So earlier this week, I was sick with a nasty cold and fever. I woke up one morning a couple of days later, and my left ear was plugged and sore. My ears are prone to excessive wax buildup anyway, and this -combined with what I assumed was an infection - blocked things up pretty good. The next night I awoke with a great deal of pain in my ear, and the left side of my head was getting sore, along with my neck and throat.

I went to see my doctor, and because I got in on short notice, I had to see the intern. She looked in my ear, said, "Yep, it's blocked up solid. I can't see anything in there. It does look a little red. I'll have to take your word for it and assume it's an infection."

She proceeded to prescribe me an antiobiotic drop. I asked if she could relieve the pressure in there for me by draining the wax with the syringe (A procedure i've had done there dozens of times since I was a kid) and she said they could, but the nurse wasn't in today. Apparently doctors don't want to do the yucky stuff. She said I could call later in the week and come in to get them drained if I still felt I needed it.

over the next few days, I used the drops and also put some olive oil in my ear at night to try and loosen the wax. As you can imagine, the plugged ear and pressure were getting to be quite irritating. Nothing was working. I began to notice that the sounds amplified inside my head by the blockage were taking on a weird watery sound. For example, when I scratched my head, it sounded all watery and chirpy inside my skull, on the left side where the blocked ear is.

I had to perform Friday night, and I decided enough was enough - I needed some kind of relief. So I went to a clinic and had my ear syringed. Indeed, there was some serious wax. I felt better, and I could hear a little better, but my ear was still plugged some. I assumed this was due to the infection inside my ear.

When I left the clinic, I again noticed that my hearing had improved. But everything I hear now in my left ear has a watery, chirpy sound to it. Sometimes it sounds like a slight tremelo and echo. If there is a constant sound, like a motor, or a loud, heavy song playing - it has this sound like a running brook.

I think it's improved a little since friday, but i'm not entirely sure that I just haven't gotten a little used to it.

Has anyone experienced this before with an ear infection, etc?

In 2001 I had a major chunk of ear wax dislodged from my ear canal, but I never experienced the watery sound you speak of. I just had impaired hearing in that ear. Keep flushing that fucker and hopefully that will resolve your problem. If it persists I would suggest antibiotics. Good luck with that, my experience sucked big time.

Is there a reason why you haven't contacted your doctor about it?

he did go to the doctor did't he? they just didn't want to get their hands icky with that gross human stuff.

I mean since he had his ear flushed -- his symptoms are different. If I recall correctly, when you start hearing different sounds in your head, something may have affected your eardrum.

Hopefully the crabs haven't gone to his brain. I don't remember where that is from, but it makes me laugh everytime.

Oh yeah, sucks about the ear, man.

It's just the little people that live in your head have built a new house next to his cochlea.

Write them a note explaining that their new house has blocked up your ear and post it to them by sticking it up your nostril.

Isn't there a big music festival there?

My 2 bit medical advice for whatever it's worth:

Go back to the doctor after the wax is out and you are feeling better from the cold/infection/whatever. Just cause if the changes in hearing last, you should get a hearing test and have someone make sure there's not fluid behind the ear drum. A lot of times people will have that after an infection, and it clears up on its own. But if it doesn't there are some things your doctor can try.

Z's got some stuff that I think is called "Debrox" and it breaks up the ear wax so you can wash it away yourself. It's pretty awesome. Check your pharmacy.

thank you for bringing my cerumen-displacing technique onto this board.

when that seal finally breaks and you can hear properly again, its one of the fucking best feelings in the world

youre lucky you didn't get a bout of vertigo because of this. its awful

Interesting. I don't know if this is available in Canada, though.

I actually found out about this through this board, and it is indeed awesome.

I ran into this problem a month ago. I too collect ear wax like a pack rat collects trash. I woke up one morning and I had completely lost hearing in my right ear. I knew from experience that my ears needed irrigating. I had the syringe treatment like you speak of, but I still had trouble hearing out of my right ear due to the eardrum being inflammed from an infection.

I would take the cycle of anti-biotics and maybe try some alcohol to dry out your ear? If this doesn't subside in a week, I'd head back to the doctor.

And yeah, splates, it's fucking awesome when you get that ear unclogged. I have to turn down the TV and stereo now because I can hear so well.

And you people wonder why some Americans don't want socialized medical care?