[Another Emergency] Sudden Swishing in One Ear

[threefirefour]

I'm sorry to post another problem but this one is bad.

Twenty minutes ago I was swinging and suddenly I felt something going up and down in my right ear (my bad one). My hearing is worse in that ear but not much more impaired. I'd say 80% hearing compared to my left. It tickles behind my eardrum and it doesn't hurt yet.

My tinnitus has gotten slightly worse and my hearing is "duller". Should I call emergence services for SSHL?

Please answer quick I'm kind of scared.

 

[Aaron44126]

I've had strange feelings like this due to ETD. All sorts of things including a squirmy feeling, tingling, tickling, sloshing fluid, and poke/stabbing. Just in one ear (also my right ear). It never hurt, but it was very uncomfortable at times. When I talked to the doctors about this, they did not seem immediately concerned, so I don't think that it is an emergency. (Not a doctor myself, though...) I'll say that I never experienced any related hearing loss that I could perceive.

I don't think that there is much that can be done "immediately", other than a myringotomy to allow the fluid to drain out...

Maybe you've tried this already, but in my case, I dealt with this for several weeks and it cleared up after I took Sudafed for a few days at my GP's suggestion. (The real stuff, not "Sudafed PE".) It would probably only be a temporary fix though unless your ET starts to open and drain normally.

 

[threefirefour]

I've had strange feelings like this due to ETD. All sorts of things including a squirmy feeling, tingling, tickling, sloshing fluid, and poke/stabbing. Just in one ear (also my right ear). It never hurt, but it was very uncomfortable at times. When I talked to the doctors about this, they did not seem immediately concerned, so I don't think that it is an emergency. (Not a doctor myself, though...) I'll say that I never experienced any related hearing loss that I could perceive.

I don't think that there is much that can be done "immediately", other than a myringotomy to allow the fluid to drain out...

Maybe you've tried this already, but in my case, I dealt with this for several weeks and it cleared up after I took Sudafed for a few days at my GP's suggestion. (The real stuff, not "Sudafed PE".) It would probably only be a temporary fix though unless your ET starts to open and drain normally.

Actually funny you should mention that I visited the doctor today (Hence the earlier [Urgent] Thread) and she put me on Sudafed. I hear it can be ototoxic but I don't want to be scared of that right now. I took my first sudafed two hours ago. According to her I may have "Acute bilater Otitis Media", and I am taking Amoxycillan. She's a general so I can't learn anything about the nature of my tubes yet. Hope everything goes well I finally got a referral and will make an ENT visit tomorrow.

 

[Luman]

Something moved around in your ear, that used to happen to me periodically, I'd lose about 20% of my hearing like you did, and it always resolved itself within a few days or a week. Good luck tomorrow, I'm sure you'll be fine. Make sure to bring a list of your health issues, questions, symptoms and medications, to make the most of your visit. I'm going to an ear specialist on Friday, as well.

 

[threefirefour]

Something moved around in your ear, that used to happen to me periodically, I'd lose about 20% of my hearing like you did, and it always resolved itself within a few days or a week. Good luck tomorrow, I'm sure you'll be fine. Make sure to bring a list of your health issues, questions, symptoms and medications, to make the most of your visit. I'm going to an ear specialist on Friday, as well.

Hey thanks. Hope its perfectly fine. Have you officially been diagnosed with ETD yet?

 

[Luman]

Hey thanks. Hope its perfectly fine. Have you officially been diagnosed with ETD yet?

Thanks. I have not been diagnosed, but the place I'm going, has the expertise and equipment to do just about every test in the book, and then some. I woke up today for the first time in 3 months with no noise at all, although the T started as usual in the early afternoon at a mild to low-medium level and is still there. I was surprised and glad this morning, and like to think positive thoughts, but I have no idea what tomorrow morning will bring.

 

[threefirefour]

Thanks. I have not been diagnosed, but the place I'm going, has the expertise and equipment to do just about every test in the book, and then some. I woke up today for the first time in 3 months with no noise at all, although the T started as usual in the early afternoon at a mild to low-medium level and is still there. I was surprised and glad this morning, and like to think positive thoughts, but I have no idea what tomorrow morning will bring.

Thanks. Because our symptoms are similar, I will give you an update on what my results are when In visit an ENT.

 

[Luman]

Thanks. Because our symptoms are similar, I will give you an update on what my results are when In visit an ENT.

Thanks, I'm very interested and will do the same after my visit later in the week. Here's hoping for all the best, at your visit tomorrow!

 

[threefirefour]

Thanks, I'm very interested and will do the same after my visit later in the week. Here's hoping for all the best, at your visit tomorrow!

I hope it's tomorrow. I haven't made an appointment, and I need to schedule ASAP but they closed for the day.

 

[Luman]

I hope it's tomorrow. I haven't made an appointment, and I need to schedule ASAP but they closed for the day.

OK, good luck. If they don't have anything available immediately, tell them you're badly in need and maybe they'll squeeze you in. It won't hurt to lay it on a bit thick to get the point across, and act as nice as humanly possible to the staff and doctor.

 

[Aaron44126]

Ask to be put on the cancellation wait list if the appointment is scheduled for weeks out (normal for an ENT office)... I got in to the ENT within 2 weeks when my appointment was originally scheduled for almost 2 months out.

[Edit]
I'll also say that I noticed "activity" in my ear about three hours after I took my first Sudafed and it continued throughout the first day.

 

[GregCA]

Twenty minutes ago I was swinging and suddenly I felt something going up and down in my right ear (my bad one). My hearing is worse in that ear but not much more impaired. I'd say 80% hearing compared to my left. It tickles behind my eardrum and it doesn't hurt yet.

My tinnitus has gotten slightly worse and my hearing is "duller". Should I call emergence services for SSHL?

Didn't you say you had an ear infection and was given antibiotics? If so you probably have fluid in your middle ear, which explains the hearing loss, the "something going up and down" when you swing, etc...
Go see an ENT doc if you are worried.