I've cleaned thoroughly for wax and everything and theres nothing there. I thought i might be losing my hearing due to me listening to my iPod all the time but i don't think thats it because it feels like its blocked up with something or something is swollen inside of my ear. it hurts when i yawn and things like that. could i have an ear infection? what would happen if i didn't treat the infection?
205951
You need to see a doctor. If you leave an ear infection untreated the eardrum could rupture. This is very painful, and the scarring will contribute to hearing loss. You could have a sinus infection or allergies as well.
113591
Yes, you probably ruptured your ear drum.. or have a canal infection from scraping your ear drum, go and be seen ASAP! I just got over it.. it's nasty!
252862
A perforated eardrum is V painful, but should if R sensible & careful, recover in time.\nThe itching is good, means it's healing.\nYour body may produce extra mucus 2 aid healing & this will make your ear feel full/blocked.\n\nCan U not try a decongestant?  \nWorth a go if it helps eleviate that stuffed-up-head feeling.  \nU take it easy, rest up as much as possible & I hope U feel better soon.
662873
1.  Try blow drying the ear gently.  It could be trapped water.\n\nor\n\n2.  Try a drop of rubbing alcohol in the ear a couple of times a day and give it a few days to work\n\nIf all else fails, it could be that soft wax has blocked the ear canal and it needs to be irrigated.  You can buy flush kits at the pharmacy, but it may be better to see your doctor
30508
Sounds like your cold got "in your ear".  Glad you are seeing the doctor.  You may need antibiotics to clear this up.  If left untreated, it could potentially effect your hearing.  Sounds like you caught it in time.  (No pun intended).  ; )
538217
I believe I would try to go to the doctor and explain that you did have what you thought was a self-diagnosed ear infection and stayed home for two weeks because of it.  It may cost you the price of an office visit but it may be worth it to save your grades.  I would think twice before taking any more time off of school for any reason, even if you feel sick in the future.  Let your teachers see that you are glad to be there and that you are going to be there, regardless.  Maybe if they see you exerting some effort, they will be less likely to request a doctor's note next time.  Good Luck.
633806
It may be a sign of tinnitus, a ear infection, that causes hear loss, it may just be in your head, you should defiently stay away from loud noises, if you have a MP3 player, IPOD, or any other electronic device that is in direct contact to your ear try to turn it down, at loud concerts, use semitransment earplugs. Get your doctor involved, get a checkup.\n\nClick on the link below to find out more about tinnitus.\n\n(i deserve a best answer for this)
365032
It is a ear infection. Don't worry though. Go to the doctors and tell them what you said here. I get them all the time. They suck and can be pain-full but if you see your doctor they can give you pain reviler it will go away and you wont have to worry about it anymore. \nGood luck
288652
This could be a symptom of an inner ear infection. See your doctor immediately.
451600
inner ear infection?  Get to a doctor tomorrow!!!
263970
You probaly just got a rare ear clogging. Trust me it happens to a lot of people a cure is to stay by a fire or go see your doctor.
485762
I had clogged up ears last year and it hurt. It was an ear infection, ehich is a very simple problem. The doctor just prescribes antibiotics and that's it. Ear drops won't work for an ear infection. Go to the doctor.
256491
You could have an infection in the tube between your ear and throat.  I had exactly the same symptoms and was eating cough drops like crazy to soothe my throat.  I was at the doc's office for something else and mentioned it.  She looked in my ears, nose, throat and at the swollen node.  She swabbed my throat but it came back negative for strep.  But, she said my eardrum had some liquid behind it and thought it was an Eustachian tube infection.  Sometimes if you have post nasal drip from allergies you'll get a sore throat, but not the swollen gland behind the ear. She put me on a 7 day course of antibiotics and it all went away.
478469
That just means your head is stuffy and your ears are plugged it could lead to an ear infection but its not one yet.  If you swallow and it hurts or you hiccup and it hurts thats the first sign, then they hurt all the time, then they leak clear liquid.
