# What did I do to my ear? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 15, 2003, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-i-do-to-my-ear/168895 "2003-04-15T16:15:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-i-do-to-my-ear/168895/1 "2003-04-15T16:15:07Z")
I know the SDMB isn’t the place to get medical advice, but as there’s another ear-related thread on here anyway, what the heck. A couple of days ago I was snorkelling, and was diving down maybe 20 feet to get a closer look at the various undersea critters. On one dive, my left ear didn’t seem to equalise too well, and gave a weird squeaking noise. It didn’t really hurt though, so I didn’t give it too much thought. Since then though, I’ve had the feeling that the water never drained out of it, and for a while it was quite painful. Now it’s not exactly painful, but still feels blocked, and the hearing in that ear is distinctly muffled. What’s going on? Should I see a doctor, as it crossed my mind that I might have perforated the eardrum? Not that that’d the easiest thing to do, as I’m in Mexico and my Spanish is not quite up to detailed medical questioning… ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-i-do-to-my-ear/168895/2 "2003-04-15T16:41:51Z")
Um , thats probably wax in the ear thats been built up . Its not really wax ,but its something similar enough in composition. The pressure of the water will push it down to the bottom of the ear canal thats accessible and you get plugged. The solution is usually to go to the pharmacy and pick up a bottle of ear wax remover , little bottle about an inch high, and it should come with a mini baster bulb. After a couple of days of applying the solution , have the signifigant other use the bulb to squeeze warm water into your ear , which should remove the wax. Declan ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-i-do-to-my-ear/168895/3 "2003-04-15T18:28:03Z")
Sounds like a perforation to me. I’d see a doctor. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-i-do-to-my-ear/168895/4 "2003-04-15T19:33:32Z")
I’ve had a perforated eardrum. In itself, it’s not terribly painful, but it opens the way to secondary infections that are. Definitely see an otologist. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-i-do-to-my-ear/168895/5 "2003-04-15T19:43:23Z")
Hmm, anyone know a good English-speaking otologist in Mexico City? :rolleyes: **Q.E.D.** , what did the perforation feel like? At the moment the ear just feels kind of blocked up, with the odd crackly noise when I move my jaw. I certainly think I’ll steer clear of pouring anything into the ear if there’s a chance it’s perforated. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-i-do-to-my-ear/168895/6 "2003-04-15T19:51:33Z")
Courtesy of Google’s Language tools. I cannot hear well with this ear. No puedo oír bien con este oído. It is my left ear. Es mi oído izquierdo. It is my right ear. Es mi oído derecho. It was all right before I went swimming. Todo correcto antes de que fuera a nadar. Now it feels strange. Se siente extraño ahora. No, it doesn’t hurt. No, no lastima. Yes, it hurts. Sí, lastima. Is it wax? ¿Es cera? Is it perforated? ¿Está perforado? Will I need antibiotics? ¿Necesitaré los antibióticos? “ear” is also “oreja”, but both Google and Babelfish are giving me “oído” for “ear”. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-i-do-to-my-ear/168895/7 "2003-04-15T19:57:31Z")
Like I said it wasn’t terribly painful. The doc gave me antibiotic drops to stave off infection, and it healed up on it’s own, although there was a bit of hearing loss because of it. If I held my nose and mouth shut and blew, I could hear and feel the air escaping. I could even blow smoke through it. That was always a hit with friends. To test if you have a perforation, the doc will insert a plug with a tube attached and blow air in and monitor the pressure. It’s quick and painless, and can detect perforations too small to detect on your own the way I did. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-i-do-to-my-ear/168895/8 "2003-04-15T20:01:38Z")
> [@](#): > > anyone know a good English-speaking otologist in Mexico City? An otolaryngologist can also help you, being an “Ear-Nose-Throat” specialist, as opposed to the otologist’s even more narrowly specialized “ear”. [http://www.nyee.edu/page\_deliv.html?page\_no=68](http://www.nyee.edu/page_deliv.html?page_no=68) > [@](#): > > Recognizing that many of our patients might require assistance when working outside the United States, the Center is pleased to maintain formal and active affiliations with many practitioners, each of whom, beyond being a professional leader in his or her own country, enjoys international recognition. > > ``` > These professionals are prepared to work closely with the Center for the Voice of The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, and we, in turn, are in convenient communication with them for the transfer of records, for consultation, and for smooth integration of treatment of traveling professionals. The following are representative of the many specialists with whom we are affiliated: > > ``` > > Mexico (Mexico City) **Eugenia Chavez de Bartelt R., M.D.** Laryngologist She is also a “Phoniatrician Audiologist”, whatever that is, but I bet it has something to do with ears. [http://www.pvsf.org/1997/faculty.htm](http://www.pvsf.org/1997/faculty.htm) > [@](#): > > R. Eugenia Chavez de Bartelt, M.D. Anyway, if she can’t help you, her office will know someone who can. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2003, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-did-i-do-to-my-ear/168895/9 "2003-04-15T20:33:02Z")
You can also check with your consulate. [http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov/eacs.html](http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov/eacs.html) > [@](#): > > Medical Assistance: If you are injured or seriously ill, the Embassy can help you find medical assistance and, at your request, notify your family or friends. If you need a current list of physicians, please e-mail us at ccs@usembassy.net.mx or contact us at (01-55) 5080-2000, Ext. 4780 (Working Hours). The CCS Unit cannot recommend a particular physician and assumes no responsibility for the quality of service provided. More information is available on the Internet at [http://www.travel.state.gov/medical.html](http://www.travel.state.gov/medical.html). [http://www.travel.state.gov/medical.html](http://www.travel.state.gov/medical.html) > [@](#): > > If an American citizen becomes seriously ill or injured abroad, a U. S. consular officer can assist in locating appropriate medical services and informing family or friends. [http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/mexico-city/consular/faq-en.asp](http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/mexico-city/consular/faq-en.asp) > [@](#): > > A list of doctors and hospitals in Mexico City and areas covered by our Consulates can be provided upon request.