Blocked Ear Feeling When Lying Down

[LukeYoung]

Over the last few days, my ears have been feeling "blocked," especially my left ear, which has a smaller canal. My right ear also feels blocked at times, but it tends to clear after I sit up for a few minutes. I am scheduled for an ear cleaning next week, so this might just be due to wax buildup. However, I am wondering if anyone else has experienced something similar. The sensation usually improves after a few hours as the day goes on.

When lying down, I would estimate my hearing is reduced by about 50% in my right ear and 70% in my left ear. Additionally, I feel some inflammation behind my jaw, just below my ear.

 

[LukeYoung]

I think it might be TMJ-related since it goes away throughout the day and improves with ibuprofen.

 

[Luman]

For decades, I've had that happen in either ear, but lately, it's usually the right one. It used to last hours to days, but for the past dozen or so years, it usually ends after a few minutes. I have no idea what causes it.

 

[LukeYoung]

For decades, I've had that happen in either ear, but lately, it's usually the right one. It used to last hours to days, but for the past dozen or so years, it usually ends after a few minutes. I have no idea what causes it.

It just started for me. My right ear has stopped, but now it's the left ear. It's very strange. I can't hear at least 50% out of it when I wake up or while I'm sleeping.

 

[ZFire]

I sometimes get the ear fullness when lying on either my right or left side. No hearing reduction, but I do notice a slight increase in sound sensitivity after getting up.

It's nothing I'm worried about... It's just another change I've noticed since my condition worsened in 2021.

 

[LukeYoung]

I sometimes get the ear fullness when lying on either my right or left side. No hearing reduction, but I do notice a slight increase in sound sensitivity after getting up.

It's nothing I'm worried about... It's just another change I've noticed since my condition worsened in 2021.

It feels very strange to me, but I understand it is just another thing to deal with. It might go away, or it might not.

 

[in_the_shadows]

Could it be Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD)? I experience the same clogged sensation when lying on one side, especially when my Eustachian tubes are not functioning properly, such as after an infection. When I wake up, I have to open my mouth widely and swallow to unblock them, similar to what you would do on an airplane.

 

[LukeYoung]

Could it be Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD)? I experience the same clogged sensation when lying on one side, especially when my Eustachian tubes are not functioning properly, such as after an infection. When I wake up, I have to open my mouth widely and swallow to unblock them, similar to what you would do on an airplane.

It might be due to Eustachian tube dysfunction, but it's hard to say for sure. I can usually open my Eustachian tubes on command, but doing so doesn't seem to provide relief in this case.

I am scheduled to have my ears cleaned next week, so the issue could also be a combination of inflammation and earwax. The affected ear canal is much narrower compared to my other ear, and I generally need to have it cleaned fairly often.

 

[LukeYoung]

For decades, I've had that happen in either ear, but lately, it's usually the right one. It used to last hours to days, but for the past dozen or so years, it usually ends after a few minutes. I have no idea what causes it.

I had some wax removal done, but now both ears feel blocked. I'll see how things are in the morning.

 

[adpolandam]

Has someone ever experienced the sensation of their ear being "sucked" into the pillow?

 

[LukeYoung]

Has someone ever experienced the sensation of their ear being "sucked" into the pillow?

Do you mean you experience fullness when lying down? Is it similar to pressure changes?

I didn't experience actual fullness; it just felt strange since it had been blocked for so long.

 

[adpolandam]

Do you mean you experience fullness when lying down? Is it similar to pressure changes?

No. I would compare my ears to removing the suction cup from a windshield...