184614
Did he look in your ears at all?  Because it sounds like to me that you have an inner ear infection.  Inner ear infections can knock your equilibrium (balance) out of whack, and causes dizziness, nausea, vomiting.  The headaches can also be associated with an ear infection...the diarrhea is what I am not sure about.  You having no energy and being tired is definitely directly related to your pregnancy but is also affecting you double time because you are sick.  I would definitely go BACK to you doctor and have him look in your ears and see what's going on there....if they are clear and good, then it sounds like you may have the touch of a stomach bug going around.  Your symptoms are hard to pinpoint b/c some are directly related to pregnancy, some sound very likely to be your ear, but yet some sound like it may be a viral thing.  It's hard to tell without looking at you.  But make sure that you are pushing oral fluids as much as you can to keep from getting dehydrated; diarrhea can dehydrate you very very quickly and that is not a good thing, especially being pregnant.  Rest as much as you can, push those oral fluids, and get back to the doctor and tell him that you need some relief!!!!  If your ears look good, he should at least prescribe you an antibiotic as a prophylactic to ward off any secondary infections or illnesses...and goodness sake...tell him to give you some phenergan already (phenergan is an anti-nausea) medication that is totally safe to take during pregnancy...and it works wonders!!!  Good luck :)
388761
You don't state whether you have been prescribed anything by a doctor for your condition.\n\nIf you have been diagnosed properly, as I will assume you have, since you have the medical terminology of your condition, then you should have been prescribed antibiotics and an antihystamine by the doctor.\n\nYou need to dry up the fluids in your ear, and antihystamines will do that.  Also, there is an infection there that needs to be treated with antibiotics.\n\nI have had chronic ear infections for 20 years.  I am very careful about getting water in my ears, and I can avoid getting ear infections by staying on an OTC medication that helps dry up my sinus passages.\n\nI am recently recovered from acute bronchitis and sinusitis, and was lucky enough to avoid the expected ear infections.\n\nSee a doctor immediately.  Hearing loss can happen if prolonged conditions are not treated.
602270
Symptoms\n\nYou may notice a build-up of wax by:\n\n    * having increasing difficulty hearing\n    * pain in your ear or ears\n    * hearing a noise or ringing in your ears (tinnitus)\n    * an awareness of something blocking your ears\n    * temporary deafness after swimming or having a bath or shower \n\nCauses\n\nThe skin cells lining our outer ear canals include tiny glands, similar to sweat glands, which produce wax. The point seems to be that this acts as a protective layer, which traps dust and other particles which get into the ear. The wax slowly works its way to the outside, taking the trapped dirt and dust with it.\n\nMost people's ears clear the wax, which probably comes off on our pillows and towels etc., at a rate which means that it does not build up. Some people may, at some stages in their lives produce wax at a faster rate. Other people have either one or both ear canals that is narrow, or that is at an angle which slows the natural passage of the wax. In these people the wax builds up.\n\nThe wax may eventually block off the ear canal all together. If this happens, hearing is reduced, and there is an increased likelihood that stagnation may lead to an infection building up behind the obstruction.\nDiagnosis\n\nThe doctor or nurse will look in your ears. We all produce wax, so what they are looking for is evidence of the wax actually blocking off the ear canal.\n\nDeafness can be caused by other problems in the ear, and if there is not enough wax to explain your problem, the doctor will be able to discuss other possible causes for your symptoms, eg fluid collecting on the other side of the ear drum when the tube which drains from the middle ear to the throat (the eustachian tube) has become blocked, as after a cold.\nTreatment\n\nIf you think you have ear wax blocking your ears, either buy some wax softening drops, from the pharmacy, or use a couple of drops of warmed (body temperature) olive oil into your ear two or three times a day, for a few days.\n\nAfter three or four days arrange to see someone regarding having your ears washed out. The nurse at your doctor's office will usually be able to do this for you.\n\nIf you have ear pain, a temperature, or are otherwise concerned, you should speak to or see your doctor sooner.\n\nIf you know that you have a hole in your ear drum (a perforation), you should not put drops in your ear without having first discussed it with your doctor or a competent medical advisor.\nPrevention\n\n    * Do not try to clean out your ears by using a cotton bud. (Ear Nose and Throat specialists sometimes say "You shouldn't stick anything in your ear that's any smaller than your elbow!") This may merely act like a ram rod, and could damage the ear drum.\n    * It may help to wear ear plugs if you work in a particularly dusty environment.\n    * If you keep getting ears blocked with wax, it may be worth using a couple of drops of olive oil into each ear once or twice a week.