Random Ear Popping?

[manlymatt83]

WTF.

It started about a month ago. Every day for a split second I'd get popping sensations in my ear (mostly my left, sometimes my right). The same kind of popping sensations you get when you're in an airplane, except I wasn't. I was sitting at the dinner table.

Now, it seems to be happening every hour. And it lasts for like 5 - 10 seconds. Just a shaking/popping sensation in my ear.

EDIT: if it helps, this all started around the same time I started getting random inflamed gums and bleeding in my mouth. That's since passed.


UPDATE:
Went to the doctor today. There was no infection. He was actually concerned because while I was there and he was looking in my ear I kept telling him that my ear was popping but he couldn't see anything. He thought it might be fluid built up so he gave me major decongestants until he saw I had hypertension and then said I couldn't take them. So then he told me to take a Claritin. It actually made it worse in my opinion.

He actually ended up testing me for a stroke (I'm 26) because of the symptoms I was describing and the high blood pressure history. Apparently that was okay. But scared the **** out of me.

He wanted me to see an ENT tomorrow but because of the way my insurance works I have to wait a few days because I have to see someone in Massachusetts and I'm in New Jersey for the weekend.

I hope this isn't anything serious. I'd say the problem has gotten worse and is pretty constant now. It's like someone playing a bass drum in my ear. Sometimes it's about 10 beats per second (really fast), sometimes its about 1 beat per second and sporadic, but it's fairly constant now.

 

[Newbian]

Your brain is shrinking.

 

[lxskllr]

You might have a bit of an ear infection.

 

[MoPHo]

Wax buildup.

 

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: lxskllr
You might have a bit of an ear infection.

You can have an ear infection without pain or anything like that? My ear feels fine other than this random popping!

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: manlymatt83
WTF.

It started about a month ago. Every day for a split second I'd get popping sensations in my ear (mostly my left, sometimes my right). The same kind of popping sensations you get when you're in an airplane, except I wasn't. I was sitting at the dinner table.

Now, it seems to be happening every hour. And it lasts for like 5 - 10 seconds. Just a shaking/popping sensation in my ear.

EDIT: if it helps, this all started around the same time I started getting random inflamed gums and bleeding in my mouth. That's since passed.

clogged tubes and air pressure trying to equalize it.

 

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: Iron Woode

Originally posted by: manlymatt83
WTF.

It started about a month ago. Every day for a split second I'd get popping sensations in my ear (mostly my left, sometimes my right). The same kind of popping sensations you get when you're in an airplane, except I wasn't. I was sitting at the dinner table.

Now, it seems to be happening every hour. And it lasts for like 5 - 10 seconds. Just a shaking/popping sensation in my ear.

EDIT: if it helps, this all started around the same time I started getting random inflamed gums and bleeding in my mouth. That's since passed.

clogged tubes and air pressure trying to equalize it.

So how does one fix that?

 

[DaTT]

Get an air compressor and a hose......

 

[Modular]

Dr. ATOT says, go see a Dr!

Really though, it's probably just earwax, but the eustation tubes drain into your neck. If you have inflammation there, it can cause this.

 

[Newbian]

Originally posted by: DaTT
Get an air compressor and a hose......

Don't forget to get a decent seal otherwise the air will just leak out.

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: manlymatt83

Originally posted by: lxskllr
You might have a bit of an ear infection.

You can have an ear infection without pain or anything like that? My ear feels fine other than this random popping!

As I've gotten older, I seem to get ear infections more often. Pain doesn't always accompany them either. I rather like the ear wax idea above. That might be more likely than a infection.

 

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: lxskllr

Originally posted by: manlymatt83

Originally posted by: lxskllr
You might have a bit of an ear infection.

You can have an ear infection without pain or anything like that? My ear feels fine other than this random popping!

As I've gotten older, I seem to get ear infections more often. Pain doesn't always accompany them either. I rather like the ear wax idea above. That might be more likely than a infection.

So can I potentially get some of that ear wax stuff at the store that you shoot into your ear and let it drain out?

Also, I will go to the doctor. couldn't find one in the area open this late on Saturday. It didn't get bad until about 3 hours ago.

 

[Iron Woode]

Originally posted by: manlymatt83

Originally posted by: Iron Woode

Originally posted by: manlymatt83
WTF.

It started about a month ago. Every day for a split second I'd get popping sensations in my ear (mostly my left, sometimes my right). The same kind of popping sensations you get when you're in an airplane, except I wasn't. I was sitting at the dinner table.

Now, it seems to be happening every hour. And it lasts for like 5 - 10 seconds. Just a shaking/popping sensation in my ear.

EDIT: if it helps, this all started around the same time I started getting random inflamed gums and bleeding in my mouth. That's since passed.

clogged tubes and air pressure trying to equalize it.

So how does one fix that?

is this the first time this has happened?

could just be a transient thing.

mine are malformed and I have tube problems quite often.

 

[manlymatt83]

Yes, first time this has happened. If it helps, like I said, about 3 weeks ago I started getting a really sore throat. Then, my gums got inflamed. Then, I had a really bad fever. That all only went away about a week ago. This only got bad after that, and I never mentiond it to the doctor while I was having the other symptoms (because my throat and mouth hurting so badly was what was real keeping me concerned).

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: manlymatt83


So can I potentially get some of that ear wax stuff at the store that you shoot into your ear and let it drain out?

Also, I will go to the doctor. couldn't find one in the area open this late on Saturday. It didn't get bad until about 3 hours ago.

