Long Covid Ear fullness pressure anyone else ??

LC since 2022-have fullness you describe and it moves inside my head. Also have Tinnitus (I describe as Cicadas) 24/7 along with what I call “sounds like electric wire zaps” around ears sometimes. So after seeing ENT, Audiologist, MRI of auditory nerve in head, trying hearing aids, using the Lenire and more meds/supplements and alternative treatments than I will mention it’s still with me. The fullness is like I am under water or been on plane. So I keep an app with pink noise available at all times. It helps me take the focus off the stuff going on in my head, ears, etc. So sorry we are all suffering with a broken healthcare system that dismisses it all. We gotta stick together ❤️‍🩹

Covid inflammation - Yes

Short version - Immunology

Longer version -
A couple research papers (video) I come across .
Persistence of spike protein at the skull-meninges-brain axis may contribute to the neurological sequelae of COVID-19: Cell Host & Microbe
https://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/fulltext/S1931-3128(24)00438-4?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS1931312824004384%3Fshowall%3Dtrue
https://medicine.yale.edu/ycci/listen-study/media-player/listen-town-hall-oct-2023/
The entire Town Hall (video) is very interesting, here are 4 I found enlightening.
8:00 minute - Difference in Percent of Participants Experiencing Symptom (Long Covid – PVS post-vaccination syndrome)
Long Covid - Memory problems, Changed sense of smell, Brain fog, Shortness of breath, Cough, Sore throat, Excessive fatigue, Difficulty speaking properly, Changed sense of taste, Fatigue, Congested or runny nose, Phantom smells, Runny nose, Phlegm in back of throat, Headache, Constant thirst, Night sweats, Hypersomnia, Confusion, Insomnia, Hair loss, Dry scalp or dandruff, Dizziness, Throat pain or discomfort, Postnasal drip, Exercise Intolerance, Wheezing, Swollen hands or feet, Cold/burning lung sensation, Changes in voice, Phantom tastes

PVS - Loss of hearing, Suicidal thoughts, Feelings of impending doom, Palpitations, Tinnitus, Numbness, Internal vibration, Neuropathy, Burning sensations

16:00 minute – Implications
18:33 minute – Hypothesis
37:00 minute - Hope next 6 months

I googled Akiko Iwasaki and came across some other papers. Note Akiko Iwasaki is Head of Yale - Immunology

I showed these and some other papers to my Neurologist, She gave me a referral to Immunologist. This long covid is a new area and also at the cellular level.

It’s a journey, Best Wishes for Your Journey!

🍀

@drbf the Quericiten does that boost your immune system because I can’t take those because of my autoimmune system seems to do the opposite and make me more tired snd worse inflammation because my body is already attacking itself. I’m going to try more steroids cause that seems to help overall with the ear fullness and fatigue. Man the fatigue is bad. I was never tired by 7 pm now it’s so bad and I’m only 51. Ugh. Drs don’t care. I’m fighting my pcp on getting bloodwork to check for Covid antibodies because he believes there is no test for that ?? In what century is he living and if he’s lying why wouldn’t he want me to get it done ? So I have a no wait to get it now she go in and convince him to get it I guess. Ugh. Why are they ignoring the Covid issue now and back in 2019 they cared?!

I hate the memory loss.

sfishalow

@jostrowski74 It won't matter to find out if you have COVID antibodies.

Work on finding out what is wrong. The virus triggers a lot of illnesses, not just one called "long COVID".

They just work up based on your symptoms. Fatigue is super generic. Blocked ears is very common after having COVID.

Press your provider on getting to the bottom of it. If that one won't help, find another.

I'm almost three years in, mostly in bed with fatigue, chronic pain, no stamina, post-exertional malaise. GI issues, on and on.

I have had LC for over a year. I randomly get this pain and pressure in typically only my left ear. It is intermittent, but very uncomfortable.
I had an infection, but even though it’s clear the pressure continues.

I am going through the same thing. Since last Christmas my ear has felt clogged and muffled and like there is fluid in it and like I’m living underwater. It actually started in April 23 after I got Covid. I have not been able to pop my ear since 2023. December 2025 it got unbearably uncomfortable. I have seen every kind of specialist you can think of. I was on seven or more different antibiotics. Nothing worked. I have done blood test 3-D oral exams. Multiple CT scans I had a sinus surgery on my left side in February and I just had a revision with a different surgeon in August. After my first surgery and ear specialist, put sticky tape on my eardrum because even though no test could confirm it he suspected I have a patch eustachian tube meaning it is always in the open position. But every other ENT I saw said they didn’t see anything and I’ve done all the hearing tests. I actually have high frequency hearing loss and tinnitus in my right ear now, but it’s always been my left side that has felt completely clogged. Everyone just says they can’t see any fluid and my eardrum looks fine but I know there is something in there or it is in my sinus somehow clogging my ear. I’m also highly skeptical that this is from Covid. I’m also not sure if the cilia and my sinus or something isn’t working properly because if I pull my cheek back rub on my temple and push in certain areas and blow gently but deeply, I get glue like sticky mucus out of my sinus. It’s really just so baffling because as much as my family wants to support me, they don’t understand how I feel and it has ruined my quality of life every moment of every day that I’m not asleep. It is so difficult to feel like you are suffering like this and no one can figure it out or see what you can feel.

@jostrowski74

I have been to 4 different ENT’s this past year and have had sinus surgery twice in the past 10 months. I’m sooooooooo frustrated and confused why no one can figure out why I feel so blocked and clogged and muffled in my left ear/side since last Xmas.

@freese oh my god you are having the same exact problem I am ? I’ve even to 4 different ENT drs too and so far I have one that is so far trying to help but like u were done all the tests I haven’t had sinus surgery what is that ? They said everything is normal. I do have the same ear issues though. It’s been like this so he last November and nobody seems to get it ! I also have the fatigue . I feel like I’m under water daily and my ears click a lot I use all kinds of things. Decongestant. Nasal sprays. Ear drops. The only thing that seems to help a little is steroids And idk why and either does my dr ! So here we are. At first he thought I had this rare ear issue called superior canal deicance syndrome. But he’s not sure so the only way to fix that is surgery . I tend to think Covid has something to do with it because it wasn’t like this since I got sick. My ears are so annoying if does affect daily life and drs don’t believe me. I have autoimmune issues too hbu? Do y have a sensitivity to sound like do loud sounds bother you now and they didn’t before ? Mine do and get sore at the end of the day. I need peace and quiet a lot more. They have to find out what’s wrong. I can’t take this.

@freese I have constant and continuing problems with both ears.
suefish