The popping and cracking that you hear is the ear trying to equalize the air pressure between the outside and the inner ear. this is done by way of the "Eustachian tube" This tube is connected from the back of your throat to the inner ear. If this tube becomes inflammed and blocked the air pressure is different on both sides of the ear drum. Causing you to hear like your under water. The common causes can be infection (colds,flu's, inner ear) or scaring from previous injury. Your ENT should have checked this out. Usually the decongestant in allegra D helps open the Eustachian tube. MAybe you need a second opinion.

Yes, this was actually the second doctor I went to..the first was my regular MD, then the ENT. Do you think I should ask for antibiotic? Nothing is working and it is driving me crazy..3 months is way to long to deal with this..

Has he checked your ear canal, ive had a similar experience and had a lot of much in my ear. If that is the case go to the chemist and buy i think its called cerimul, and then after its soften up the doctor can flush it out.

Yes, my ear canal has been checked. No wax issues, etc. The air/fluid is clogging up my eustachian tubes. I just tried to call in a prescription for Rescon-Mx that has worked very well for a friend who has similar issues, but the doctor never heard of it and won't call it in for me, still waiting to hear back from the ENT. Actually I am really frustrated with this whole process - there is no reason to be dealing with this for 3 months. The allergy meds don't do anything. So mad.

I just landed from a flight last evening, which i do often. Never before has this happened. I still cannot get rid of the clogged feeling and fluid in my left ear. I was hoping to find an answer here without going to an m.d. but I guess that is not happening. I am on antibiotics, but it isn't working so far. Hope it just leaves soon.

I'm a pilot and I have the same problem. I'm grounded right now. I've had clogged ears, sore throat and chronic cough for over 30 days now. After 5 trips to my MD, I'm scheduled to see and ENT on Monday. I can't sleep, hear --- I'm miserable. My MD is treating it as though it were allergies. Still no luck. I'm hoping to get an antibiotic or something to knock this out once and for all. Very annoying.

I flew two months ago with a slight sinus infection. My ears have since never popped! My family doc said I have a middle ear infection and perscribed Leviquin. It did nothing. I have also been taking mucinex D, sudafed, and have been steaming non stop with eucalyptus oil. My neck and shoulder on the left side are also very sore. Any suggestions? I am really sick of this, I cannot hear out of left ear!

Add me to the list. I got a cold while in the mountains (a week after a 24 hour flight to indonesia). On the way down from the mountains in the car my ears became really clogged and somewhat painful, ever since i have an on/off clogged sensation in my left ear. About 2 months now i've been dealing with this. Saw an ENT here in Indonesia, he prescribed antibiotic, nose drops and pseudophed...seemed a little better while on the medicine, but now its back to clogged again. Seems to bother me most after showering (though i make sure not to get water in my ears) and/or eating. I often get a runny nose while eating as well. Frustrating!

OTC drugs:
-240mg dose of sudafed prior to bed (continue every 12 hours until, package of 10).
[FYI you can't get this off the shelf anymore and it appears big brother puts you in some database; as they had to scan my license at CVS (because rednecks make meth with it)]
- 40mg dextromethorphan / 800 mg guaifenesin (every eight hours, two mucinex)
-180mg fexofenadine (1 allegra every 24 hours).
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Homeopathic:
- Put mug with steamed towel in bottom, up to ear for 15 min prior to bed.
- Sleep on side with clogged ear away from pillow, to allow Eustachian tube to drain into throat.
- Chew gum during the day and try to make your self yawn every hour.
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This should knock out any clogged ear. If it does not work, I have read about more serious conditions (related to inner ear imbalances); that only a good ENT would know about and I believe you need surgery to correct. I know of an excellent one in the Fairfield county area, who performed multiple surgeries, to greatly improve a very serious sleep apnea problem I had.

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Got some type of bronchial lung -- turn head cold, last Thursday 6/18.
Had both my ears fully clogged for two days following a recent flight to st. martin on tues; which never happened to me on prior flights short or long distance (have flown to India). Ruined the first two days of my vacation. On the way back, my left ear re-clogged.
Both times the above combo, knocked it out.

Kmac179,
"Homeopathic:
- Put mug with steamed towel in bottom, up to ear for 15 min prior to bed"

Would this really work since the fluid is in your inner ear not outter ear?