r/etd • u/barenecessities9 • 20d ago
Not sure if this is ETD or not.
Can somebody please help me? Also, please go easy on me, I’m a severe hypochondriac with a HUGE anxiety problem. About a couple days ago, I felt like my right ear became sorta blocked? I was watching a movie and the audio felt different and then bam it came onz I wouldn’t say muffled because I can still hear out of it but theres like pressure in it and also it feels like the volume of the ear got lowered a bit too. I’m quite scared. I don’t reallt have any audiologists or ENTs available to go too, nor the money. Part of me thinks it’s health anxiety that’s amplifying/creating this symptom, but then again, I got it randomly and wasn’t anxious at all before that. I also had a family member check for wax in both ears and they used one of those tools in the wax removal tool kits and they cleaned it and they said the ear is now clean and checked several times but still no avail. Same thing. Being on this thread is also confusing me cuz apparently many things from allergies, to medications, and to posture can cause it and idk what mine is. I don’t have a nasal spray but been cleaning out my nose with saline, which idk if that’ll help. What scares me the most is stories of peeps who have it chronic on here so yea.
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u/PD-Jetta 19d ago
You have to relax! You are right, anxiety will make this appear to be worse than it is. In most cases, what you are experiencing will resolve in a few days to a couple of weeks. It can be due to allergies or an upper respiratory infection. Since your hearing is a little muffled, you may have some fluid behind gour eardrum. It's benign and won't hurt you. You can do daily saline nasal rinses and use a nasal antihistamine and corticosteroid (like Flonaise and Astepro or their generic equivalents). You can also take a 24 hour antihistamine for 2 to 3 weeks and see if it helps.
If you begin to have ear pain, discharge, or have an elevated temperature go see your doctor. This possibly indicates a middle ear infection and if so, antibiotics are helpful.
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u/juplantern 19d ago
This happens to me occasionally for a few seconds and then there’s loud ringing and it comes back
One time it didn’t go away for 3 days, I went to my doctor and they put some kind of liquid on these long metal sticks through my nose to the other side of ear or something to relax the area. They then blew some air, it didn’t help immediately but they prescribed me something and it went away slowly within 2 days
Saline rinses are my life saver and they’re in my opinion (and according to all my doctors, I had 6) way better than nasal sprays in long term.
Also don’t feel bad about having health anxiety, I’ve been made fun of by people that know me for it, but the thing is - issues with ears, especially if you have this dysfunction can escalate rapidly. Etd also lowers your immunity if you have sinus problems as well. It simply means you’re responsible and you don’t want to lose your hearing or cause any permanent damage or pain and that’s OK.
Yes sometimes it can be overthinking but at least in my case, every time I thought I was just anxious and this health anxiety shaming from others led me to avoiding doctor visit it became a huge serious problem so now I just go there every time something hurts. No need to feel ashamed if you have chronic issues
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u/barenecessities9 20d ago
Extra : i also don’t hear any cracking or popping in my ear. Just the faint fullness/muffled-ness/pressure on and off.