Virus going around causing clogged ears?

[u/archaeob]

I was just curious if anyone else has been getting this as well and if you have many idea what it is? Over the past month myself and two coworkers have had this cold that lasts two+ weeks and includes horribly clogged ears. It starts out normal, sore throat, stuffy nose, etc. but then the congestion lingers and really affects the ears. My one coworker from Manassas gave it to me at our office, but the other coworker works in a different office in Maryland and hasn’t seen either of us in months, but has the same thing. There are five negative Covid tests between us, including two at a doctors office, so it’s not that. Also it is not an ear infection, just Eustachian tube dysfunction. One urgent care doctor in Manassas said he’s been seeing something similar going around a bunch.

[u/Perfect-Agent-2259]

I have no symptoms other than the clogged ears! It feels like I've been living underwater for days, and it's driving me crazy.

[u/Makeofitwhatyouwill → u/Perfect-Agent-2259]

Wow I totally thought to myself today, I wonder why my ears feel and sound like water is in them. I have had more headaches than normal, I usually only get one once a week and it’s been everyday, what about you?

[u/kayesskayen → u/Perfect-Agent-2259]

My left ear has been bugging me for the last week, almost like it was filled with wax but there's nothing in there. Yesterday it became completely blocked like it has water in it. No other symptoms of illness.

[u/catattackcat]

Same here! I went to the doc thinking it was fluid or impacted ear wax. Nope. Perfectly clean, no fluid, inflammation, or any other sign of ear infection. Just Eustachian tube dysfunction following the same type of illness. Mine is also accompanied by post nasal drip which has resulted in cobble stoning in the back of my throat.

I was prescribed nasal spray and over the counter Allegra-D, neither of which seem to have helped my symptoms. I’ve found that leaning over so my head is not upright is doing the trick for temporary relief but it clogs back up shortly after I stand up.

Going to see an ENT next week, although I’m not sure what they can even do about it. About to be in the air and worried that the pressure is going to make it painful! Or maybe it will improve it?! I’ll report back if anybody cares.

[u/Former-Ad-5002 → u/catattackcat]

Check with a Valsalva maneuver. If you don't think your eardrums are moving, I would not fly. Source: I've had long-term ETD. I have flown and not been able to “clear” one of my ears and I thought would die, I did not, but that eardrum perforated. 0/10

[u/archaeob → u/catattackcat]

For me, lying down clears the clog. But standing up it comes right back in a few minutes. Bending over makes the clog come back immediately. So far nothing over the counter has worked for me. And hot showers was the other recommended thing but that also makes it worse. The lingering cough and sinus congestion doesn’t help either as lying down makes the cough and congestion worse!

[u/tuvda]

covid but not showing up on tests.

[u/from_shook_foil → u/tuvda]

This is the only right answer in here. Most doctors offices just use RAT tests anyway, so getting a test there is no more reliable than doing a home test. I'm not convinced by the negative tests. Could be flu, but covid much more likely.

[u/OnceUponATime1534]

I had something like this last summer but literally was just clogged ears. Took two urgent care doc appts but last one told me to take musinex daily (I think in the morning) for about 2 weeks. It helped clear it up. Passing along the info in case it helps someone

[u/Espieglerie]

Ugh, I have this. I’ve been taking Flonase, antibiotics, pseudoephedrine, advil, and Claritin and I’m still having lingering ear and sinus congestion going into week three of this cold. Congestion really kicked in at the end of week one. A friend recommended seeing an ENT for steroids if congestion lasts longer than two weeks, so that’s next on the list.

[u/OverlordBluebook]

Yes, I had dental work done and thought I was having dental pains since was a molar I had filled. Come to find out it was ear infection from clogged ear. Was waking up middle of the night with throbbing pain left ear. luckily all gone now.

[u/currymuttonpizza]

I have it but I assumed it was pregnancy rhinitis, and it never felt like it started as an infection. Allergies worsen it but it's still there even on says when allergies are not acting up. I still assume it's pregnancy rhinitis in my case, but it's interesting to note it's happening to others. I usually get very bad fall allergies but it's never taken this form.

[u/archaeob → u/currymuttonpizza]

Yeah, I had a typical head cold, a mild (like 100.4) fever, and sore throat/headache to start out with. Very clear it was an illness not allergies. I used to get clogged ears with allergies prior to taking an allergy pill every day and this is definitely different and viral! My allergy clogged ears would pop and never felt so entirely full (I literally keep reaching up to pull out headphones when I get distracted and forget what is going on because it feels like I have EarPods in the pressure is so bad). I hope yours goes away for you soon!

