How bad is it that there was blood in my ear this morning?

[shaniac]

Okay so like my left ear was feeling really waxy this morning and I stuck a cotton swab in to try and get some of the wax out, and when I pulled out the swab, it was red. I assume it was blood, although it's possible my earwax has assumed a reddish hue.

Possible contributing health factors: I've had what feels like the beginnings of an ear ache/infection in the same left ear. Also, I have a pretty bad smoking problem, and a terrible smoker's hack which has gotten worse lately. I cough a lot.

Are there any medical experts on OOT who have an idea what this could be or how bad it is?

[miajag]

I have had reddish colored earwax before; I don't think it's anything to worry about unless actual blood is flowing from your ear. Though if you are experiencing pain as well you might want to get it checked out.

[swede123]

My advice:

1) Don't use swabs. Your ears are designed to be self-cleaning, believe it or not. Sticking q-tips in there only pushes the wax farther down the ear-canal.

2) Quit smoking.

Swede

[Performify]

Not a medical expert but I've ruptured an eardrum before and have had ear problems a couple different times.

Did you have any blood on your pillow? even a small spot?

If its anything its most likely a ruptured eardrum due to the infection, if that's what you have. Not a terrible thing, actually a sign of healing.

Generally good to go to a doctor and get on antibiotics so that the infection heals quicker / the rupture heals without infection.

[Georgia Avenue]

Don't go the doctor...if it's nothing he'll make you feel bad and laugh at you, and tell you to button your shirt all the way up.

No wait, I changed my mind, go to the doctor bro.
--GA

[amplify]

Yeah, blood coming out of odd places in your body is a definitely trip to the doctor.

[ThomasPHoolery]

It may be nothing. I woke up last year in the middle of the night. I felt around my ear, it felt a bit wet, and I thought it was just sweat (damn you Harvard for no AC in the dorms!). Turns out I'm bleeding out of my ear, go to the mirror, clean it up, and it was just a bug bit of some sort that i must have done something to overnight and it started bleeding. If it happens again, maybe worry about it, but there are a number of reasons this could have happened. I must say though, waking up bleeding from your ear is one of the scariest things ever. For almost any other body part (nose, mouth, finger) I know what blood means. Blood coming out of the ear, I have no clue.

If nothing else persists, just write it off.

[El Diablo]

shaniac,

Have you run into Ricardo Montalban lately?

Seriously, I've always heard it's no good to stick cotton swabs in your ear like that. Every few years I'll use one of those ear-cleaning solutions and suction bulbs to clean out my ears, and that seems to be more than enough for me.

Blood in the ear doesn't sound good. Hopefully it's nothing serious, but I'd get it checked out. Maybe you just have a minor ear infection or something that you can easily knock out with some antibiotics.

[Elevens]

Swede is correct. The only thing you should stick in your ears is your elbows.

[Georgia Avenue]

[ QUOTE ]
(damn you Harvard for no AC in the dorms!).

[/ QUOTE ]


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