My ears are driving me crazy.

Raiden333

You know how sometimes when you change altitude or yawn your ears do that crackle-pop thing for a second or two? Ever since I woke up this morning, my ears have been doing that every time I move my jaw at all or breathe. I took a really really hot shower to try to clear it up with steam earlier, and I took some sinus medicine about an hour ago, and nothing's working so far. I don't think it's anything seriously wrong like a sinus infection, because it doesn't really hurt, it's just annoying... But even so, I can't go see a doctor till Monday.

Any tips for making this go away?

Dante256

May be a blocked Eustachian tube. Go read the Wikipedia link and see if you think so too. If not, ignore what I'm saying.

Decongestants might help. You might also try taking a really hot cup of water, placing it on a table, and then putting one ear in the cup (don't put so much water in that your ear touches the water) such that the cup is sealed. Stay like this for a few minutes; when you take the cup away the slight pressure differential should unclog it a bit. Repeat as you like.

Raiden333

Thanks... The Wikipedia thing sounds like what I have. I tried the cup of water thing for awhile, but no luck. I might just have to wait it out, at least till Monday.

Tav

I've had this before. I went to my doctor and she syringed my ears but it did nothing, and she couldn't think of anything else to do that might stop it. It just goes and comes back randomly.

cfgauss

I get this sometimes, too. Nice to know what is actually causing it.

Wikipedia wrote:

Some people are born with the ability to contract just these muscles voluntarily, similar to people who can wiggle their ears.

Well, there go the crazy ear-powers I thought I had. Although it's good to know I'm not going to break my ears doing that or something.

Æthelred

Your ears are full of filthy, filthy wax. Probably. Get your ears syringed at the doctor's; unless you have to pay for that in the US as well..

Raiden333

I'll make an appointment on Monday, since they're still popping. I tried Q-tipping them first thing the other day, got lots of wax out but didn't help.

Seg

Tell the doctor the symptoms and let them take a look for themself. It might be a very large ball of wax past where the Q-Tip can get at it, but it might be something else.

There is a product you can buy in the store that helps your ear wax clear up a bit. Check a local pharmacy.

The product I am talking about is a, use daily for about a week, type of product.

Also, it might clear up tonight, that doesn't mean the problem is gone, it just means it won't bother you for a few days, or until the heat in your room where you sleep goes back up again. So see the doctor even if it seems to clear up.