[DelusionsDaily]

This is the strangest sensation...it feels like my ear is plugged with lots of ringing and sometimes it almost sounds like waves crashing or a swishing in my ear. I don't think I have gotten any fluid in my ear so I don't know what is causing this. I woke up like this yesterday morning as well. I'm guessing sinus drainage is blocking my ear but I have no idea. No health insurance so won't go see someone unless it becomes painful...which it's not...yet.

[bugbear83]

God that must be so weird... Ringing in the ears can drive people cuckoo!

Since you're sans insurance, I'd give over the counter ear wax removal treatments a shot. They should come with a bit of mineral oil to soften up the wax and then a rubber bulb suctions it out.

Worth a shot anyway.

[Rose76]

It could be swelling of the lining of the eustachian canal. That's the tube going from behind your eardrum down toward the inside of your throat. It can swell up, just like the internal lining of your nose when you get a cold.

The same medicines that relieve nasal congestion can relieve swelling inside the eustachian canal. I would try taking pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) 60 mg of the regular kind. (The generic is as good as the brand name, IMO.)

It could be related to a head cold, middle ear infection or seasonal allergies. An anti-histamine, like Benadryl might help, if it's allergy related. A nasal spray decongestant like Afrin might help.

Sucking on hard candy, or chewing gum, might help. Did you ever fly in an airplane? If so, is it like the weird ear sensation that you might have gotten when the plane was coming down?

If you happen to have any steroid nasal spray, like Flonase, that might help. Flonase is OTC, now, and available in generic version. You don't want to get too involved with steroid products, if this is due to an infection.

Getting in the shower and gradually getting the water as cool as you can stand it might help for a little while. Physical exercise (like climbing stairs) might help by pulling blood out of the eus. canals to increase blood in the muscles. That would only help briefly, if it worked, but it would clarify the cause.

Putting a cold pack against your neck, right behind your earlobe might help. Eating very hot chili might help.

If you get feverish, then it's probably from an infection. Do you have a history of sinus infection? Does lying down make it worse?

There's also the possibility that it could be "tinnitus," which would likely be a permanent condition.

Ear wax accumulation is not what I would bet on, but it's a possibility.

Like you said, without pain or fever, I wouldn't get too alarmed. It sounds positively exasperating. I hope it goes away. I hope you can pin down what it might be.

[DelusionsDaily]

Thank you guys. It's just really annoying no pain or fever. I'm pretty sure it is an allergy/sinus thing. It's was pretty sudden onset correlating with high tree pollen and mold here. It's just frustrating and annoying to feel different on one side versus the other. If it gets painful I will hit urgent care. Right now, it just feels blocked, ringing, I think it has reduced hearing in that ear for now. It's really bad after I wake in AM. Been taking a generic pseudoephedrine. It is similar to the plane landing but even when It pops it doesnt go away. I have a masal spray I'll use, it was prescription a little while back. See how it goes.

[DelusionsDaily]

Turns out it probably was ear wax, i used a home solution today and it is at least somewhat unplugged. At least I am able to hear out of both ears again. I use the solution another day or two just to be sure it is cleaned out enough that it won't happen again in another week.

[MikalMansion]

Originally Posted by DelusionsDaily

This is the strangest sensation...it feels like my ear is plugged with lots of ringing and sometimes it almost sounds like waves crashing or a swishing in my ear. I don't think I have gotten any fluid in my ear so I don't know what is causing this. I woke up like this yesterday morning as well. I'm guessing sinus drainage is blocking my ear but I have no idea. No health insurance so won't go see someone unless it becomes painful...which it's not...yet.

At this very moment aswell I am back-and-fourth experiencing a ringing, high pitch frequency sound. (Left ear)

What if , what just if.

You know how when you travel to places of higher elevations the pressure affects your ears aswell.

What if that ringing sensation is your physical human body going through some sort of energy shift.

Moving up a level.

And yes, I understand allergies such and such and such and such.

But sometimes the timing when things like this happen

Firmly makes me believe it's more than just pressure or allergies.

Hope this helps or gives ya some new insight.

[DelusionsDaily]

Well, my mom thinks I should see an ENT, she thinks my sinus stuff(certainly related to allergies) and the ear blockage(albeit partial now) are related and affecting my hearing. I think it's just her excuse to talk about me getting a job and insurance. I guess when I was 4 she thinks I had tubes and she just wants me to be sure I'm not going to have more serious issues.

[Rose76]

It could be "tinnitus." That's a permanent condition. Here's a link:

Tinnitus Overview - Mayo Clinic

I happen to have it. In my case, I can hear my heartbeat in my left ear. My doctor said it's probably an enlarged blood vessel near my ear drum. It does sound a lot like swooshing.

I got sent to an ENT specialist and an audiologist. They did a CT scan of my head because sometimes it's a sign that a person is headed for a stroke. My CT scan was fine. I've had it for over 5 years. There's absolutely nothing that can be done about it. It's not dangerous.

Were you ever exposed to loud noises? That can be a cause.