19-22. I agree with mostly all the criticisms of the ABC-era format, but there’s one residual thing I’m wondering: Was it always this mean between contestants? Apologies if this has been rehashed a million times—most of what I see is criticisms of producers/judges.

I know there have always been a few snide comments like “I don’t know what he’s doing” or “My look is better than hers” — and there usually are one or two strong personalities in the group. But after watching last week’s episode, it felt like nearly all of the contestants said something downright mean-spirited or nasty about someone else’s design. I didn’t care for looks many either, but I can’t see myself absolutely trashing something like they did. I noticed this last season too.

Is this just another bad addition to the new format? Or is this relatively normal (and I just wasn’t here, so I wouldn’t know)?