God forbid I take a fucking shower. I got soap in my ears and now I'm fucking deaf until some miracle happens. Every 3 months shit like this happens and every fucking time I want to cut them the fuck off.
My autistic ass cannot fucking handle the sound of fucking pressure in them I swear to god I fucking hate this I wanna fucking blow my brains out right fucking now every fucking 3 MONTHS
Why the fuck are my genetics so shit?
Hi everyone,
I had an ear infection about two weeks ago. Initially, I was prescribed Terracortril ear drops, but they didn’t really help because my ear canal was extremely swollen and narrow. I could barely get the drops in.
I was then given a one week course of oral flucloxacillin and also had an ear wick/packing placed in the ear. After starting the antibiotics, things improved significantly and the pain completely went away.
Once I finished the antibiotics, I went back to the doctor. They removed the packing and cleaned out some dried blood and debris from the ear.
Since then, I have had reduced hearing and a constant feeling of fullness/blockage in the ear. I also have quite noticeable tinnitus. There is no pain anymore.
I can’t really equalize the pressure in the ear. When I try, nothing seems to happen and I don’t want to force it because it feels uncomfortable.
Has anyone experienced something similar after a severe ear infection or ear canal infection?
Is it normal for hearing to remain reduced and for the ear to feel blocked for a couple of weeks after the infection has cleared? Could this be fluid behind the eardrum or swelling that is still healing?
I’m mainly wondering how long it took for other people’s hearing to return to normal and whether I should get it checked again.
Thanks!
TL;DR: Had a severe ear infection 2 weeks ago with a very swollen ear canal. Terracortril drops didn’t work, so I was given oral flucloxacillin and an ear wick. The infection and pain are now gone, but I still have reduced hearing, a blocked/full feeling and tinnitus. Equalizing pressure doesn’t do anything. Is this normal, and how long can it take for hearing to return?
Ear tubes
My little boy is 22 months old. Has had at least 10+ ear infections since he has been born. Got ear tubes with ENT 3 weeks ago. Yesterday we noticed he was getting a runny nose (usually means a nasty ear infection is to follow). Sure enough my husband texts me today saying our toddler has a low grade fever. But no drainage from either ears that we can see??
I got home from work (I’m a nurse, didn’t get home until 8pm) took my toddlers temp and it’s 102. Hes not wanting to eat or take a sippy cup.
I’m so beside myself. I thought tubes were supposed to reduce ear infections?? I don’t even know what to do. I gave him Tylenol and used the antibiotic ear drops the ENT gave us after surgery.
My LO has developed a pretty severe speech delay due to the ear infections. He really only says about 3 words. And that’s only sometimes.
I can’t get into see the ENT for 3 days. Should I go ahead and take my LO to see the regular pediatrician?
i flew last weekend and stayed in london a week and have found that both of my ears are blocked (once going to the doctor i found both have fluid in them) and can’t hear well.. i’ve tried steroid nose spray, steroid spray, nasal rinse, and even bought the device that shoots air in your nose to open your ear tubes and NOTHING helps
now i’ve flown before with a minor cold and had EXCRUCIATING pain when descending and i’m terrified that my eardrums would actually rupture this time since the dr said my ears had no inflammation i simply had fluid in my ears and it would take time to go away with nose steroids, decongestants etc
anyways i got to the airport had a mental breakdown and decided to miss my flight and now im taking 3 trains to get to another country (over a day traveling) am i being dramatic asf???
Please no judging. Only comment if you have advice
My two boys were goofing around yesterday and the older one thought it would be funny to put the tip of a ball pump in my other kids ear. Punctured the ear drum. We confirmed it at a walk-in clinic doctor. He has no pain thankfully but it's plugged up. We will be following up with the ENT but obviously my anxiety and guilt kept me up all night. Wondering if there's anyone with a similar story that could share their experience. Doctor said it'll take around 6 weeks to heal. Maybe less maybe more. Advised not to get it wet during that time. Please share any advice or experience. Thank you.
