Hmpf's odd medical worries, installment #125:

[hmpf]

Should I be worried if my left ear - the inside of it - feels as if, I dunno, as if ants or other small creepy-crawlies were crawling in it? It doesn't feel like that non-stop, but it occurs several times a day, and sometimes for hours at a time. It does not bother me much - in fact, it's even a vaguely pleasant sensation, sometimes (and no, I am *

Comments

[beccatoria]

Eh, if it's not causing you pain, I wouldn't be too worried. I mean, I know there are plenty of ailments that aren't immediately painful, but equally, if something's really serious our bodies tend to let us know. I'd probably put it down to the stress.

Also perhaps it's wax working its way loose? That happened to me once - granted not for days at a time and hours at a time, but the sensation was somewhat similar. Perhaps try some over the counter eardrops?

Actually, sensorineural hearing loss is completely painless, too.

[hmpf]

So, sadly, the absence of pain really doesn't mean a thing here.

Basically, apparently, the ears tend to react to stress by developing circulatory problems, and that can make you deaf (quite suddenly, not slowly and gradually), or let you end up with a lifelong high-pitched whine in your ear (which can get very, very loud and annoying, to the point of causing signifcant, constant stress for the rest of your life - I have several cases in the family who ended up with serious psychological problems because of that).

I'm just not sure if 'feeling as if there's ants crawling in your ear' can be an early symptom of any of those problems...

I don't think it's earwax; I don't have particularly high earwax production, I think, and never had a problem with it in my entire life.

Re: Actually, sensorineural hearing loss is completely painless, too.

[beccatoria]

Well the one time I had a problem with earwax I'd never had a problem with it before (or, really, since), though if you have this issue as a family thing I understand why it's worrying you some. Is this something that can be treated if caught early? If so, then schedule an appointment with a doctor to get it checked out when you do have time?

Or better yet, if it's in your family, can you ask them if the feeling is a precursor? Is there any information on the internet about symptoms since you have such a specific medical issue you're concerned about? That might at least alleviate your concerns somewhat until you find a convenient time to get it checked out: the internet tends to be completist about these things and is more likely to freak you out by including the very rare symptoms too than not including common ones.

[the_borgi]

This sounds a lot like misfiring nerve-endings. I have that too, sometimes.
Stress can cause this.
In my case it helps NOT to scratch it, but ignore it - it goes away after some time.

Yeah, I don't scratch it.

[hmpf]

Actually, it's not really an itch, so scratching doesn't even come to mind. It just feels... weird.

And yeah, I am under a lot of stress at the moment.

I'm also, apparently, stupid: because today I actually *went* to see a doctor, about the cough I have at the moment, and I forgot to mention the ears thing to him. *sigh*