I’ve been sick with one thing or another for three weeks (first a bad stomach bug, then acute bronchitis, in the middle of the bronchitis got a flu and then a head cold with sinus trouble, just finally started to recover from the bronchitis with the help of antibiotics, and now this!). Today I woke up and I couldn’t hear out of my left ear! It’s been that way all day now.
Well, I can kinda hear out of it. If you snap your finger next to my ear, I hear you. But when people talk to me from that side, it sounds muffled, as does my own voice. Also, my right ear seems to be overcompensating for it - noises that ordinarily don’t bother me are causing me slight “it’s too loud!” pain.
Is this a normal thing, a side effect of the head cold/sinus trouble? Or should I be freaking out and calling my doctor? If it’s not an emergency-call-the-doctor situation, is there anything I can do at home to make myself more comfortable?
By the way, I realize I probably shouldn’t seek medical advice here on the boards, but I know there are some people here knowledgable enough to tell me whether or not it’s worth bothering my doctor on a holiday weekend… Sorry if this is a frowned-upon sort of post.
IANAD. If your head’s stuffed up, then it could cause the condition that you describe (I’ve had it happen to me numerous times.). If you can handle decongestants, you can try taking some of those to see if that doesn’t improve your condition. Be warned, one of the side-effects is irritability. Or you could do what I always do when I’ve got a stuffed head: eat lots of really, really spicy food. That can sometimes cause the congestion to break up. (Of course, you’ll get a runny nose from hell, but at least you can hear!) If the condition continues past the weekend, or becomes painful, then I’d see a doctor. (I’d only make a trip to the ER if you were in pain.)
IANAD, but I’ve had this happen when my ear got plugged or sealed shut with wax. Quite icky, but easily reversible. I’m with Tuckerfan, if it doesn’t go away shortly, get yourself to a doctor.
IIRC, the sinus passages link to the eustachian tubes in your ears so trouble with your sinuses can affect and your hearing. It’s happened to me anyway and usually clears up when I can relieve some of the congestion. I eat very spicy foods and also take some sinutab which seems to work very well for me without making me the least bit drowsy.
This happened to me once. I hied myself to a doctor, who syringed enough wax out of my left ear to restock Madame Tussaud’s. (Straightforward and painless, though icky.) If this doesn’t clear up by itself, see a doctor, is my advice.
