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.

[hobbes9324]

Sigh.....the first part of being a good OOT doctor, or real doctor, for that matter, is to take a careful history.

The OP noted blood AFTER using the Q-tip. This would most likely indicate that he had some ear wax adhering to the canal tightly, and when the Q-tip detatched it, a bit of bleeding resulted. No big thing.

OTOH, bleeding spontaneously, as several posters noted, can be an indication of either an infection or a ruptured ear drum, and would benefit from seeing a real, as opposed to an OOT doctor.

Q-tips are considered by most MD's to be tools of the devil when it comes to ear cleaning - no matter how good it feels.

The amount of ear wax generated by people is extrememly variable, as is it's stickiness and overall creamy goodness - lots of people never have problems, and some are able to grow truly impressive ear boogers that we extract in the ED. Usually, these are some of our most grateful patients.

The OTC ear wax disolving agents are pretty good, and fairly idiot proof. I am suspicious about the ear wax candle strategy, but I don't want to raise the ire of anyone who thinks the american medical establisment is against all homeopathic/california/hippie remedies, so have at it and give us a trip report, if you like. I'll pass.

Incidental note - I believe it was Johnny Most, a well known broadcaster for the Celtics, who went to his MD complaining of loss of hearing in his right hear. He was worried he had had a stroke, or something similar. After a major struggle, an earwax-encrusted foam earplug was extracted, and his hearing was magically restored. It had, per the broadcaster, gone missing a couple of years prior.

Good luck, all......

MM MD

[KlumsySmurf]

I once stuck a rock in my ear and forgot about it.

I was in the 2nd grade, and had a small pebble from the playground that I was playing with. By playing with I mean sticking it in my ear and pulling it back out. It was fun.

I somehow put it in my ear and it got stuck there, and being the brilliant kid I was I forgot about it.

A few months later during a routine doctor visit it was pointed out that there was a rock in my ear. He used a bulb and some warm water to expel it, and I made up some story about how it must've fallen in there when I was sliding into 2nd base playing baseball. I don't think my doctor believed me.

I still have that rock.

I've never had ear problems. Put a pebble in your ear that is bleeding and it will make your ears healthy.

[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

[Elevens]

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

[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.

[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.