I've had 3 hearing tests in the last 2 years, free and paid. I can pass the beep test pretty well but if you play noise over it then I fail. Still no one will give me the time of day to fix my hearing loss in different environments. I can't hear any whispering, conversations in busy restaurants is an nightmare, chatting on busy streets is hit or miss. Im really struggling but can't seem to get any help. Im 35f otherwise healthy. Is there anything else I can try?
Most people consider ear health only when they experience hearing loss or a sharp, impulsive pain. However, ancient medical systems viewed the ear as a complex sensory organ prone to a wide array of specific imbalances across its external, canal, and internal structures. The Ashtanga Hridaya, a foundational Ayurvedic text written approximately 2,000 years ago, identifies 25 distinct ear conditions. These ancient insights reveal that what we often dismiss as minor issues—such as water exposure or the habitual scratching of the ear canal—are the primary triggers for chronic disease. By understanding how the Ashtanga Hridaya categorizes these afflictions, we gain a sophisticated perspective on sensory preservation that remains strikingly relevant today.
The Ashtanga Hridaya provides a precise physiological framework for what we now recognize as the interconnectedness of the upper respiratory and auditory systems. It identifies specific environmental and behavioral causes—Nidana—that trigger a disturbance in Vata, the principle of movement and air within the body.
According to the text:
"Pratishyayajalakridakarnakanduyanairmarut | mithyayogena shabdasya kupito..." (Vata becomes aggravated by a running nose/colds, playing in water, scratching the ear, and the improper use of sound, reaching the vessels of the ear to cause pain.)
When Vata is disturbed by factors such as Pratishyaya (a running nose) or Karnakanduyana (scratching the ear), it enters the ear’s vessels (Sira). This results in Shula—a pain characterized as Vegavat (impulsive or forceful)—alongside stiffness and a distinct sensation of emptiness (Shunyam). Furthermore, the text identifies Mithyayoga (improper use of sound) as a primary trigger. This is not limited to mere volume; it includes "abnormal" or perverted sounds. In our modern landscape, this serves as a warning against the digital distortion and constant auditory bombardment of headphones, which modern life mirrors as a direct cause of sensory decay.
Long before modern laboratory diagnostics, Ayurvedic scholars used the specific characteristics of ear discharge—Sravati (flowing)—to determine the underlying pathology. The Ashtanga Hridaya provides a precise diagnostic "code" based on the appearance and behavior of these fluids:
Vata-related: The discharge is thin and resembles lymph (Lasika). It often follows a period of "emptiness" in the ear.
Pitta-related: The fluid is yellowish and characterized by Paka (suppuration/inflammation). This discharge is so potent it is said to "cook" or inflame whatever skin it touches.
Kapha-related: The discharge is white, dense, and thick (Ghana), typically accompanied by a feeling of heaviness in the head and jaw.
Sannipata (Combined): This represents a severe state where the discharge is thick pus (Puya) mixed with various colors, such as white, black, and red, indicating an imbalance of all three doshas.
This meticulous observation allowed practitioners to identify the stage of infection and the specific biological force at play without the need for modern imaging.
The text describes a distressing condition known as Krimikarnaka, showcasing the ancient focus on biological causes of disease. This condition arises when "organisms" or "worms" (Jantavah) are generated from the accumulation of moisture and filth (Kleda) within the ear canal.
These organisms are described as literally consuming the flesh and blood of the ear, leading to intense, agonizing pain. While the terminology refers to "worms," this likely describes severe bacterial or parasitic infections that thrive in the dark, damp environment of the ear. This ancient insight underscores a vital preventative lesson: maintaining a dry, clean ear environment is essential to prevent biological agents from destroying internal tissue.
Ancient scholars paid rigorous attention to the external ear, or Pali (the earlobe). They documented several diseases caused by trauma or the pursuit of beauty, many of which mirror modern fashion-related injuries:
Duhkhavardhana: Caused by Durviddhe (improper piercing), this condition leads to swelling, burning, and discharge triggered by a total imbalance of the three doshas.
