Im a 31 year old female and for years since I was a teenager I have suffered a wide range of ear issues and symptoms.
Most of the time these are bearable and I can cope but when I get a cold like I did a few days ago and have any kind of nasal or throat congestion, my ears get 100x worse.
I will try to describe the ear sensations as best I can. All the time when driving down hills I get a build up of pressure in the ear which leads to dulled hearing and some days I am constantly having to clear them and pop them which gives me instant relief. Now here is the weird thing im concerned about.
The only successful way I can take away the pressure and pop and clear my ears is to either swallow hard or more commonly, I use my jaws. I sort of wiggle them about one side at a time and it usually always cracks and pops my ear, and im relieved. Is this normal? Ive had to do this for years, and no one I know does it- in fact they havent a clue what im talking about. What am I doing and what is happening when I do this?
Now as I said this method usually works perfectly but when ive a cold such as now it doesnt work and i cant clear my ears- and sometimes i actually make the build up of pressure or blockage worse. And this week I am panicking as for past couple of days I cannot clear and pop my left ear using my jaw as normal but the right ear is fine. I am scared there is something seriously and permanenty wrong with my left side because this is the only way I can clear them- why isnt it working? Is this due to my cold? So left ear and my ears in general with the cold feel pressure, blockage clogging, and like they need to pop- and once they do I get relief.
I also suffer from ringing and buzzing in the ears but this does not annoy me as much as the awful senstions and feelings when my ears are affected with the cold- my hearing is weird and I either cannot hear very well and things are muffled like u have cotton wool or else weirdly its like my hearing becomes suddenly too sensitive and noises are unbearable and i have to try to pop them again- what is causing this or happening?
When I do clear my ears I feel my nostril opening up sometimes too and again sometimes when ive cold, i can hear myself breathing out of that nostril.
These ear issues are so unnatural and weird and Ive never met anyone who has the same. I am on decongestants and anti-inflammtorys, anti-histmines, and antibiotics.
I am worried sick that my jaw clearing on left side wont come back especially and all of this lead to major depression and suicidal feelings in the past and this week I feel exactly the same- it makes me frustrated, angry and feeling like I dont want to live anymore like this. I cry every day.
I have been to doctors who prescribe medication but dont seem to know whats wrong as neither do any ENTs ive been too.
Does ANYONE here understand what im talking about or experienced the same and can offer any advice? Please I am desperate.
I am single and cannot work or have social life and never had a relationship due to this problem.
Thanks in advance.