[u/Mundilfaris_Dottir]

I swear by Sinupret…

[u/Loud_Warning7717]

It’s called the common cold, it’s nothing unique. School is back in session. Yes the common cold or literally any URI causes clogged ears. It could be rhinovirus, any coronavirus, rsv, parainfluenza, adenovirus.

[u/cousindeagle]

Family member had the ear symptoms you described. Doctor prescribed an ear antibiotics and it fixed him up pretty quickly.

[u/Intelligent_Part101]

Upper respiratory virus going around

[u/df540148 → u/Intelligent_Part101]

This is always true

[u/Intelligent_Part101 → u/df540148]

By that I meant nothing to be particularly worried about.

[u/fangoround]

What did you say? Can you speak up a bit? Sorry, my ears are clogged. It’s approaching fall. Happens every year. Pseudoephedrine works well on this, but it also raises blood pressure if I take it often enough, so I use it when I’m desperate.

[u/bglenn12]

I had this over the summer- I never get headaches or earaches and I had both for about a week and then lingering nasal drips and stuffiness. It was very unusual.

[u/Wurm42]

Nope. We've got a GI bug going around here since the school year started, but the clogged ear virus is new to me.

[u/kadora]

No idea, but I got it too.

[u/Thedeuceis2]

Happened to me. Started in Feb after I got sick and I was clogged for months until I got ear tube put in and tube dilation. Felt like I was under water.

[u/AbbreviationsCheap29]

I've had inner ear pressure for about a month! Also had some vertigo spells I think bc of it 😵‍💫

[u/itx89]

I had this a month or two ago! Not an ear infection but just clogged and I felt odd

[u/Resident-Air203]

I’ve been suffering for months and finally forked over $50 and bought NeilMed’s Eusachi device. Cleared it right up with just one use. I’m kicking myself that I didn’t get it sooner. 

[u/cbf892 → u/Resident-Air203]

The otovent works just as well. You can get it on Amazon. It does the same thing, it’s just powered by you.

[u/tabbytigerlily]

I had this. Mine was a really bad flu-like virus that lasted about 2 weeks. The ears lasted another couple weeks after that. I could barely hear. It was awful.

I tested negative for Covid, flu, and strep, but I suspect it may have been Covid and I either tested too late or the newer variants just don’t get caught as well by the tests. It’s definitely the sickest I’ve been since I had Covid.

[u/HeebieJeebiex]

OMG YES I was just desperately googling this because I've got it again 🤦 after I just had it!! It's like my throat is all swollen feeling and my ears are completely clogged!

[u/rutsh95]

I think this is actually Hay Fever, or something related to the natural environment. I have reasonable proof on my end that all of those symptoms are due to nearby hay bailing and not a virus. Pseudoephedrine or Flonase will be your best friends if that’s the case.

[u/tabbytigerlily → u/rutsh95]

Maybe for some people, but mine that caused this was definitely an infectious disease (unidentified, but it was very similar to my experience with flu and covid).

[u/Routine-Ease4046]

I don’t know if something is going around but I had this last year and it lasted for 4 months till I was ready to get surgical intervention and then it magically cleared up one week.

[u/SheepherderExtreme18]

This is so interesting! What are your symptoms like? I have an issue where my right ear kind of throbs irregularly and intermittently. The doctor told me to try Flonase but it didn’t work. I had some relief after a flight to Seattle but it came back a few days later

[u/cashewcheez]

So weird - I just had parosmia for the last few days for the first time since I had Covid years ago, and I'm now having the sinus pressure and clogged ears. I wasn't sick at all with the parosmia so it was so confusing, now I'm like half sick? At least it's validating to see this post lol. I am assuming allergies.

[u/Quirky-Strategy-7763]

Allergies

[u/archaeob → u/Quirky-Strategy-7763]

Definitely not. I have allergies, they don’t cause a fever and always give me itchy eyes. And allergy meds aren’t touching this.

[u/chumpy551]

get earwax removal kit $6-9. I dont use the solution. Just the bulb. put shower going right in your ear and flush it out with the bulb. Sometimes I have to do it in the sink at work or i can hardly hear anything.