Utpata: Resulting from the "weight of heavy ornaments" (Gurvabharana), this causes the lobe to become bruised, red, and prone to Paka (inflammation).
Paripota: A condition where the lobe cracks or bursts (Sphutana) due to Vata after the ear is stretched too quickly.
Unmantha (or Gallira): A stable, itchy swelling caused by a combination of Vata and Kapha.
Whether it is modern "ear stretching" or the heavy traditional jewelry of the past, the Ashtanga Hridaya warns that the delicate structure of the Pali reacts poorly to excessive weight and trauma.
Ringing in the ears, known as Karnanada, was viewed not as a minor nuisance but as a precursor to permanent sensory loss. The text explains a specific mechanism of progression: when Vata is ignored (Upekshita), it is followed by Kapha (Sleshmana-anugato vayu).
This combination creates a physical blockage, or Pratinaha, in the sound-carrying vessels (Shabdavahini Sira). The ringing eventually transitions into Badhirya—total deafness. The Ashtanga Hridaya emphasizes that untreated ringing is a warning that the "channels of sound" are becoming obstructed. This highlights the vital importance of early intervention; what begins as a faint ringing can, if neglected, lead to a permanent loss of the auditory sense.
The Ashtanga Hridaya classifies 25 total ear diseases, providing a comprehensive map of auditory health. While most of these conditions are treatable, the text identifies four as Asadhya (incurable):
Pippali: A growth in the ear canal resembling the long pepper fruit.
Sarvajam Shulam: Intense pain involving all three doshas simultaneously.
Vidari: A swelling that causes the ear structure to shrink and harden.
Kuchikarnaka: A congenital or deep-seated contraction of the ear canal.
The enduring wisdom of these 2,000-year-old texts is that our sensory health is fragile and deeply connected to daily habits. Most ear diseases can be prevented by avoiding simple triggers: do not scratch the ear (Karnakanduyana), avoid excessive water exposure, and manage respiratory colds promptly.
Final Question: If our ancestors knew that a simple cold or a heavy earring could permanently alter our hearing, are we taking our sensory health for granted today?
29 yo female, 56kg, 163cm tall (5.4 feet)
5 hours after the jumping into a river from 5 metres height, I had the most basic check done on my ears and was told my right eardrum is perforated and infected, and my left one is about to be perforated. I'm taking some drops. I was in excruciating pain for about 4 hours after the event, and my hearing was very muffled for about 6 hours, and has only now started to return.
I'm meant to take two short flights in about 36 hours, and I don't want to get permanent hearing loss...
Has anyone had Eustachian tube dysfunction after a respiratory infection/congestion?
My ear has felt clogged/full 24/7 for about a week. I can still hear, and my ENT said my ear looks normal, but thinks the tube is inflamed from congestion. I just started prednisone.
How long did the fullness last for you? Did it gradually improve or suddenly pop open? I’m going crazy with this feeling!
Hello,
I was diagnosed with middle ear infection in a walk-in clinic and given Amoxicillin for one week. My ear was still blocked with tinnitus after 1 week, so in another clinic I was given a different antibiotic clarithromycin and corticosteroid spray. But the doctor said if it didn't improve with this, I might have to go to hospital to check if iv antibiotics would be required. This scared and confused me, I thought iv antibiotics were last resort for serious infections.
I haven't finished the second course yet, but as of now, the only symptoms that remain are ear fullness (as if water stuck), muffled hearing, tinnitus. There is no pain when touching the ear, only very occasional short pain in ear (but I've had that because of tmj too). And never had fever throughout this. I've read that eustachian tube dysfunction can cause clogged ear, and persist long after ear infection. Every day I am doing nasal rinse, gargling salt water, steam bath, and using mucinex.
I am on the fence about going to the hospital for this, that does not seem standard for an ear infection without major pain/fever/other symptoms. Did anyone have to go through this? I'm inclined to think the doctor I saw (not a specialist) was being overly cautious. I am thinking of trying to book a consultation with an ENT next week before anything else, but I was curious to hear about other people's experience.