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last month I went swimming for the first time in a few years. after that my right ear was blocked for a few days, but it finally did clear up.
Since then I feel like my ears are more sensitive - a lot more.
like I can't listen to my ipod with the volume maxed out, now I keep at at 70%.
PA announcements in the subway have always been loud and harsh (in a way I enjoyed), but now I find myself trying to cover my ears when they come on.
should I be worried?

should probably ask your doctor instead of your fuzzbroz...

I had something similar. Water trapped in my ear for about 3ish months. Ended up getting infected and I had to be on antibiotics. That ear was really, really sensitive the whole time like you described.

space6oy wrote:should probably ask your doctor instead of your fuzzbroz...

I don't think a doctor is going to do anything about something that isn't severe, or even abnormal.
for the longest time I was always able to tolerate dumb loud sounds, harsh noises. now my reaction is the normal one.
doctors have nothing there to fix.
(the last few times i went to the doctor with a semi-problem, they just advised me not to do the activity that caused it. ie: you get a cramp when you run for too long ~ don't run. Your arms get a rash when you go swimming in the ocean ~ don't swim in the ocean. )

my self diagnosis is that I cleared out years of wax buildup that I used as a protective layer.
now it's gone, now it's normal
is that a thing?

skullservant wrote:I had something similar. Water trapped in my ear for about 3ish months. Ended up getting infected and I had to be on antibiotics. That ear was really, really sensitive the whole time like you described.

there's nothing blocking it anymore. and my hearing is still balanced (both ears equal)

Even if you don't feel it, water can be trapped in there. I remember feeling pretty normal for a few days after swimming, except some equilibrium issues. Then one night I woke up to hot water coming out of my ear. So weird.

Perhaps your ear just got cleaned out enough for your hearing to return it'o it's normal sensitivity?

Seems like something that could be nothing, but going with that assumption at the potential cost of your hearing might not be the smartest thing.

Go to the doctor dude. You could have something seriously wrong with your ears. It's better to be safe than sorry. Seriously.

If it hurts when you move your ears around, you might have some kind of infection. In any case if it's possible to see a specialist, do try to get to an Ear Nose and Throat doctor. You only get one set of ears, so take care of them!

Forrrest wrote:last month I went swimming for the first time in a few years. after that my right ear was blocked for a few days, but it finally did clear up.
Since then I feel like my ears are more sensitive - a lot more.
like I can't listen to my ipod with the volume maxed out, now I keep at at 70%.
PA announcements in the subway have always been loud and harsh (in a way I enjoyed), but now I find myself trying to cover my ears when they come on.
should I be worried?

A friend of mines cousin had the same exact issue and now he is dead. It is unclear whether the two things were related however.

Acute otitis media. Google that shit. The water has been caught in the small space behind the eardrum (the middle ear), which is normally filled with air. This has been a great breeding ground for germs (bacteria or viruses), causing you to get a middle ear infection. The vibration caused by music can irritate the infected area. Get it cleaned properly by a doctor (not that water spraying shit, but with one of those vacuum machines) and ask for some antibiotics. I have it all the time, unfortunately.

NOW MY EARS FEEL DIFFERENT

Def go to the doctor dude.

Also, how could you ever listen to your iPod maxed out? That is crazy loud.

so I went to the doctors and he said I just got a good ear wax cleaning from my swim.
nothing weird in there he says.
It's taken over a month but I feel comfortable with the ways my ear hear things louder now.


while we're talking ear care
I've been a big fan of Etymotic ER•20 for the longest time.
last year I ordered three pairs off ebay, and they're so much cheaper then the ones I've used in the past.
I'm still using an old pair cause the new ones just don't cut it. anyone else notice this? did I just get a bad batch? fakes?
new ones: they don't attenuate as much & the plastic is brittle.

You're one dirty mothefucker.