My ear messes up /duringafter excercise

kaittx13
kaittx13 Posts: 88 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I am not sure if this is the right board to post on but it only happens when i work out really hard.

My left, and its always my left ear.. it feels like it is stuffed or filled with water or something. It is hard to describe the feeling but it only happens to my ear when i work out hard.

The three things I kinda think might be the cause are : (obviously i dk if they actually cause what it happening)

1. Not drinking enough water... but i always drink a lot during the day and since i have been drinking more while working out it has not helped what happens to me ear

2. maybe I am eating enough?

3. not breathing enough.. i know this might be weird but i am really bad about holding my breath while exercising

If anyone could help me prevent this or know why it happens that would be awesome.

Thanks!

Replies

  • josyjozy
    josyjozy Posts: 117 Member
    It could be those things, but it could also be an Eustachian tube dysfunction. When you exercise, your heart rate goes up and you release hormones that can cause either vasoconstiction or vasodilation (expanding or constricting blood vessels). Could be you have tiny vessels in your ear. I don't know but it might be worth a mention at your next doctors visit. Do you get dizzy when this happens?
  • dreamsofescaping
    dreamsofescaping Posts: 206 Member
    I'm only guessing here, but I have something called Chronic Dermatistis in my ears which (all day everyday) they seem like they are plugged with water if I were smart I would use the oils I was prescribed but haha that is besides the point. Anyways, your problem reminded me something the doctor told me which is try to keep water from going into the ear and wind, so maybe hope this won't sound gross but maybe sweat is getting in the ear? Or if your holding your breath then maybe it is building pressure somehow because the ears/sinus etc it is all connected.
  • petreebird
    petreebird Posts: 344 Member
    Are you using ear buds too? I've noticed if I don't breath enough and try to slow my breathing down, too slow, with the ear buds my ears kinda do the same thing. It's like the ear buds create some sort of vacuum.
  • UpEarly
    UpEarly Posts: 2,555 Member
    I have this, too! It feels like my right ear is really full/stuffy. (always my right ear, my left is always fine) It happens when I exercise hard! It bugged me to the point I finally ended up at an ENT after my regular doctor had no ideas about why it was happening. It was diagnosed as 'Patulous Eustachian Tubes'. It's uncomfortable and feels weird, but it's pretty harmless.

    Wikipedia says it's rare, but the ENT I spoke to said it's actually quite common - especially in women, and especially in women who have lost weight.

    Does this sound like what you're experiencing? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patulous_Eustachian_tube

    I would suggest getting a referral to a Ear/Nose/Throat specialist and having it looked into. It sure sounds like what I experience... but then, I'm certainly no doctor! :smile:
  • kylTKe
    kylTKe Posts: 146 Member
    Here's an article on it: http://www.livestrong.com/article/465334-my-ears-pop-when-i-exercise-hard/

    I've been getting that for years. The article says as long as it goes away after you cool down, it should be nothing to worry about. Personally I've never had any problems from it.
  • josyjozy
    josyjozy Posts: 117 Member
    "Patulous Eustachian tube is a physical disorder. The exact causes may vary depending on the person. Weight loss is a commonly cited cause of the disorder due to the nature of the Eustachian tube itself. Fatty tissues hold the tube closed most of the time in healthy individuals. When circumstances cause overall body fat to diminish, the tissue surrounding the Eustachian tube shrinks and this function is disrupted.[2]
    Activities and substances which dehydrate the body have the same effect and are also possible causes of patulous Eustachian tube. Examples are stimulants (including caffeine) and exercise. Exercise may have a more short-term effect than caffeine or weight loss in this regard.
    Pregnancy can also be a cause of patulous Eustachian tube due to the effects of pregnancy hormones on surface tension and mucous in the respiratory system.[3]"

    That would go along with my Eustachian Tube Dysfunction theory
  • Cold_Steel
    Cold_Steel Posts: 897 Member
    I have an abscessed ear drum. Builds fluid up all the time then pops and fluid comes out... Kinda gross but my ear does the same thing.

    If it is bothering you or you notice hearing loss or continued pain make an appointment with an ENT (ear nose throat doctor)
  • josyjozy
    josyjozy Posts: 117 Member
    Start with your primary care doctor unless you already have an established relationship with an ENT. It will save you money and headache.
  • ering
    ering Posts: 183 Member
    I have times where my ears do that too. I usually notice it when I start excercising after having a baby. I have 5 kids and noticed it every time. It usually stops plugging up like that after I've lost most of the weight. I get nauseated and feel horrible but when I cool down it seems to just unplug and go away on its own.
    I hope it goes away for you! I know how horrible it feels.
  • kaittx13
    kaittx13 Posts: 88 Member
    it happens when i dont have earbuds in.
  • kaittx13
    kaittx13 Posts: 88 Member
    It could be those things, but it could also be an Eustachian tube dysfunction. When you exercise, your heart rate goes up and you release hormones that can cause either vasoconstiction or vasodilation (expanding or constricting blood vessels). Could be you have tiny vessels in your ear. I don't know but it might be worth a mention at your next doctors visit. Do you get dizzy when this happens?

    yes! i do get dizzy and/or light headed! i am going to look this up! it takes about 30 min for it to go away after i am done exercising
  • kaittx13
    kaittx13 Posts: 88 Member
    I have this, too! It feels like my right ear is really full/stuffy. (always my right ear, my left is always fine) It happens when I exercise hard! It bugged me to the point I finally ended up at an ENT after my regular doctor had no ideas about why it was happening. It was diagnosed as 'Patulous Eustachian Tubes'. It's uncomfortable and feels weird, but it's pretty harmless.

