Should I go to urgent care?

[sugarbear]

My ear has been "popping" for a few days not, but it's not like when you're on an airplane or at elevation. At first, I thought there might be water in it, but it's been at least four days now. It doesn't hurt, and it's not constant, but a few times a day, for a few minutes each time, it's a SOUND- not a feeling- that's driving me crazy. 

Urgent care? Ignore?

[smock]

I don't think urgent care will do much. I had the same feeling for weeks after an ear infection as an adult, and while it was annoying as hell, my doctor couldn't really do anything about it. I just had to wait it out.

Maybe try an antihistamine to dry up your sinuses?

[RoxMonster]

So I had this last month. I even posted about it here lol. Well I had gone to urgent care and got an antibiotic for an ear infection, but folks here said it likely might not have even been an infection. Overall, the antibiotic didn't do too much for it. What HAS helped is taking Flonase and Allegra every day. I do have allergies but typically only take the meds in spring/fall (though we have had some up and down weather here this past month). But I started taking them daily, and I have noticed vast improvement in my ears. Something you might consider trying.

[mcmel]

This happens to me sometimes and it usually is trapped water. Have you tried putting alcohol in your ear?

[circa1978]

Oh, weird. That was happening to me last week but seems to mostly cleared up. I didn’t even think it might be an infection. Huh.

[dock]

Do you have pets? This happened to me once and it was a dog hair in my ear at just the right (wrong) angle.

[icedcoffee]

I’d go to my PCP or CVS minute clinic for them to take a look. I punctured my eardrum as a kid and this sounds like that.

[alleinesein]

Get some debrox(or any ear wax cleaner) and try cleaning out your ear to see if it goes away. There could be something in there that is causing the 'sound'.

[HRH Queen Dick I, Orphan]

It could be the sound of humanity weeping because we are living in the end times.

[rubytue]

Feb 10, 2020 20:56:35 GMT -5 alleinesein said:

Get some debrox(or any ear wax cleaner) and try cleaning out your ear to see if it goes away. There could be something in there that is causing the 'sound'.

I went to urgent care once for something similar (combined with inner ear dizziness). And this was was they did, cleaned wax out of my ear, and then Flonase. I was so embarrassed, but it was so refreshing.

[isabel]

Feb 10, 2020 21:15:58 GMT -5 HRH Queen Dick I, Orphan said:

It could be the sound of humanity weeping because we are living in the end times.

Seems like the sound would be more constant.

[macmars45]

I went and saw my pcp for something similar last summer. Flonase cleared it up for me.

[liverandonions]

Get a nasal decongestant and once your spray it, sort of tip your head back and towards that ear.

[sugarbear]

Feb 10, 2020 20:50:09 GMT -5 dock said:

Do you have pets? This happened to me once and it was a dog hair in my ear at just the right (wrong) angle.

No pets! And that sounds bizarre!

[sugarbear]

Feb 10, 2020 21:27:21 GMT -5 isabel said:

Feb 10, 2020 21:15:58 GMT -5 HRH Queen Dick I, Orphan said:

It could be the sound of humanity weeping because we are living in the end times.

Seems like the sound would be more constant.

I definitely considered this.

[Deleted]

Feb 10, 2020 20:50:09 GMT -5 dock said:

Do you have pets? This happened to me once and it was a dog hair in my ear at just the right (wrong) angle.

My husband has twice now gotten a dog hair lodged in his foot at just the right angle that it actually caused him quite a bit of pain. Crazy how those little hairs can get in somewhere and cause pain like that.

OP I'd probably try a decongestant before heading to your PCP or UC. Even if it were an ear infection, most are viral and antibx wouldn't help anyway.

[dock]

Feb 11, 2020 7:18:51 GMT -5 @sameoldstory said:

Feb 10, 2020 20:50:09 GMT -5 dock said:

Do you have pets? This happened to me once and it was a dog hair in my ear at just the right (wrong) angle.

My husband has twice now gotten a dog hair lodged in his foot at just the right angle that it actually caused him quite a bit of pain. Crazy how those little hairs can get in somewhere and cause pain like that.

OP I'd probably try a decongestant before heading to your PCP or UC. Even if it were an ear infection, most are viral and antibx wouldn't help anyway.

I’ve had that a few times too. It’s like a weird (painful!) electric zap feeling.

[lessel]

I had something similar awhile back and I was getting on a flight in a few days. I emailed my doc because I didn't want severe ear pain on the flight and she said to use Afrin the day before the flight and the day of the flight. Worked like a charm. You can't use that stuff for more than a couple days in a row though.

[mrssandro]

Not urgent care worthy. (Since UC is hella expensive) Can you go to your regular doctor? I agree it's likely sinus. I just had crazy cold/sinus bug and I just doubled my nose sprays for morning and night and drank lots of hot tea with honey.

[calamity]

Also had this, and Flonase cleared it up for me.

I hope you are feeling better soon!

[Nonny]

Usually when my ears are doing weird things it's because of wax, allergies, or because (and this is gross) I've got a build up of tonsil stones.

I try to take inventory of how things feel and the general state of the weather and pollen. Crackling sound and/or fullness usually means wax. Pain means tonsil stones. Fluttering feeling (like my ear drum is twitching) is allergies. A lot of times wax and allergies can coincidence, and I need to treat both.

If I do have to get a doctor's help with the wax things go easier if I've already done debrox myself first.