You can also squirt out your ear with warm water. Many times that'll loosen up any gunk that might be in there. You can use a booger sucker that you get for sucking out a baby's nose, or a large syringe. I prefer the large syringe, but not every place has the huge ones.

 

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: lxskllr

Originally posted by: manlymatt83


So can I potentially get some of that ear wax stuff at the store that you shoot into your ear and let it drain out?

Also, I will go to the doctor. couldn't find one in the area open this late on Saturday. It didn't get bad until about 3 hours ago.

You can also squirt out your ear with warm water. Many times that'll loosen up any gunk that might be in there. You can use a booger sucker that you get for sucking out a baby's nose, or a large syringe. I prefer the large syringe, but not every place has the huge ones.

OK, thanks.

It just bugs the hell out of me that I have eye floaters so bad I can barely see out of my right eye (yet apparently its benign), I have random inflamed gums and sore throats that the doctors have "no idea what caused it", and now I have this in my ears. Messed up ears, messed up eyes, messed up throat/mouth, yet its all benign and coincidence.

ugh.

people call me a hypo sometimes, but really, this stuff drives me crazy.

Thanks for your help, I'll try the ear wax solution and go to the doctor tomorrow.

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: manlymatt83
Yes, first time this has happened. If it helps, like I said, about 3 weeks ago I started getting a really sore throat. Then, my gums got inflamed. Then, I had a really bad fever. That all only went away about a week ago. This only got bad after that, and I never mentiond it to the doctor while I was having the other symptoms (because my throat and mouth hurting so badly was what was real keeping me concerned).

Oh, well there you go. All that stuff's connected. You might have a residual infection, or swelling that's affecting your ears. A doctor is best of course, but between squirting out your ears, and time, it should right itself out.

 

[I Saw OJ]

Do a valsalva maneuver.

 

[IronWing]

This should help.

 

[Chaotic42]

I had something like that. It sounded almost like a coffee machine percolating. It was a severe sinus infection.

 

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: Chaotic42
I had something like that. It sounded almost like a coffee machine percolating. It was a severe sinus infection.

I think the best way to describe it is that a bass drummer is in my ear banging away at random intervals.

 

[techs]

Originally posted by: manlymatt83
Yes, first time this has happened. If it helps, like I said, about 3 weeks ago I started getting a really sore throat. Then, my gums got inflamed. Then, I had a really bad fever. That all only went away about a week ago. This only got bad after that, and I never mentiond it to the doctor while I was having the other symptoms (because my throat and mouth hurting so badly was what was real keeping me concerned).

I have had a history of similiar problems and just had another tube put in a year ago.
If your problem is like mine, it is officiall called "eustachion tube dysfunction(sp)).
Due to the fact you recently had a sore throat, etc, you may hae some residual fluid buildup inside your eardrum. In situations like yours my ent has me take pseudofed, and a real antihistamine (like benadry or actifed) for 4 days. I also use a pseudephedrine spray like neo-synephrine (NOT the "long lasting" type, the 4 hour type). But ONLY use the spray for 3 days.

Hears (pun) where it gets interesting. My ent has me "pop" my ears gently like twenty times a day. However, if you have an active sinus or throat infection and you do this you can force the infection up into the space behind the eardrum, and then the ear is infected.

I am also wondering if you may have a low grade allergy since it is the change of seasons. Something non drowsy like Claritin OTC is what my doctor has me take for allergies on a regular basis as opposed to the "real" antihistamines which can make you drowsy.

 

[manlymatt83]

Went to the doctor today. There was no infection. He was actually concerned because while I was there and he was looking in my ear I kept telling him that my ear was popping but he couldn't see anything. He thought it might be fluid built up so he gave me major decongestants until he saw I had hypertension and then said I couldn't take them. So then he told me to take a Claritin. It actually made it worse in my opinion.

He actually ended up testing me for a stroke (I'm 26) because of the symptoms I was describing and the high blood pressure history. Apparently that was okay. But scared the **** out of me.

He wanted me to see an ENT tomorrow but because of the way my insurance works I have to wait a few days because I have to see someone in Massachusetts and I'm in New Jersey for the weekend.

I hope this isn't anything serious. I'd say the problem has gotten worse and is pretty constant now. It's like someone playing a bass drum in my ear. Sometimes it's about 10 beats per second (really fast), sometimes its about 1 beat per second and sporadic, but it's fairly constant now.

 

[techs]

Originally posted by: manlymatt83
Went to the doctor today. There was no infection. He was actually concerned because while I was there and he was looking in my ear I kept telling him that my ear was popping but he couldn't see anything. He thought it might be fluid built up so he gave me major decongestants until he saw I had hypertension and then said I couldn't take them. So then he told me to take a Claritin. It actually made it worse in my opinion.

He actually ended up testing me for a stroke (I'm 26) because of the symptoms I was describing and the high blood pressure history. Apparently that was okay. But scared the **** out of me.

He wanted me to see an ENT tomorrow but because of the way my insurance works I have to wait a few days because I have to see someone in Massachusetts and I'm in New Jersey for the weekend.

I hope this isn't anything serious. I'd say the problem has gotten worse and is pretty constant now. It's like someone playing a bass drum in my ear. Sometimes it's about 10 beats per second (really fast), sometimes its about 1 beat per second and sporadic, but it's fairly constant now.

I wouldn't get overly concerned if you have no history of this type of problem.
I found out that ent's are really the doctors to see for this type of problem. Mine told me that it can take a while for all the fluid to actually drain out after an infection. It may just be a matter of patience.
Good luck.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Tumah?