    Wikipedia says it's rare, but the ENT I spoke to said it's actually quite common - especially in women, and especially in women who have lost weight.

    Does this sound like what you're experiencing? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patulous_Eustachian_tube

    I would suggest getting a referral to a Ear/Nose/Throat specialist and having it looked into. It sure sounds like what I experience... but then, I'm certainly no doctor! :smile:


    YES!! this does sound like what happens.

    I know that I am thinking about it.. i can only think about times it has happened to me since i have started college ( senior year of high school i lost about 50 pounds). So i have lost a significant amount of weight i guess. And it always goes away... sometimes it takes longer than others.

    So your Dr. said it is okay..and you dont have to do anything about it?
    It just happens sometimes when I am not done working out as long as i would like :( but it really bothers me to keep working out once my ear is bothering me.
  • UpEarly
    UpEarly Posts: 2,555 Member
    So your Dr. said it is okay..and you dont have to do anything about it?
    It just happens sometimes when I am not done working out as long as i would like :( but it really bothers me to keep working out once my ear is bothering me.

    The doctor gave me a set of positional maneuvers I can do to sort of 'reset' my ear. I personally find that stretching the back of my neck and pushing chin downward and rolling my head side to side helps. If that doesn't clear the feeling, I'll sit on a chair for a few minutes with my head between my knees. Lying down seems to clear it too. It typically resolves pretty quickly, but it is very annoying and very uncomfortable when it happens.

    There are some drugs people take and some other treatments that can be done surgically, but I've always been able to self-manage the symptoms with the maneuvers.

    (P.S. - it started for me when I was about 23 and had lost about 50 pounds)
  • SWALiving
    SWALiving Posts: 1
    Hi ladies! It was so relieving to read your posts! This is exactly what is happening to me. During/after exercise my right ear would often feel full or kindof an open ear popping feeling like on an airplane. Then I would try to talk and whoa it was weird. I could hear myself but in a weird sort of internal way, i could hearvmyself breathing fromnthe inside and felt very self conscious of how I sounded. A friend said I sounded very congested all of a sudden. This was happening maybe once every 3 or 4 times exercising and recently has been less. I am 25 and have lost about 50 pounds in the last 2 years. I am curious how your symptoms/diagnosis has progressed? Has it gotten worse? Gone away? I had bad ear infections/tubes as a baby. Not sure if this is relevant.
  • baxtermandy01
    baxtermandy01 Posts: 1
    Exact same thing has been happening to me after working out. I never noticed it happening at home when I workout - only when I started training at the gym 2 months ago. It takes a few minutes before it goes away.
  • savvyjd
    savvyjd Posts: 5
    AH! This is my 'underwater ear' thing! I first noticed it when I went to the gym after a flight to Florida back in February, at first I thought it was a plane thing but it continued beyond that one time. Then I thought it was an elevation thing because I only noticed it after I would do squats. Then I thought it was a breathing thing but no matter how I maintained breathing during my routine I would get it.

    This fits though. I'd lost about 20 pounds between December and February and get it every time I work out. I only notice it when I'm with my trainer because when I work out on my own I don't speak to anyone. I experience absolutely no pain or physical discomfort and only experience the autophonia when speaking (I don't hear myself breathing). For me it is just annoying when I have to speak because I can't tell what decibel I'm speaking at but otherwise have no issue with this as it fades within 30-60 minutes of finishing my workout.

    I always forgot to look this up but now I'm fairly confident I've matched it. Thanks you guys for hashing this out! :D
  • JulieHopkinsGuest
    JulieHopkinsGuest Posts: 2 Member
    Hi All
    I am 38 and have had PET since I was 19.
    Its very depressing at times.

    Like most the trigger was a big weightloss and going on the contraceptive pill. (note I have tried a couple of times to use pill since and this definately makes it worse so I use alternative - if you suffer from this and are on the pill I am almost certain coming off of it will relieve things) Advice to put on weight is not welcome!! I am trying to shape up for my wedding!!

    There is allegedly a spray called PATULEND that helps but can't help feeling this is an internet myth rather than anything that a doctor is going to prescibe? anyone in the UK used it or been able to get hold of it? internet search reveals not much.

    My biggest problem now is I would dearly LOVE to exercise more, but this ruins it - completely. Running is an absolute no no - its so hard to describe to people but it completely messes up breathing and not only that - if I have exercised a lot it makes the condition worse for the rest of the time when I am stationary (whereas normally its only nil to mild for me when I'm still depending on the day and weirdly the season) I'm getting a bit bored of the dubious looks I get when I explain I can't run due to an ear condition too!!!

    Swimming doesn't trigger it in the same way so at the moment thats all I have. Anything non impact is generally ok really but not ultimately the kind of exercise I know I need to do for my health and fitness! If I go into a class which suddenly introduces jumping around I'm stuffed. I will spend most of the time pinching my nose to equalise (tricky in boxing gloves) and then, sometimes I will only be able to get them TIGHTLY (painfully) closed high pressured for a very short time and then they will pop back to what I can only describe as ... loose again. Then comes the autophony, pinch nose, tight pain, pop, autophony. etc etc etc.

    If anyone has any results with treatments (collagen injections I have read can be effective) then please let me know.
    I haven't really looked into this condition for about 10 years as I long accepted I was stuck with it but wondered if in my absence any progress had been made on treatment. I may well try the doctors again but I dread the inevitable wade through the conditions I don't have before I actually get them to understand what it is and that I don't need a decongestant or my nose broken to straighten my septum!.... (Maybe thats harsh and things have changed, last time I was consulted on it was about 15 years ago)

    Heres hoping.
    Any info good.
    Thanks
    Julie
    (Essex)

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