Swollen Lymph Nodes in Neck and Clogged Ear

I am a 19 yr old female and I have been having these symptoms for about 6 years now, but I do not know if anything is even wrong of if what is occuring is natural....I have had swolen lymph nodes in my neck constantly, even when I do not have a cold or a sore throat. They are mostly on the right side of my neck and especially around my right ear area, but some on the left too. My right ear has also felt odd. I would not really call it pain, but It throbbs sometimes and feels like there is a build up of air pressure in it that needs to be released. I feel like it is not connected to my head like my left ear. I dont know if this means anything but I can wiggle my entire right ear up and down. I have been swimming for over 10 years so I am thinking it could be swimmer's ear. It feels like there is something deep down in my ear that is clogging my ear canal and it needs to be pulled out. I went to a doctor about 2 years ago to get it checked and he said it was because I was chewing too much gum. I stopped chewing gum for a while but nothing changed. I dont know if this has anything to do with my ear and throat but I also always feel light headed, drowsy, and deenergized. I get normal amounts of sleep, I do not drink alcohol a lot, I do drink coffee, I drink regular amounts of water, and I eat healthy for the most part. I also do not have any allergies. I have been recently tested for STD's, mono, and anemia and do not have any. I am also not sure if this concerns anything, but whenever I open my mouth the right side of my jaw cracks. Or when I move my jaw left and right it cracks. It feels like the joint is getting disconnected. And when I open my mouth as wide as I can there is a cracking sound on the right side of my jaw I still have my wisdom teeth in maybe all these symptoms are due to that. Does anyone know why my lymph nodes are always swollen and why my ear is feeling this way and why I feel so drowsy all the time?

[carmen71]

Hello Monica,

I can totaly relate to what you saying. I have the same problem. Tomorrow I have an appointment with the Audiology, hopefully they can see what it is.
I will keep you posted. Please let me know if you have improvements.

[madz782]

I have exactly the same symptoms as you but for 2 years and have had tests done aswell! Right down to the clicking jaw! i have no idea what it is, and it worries me. May change doctors.
Good luck fixing it!

[cjruz]

maybe it is a parasitic worm related to morgellons or strongyloides that labs and doctors cant diagnose?Worth buying anti-parasitic herbs online for 20.00 and giving that a try if doctors wont help

[kjelltp]

Go see a good holistic doctor.  Probably toxic buildup in your system

[kjelltp]

also...Possibly a muccus buildup in your mastoid cells on that side.  Can be seen on CT scans.

[lft123]

Did you ever get answers on this?

I just came across it - and the jaw clicking may be related to TMJ, same with the ear fullness. My mom had this and now I have it. I'm not sure about the swollen glands, though.

[Hil89]

I have the same thing! My doctor said it was water behind my eardrum, and that it would drain over time but it hasn't. I've tried using nasal sprays, a neti pot, and blowing my nose to try and release the pressure. My lymph node is also swollen. I try popping my ear all the time, it drives me nuts. I'd love to know what was causing all of this!

[Teri75]

I have the same problem for more than 2 years now.  The same symptoms,  fullness of ear,  more in the one ear than the other,  the crackling of the jaw, sometimes I get a feeling like my throat muscles pulls stiff.  I move my jaw constantly, sometimes open my jaw as big as possible till it sounds like a piece of bone breaks off.  Went to dr. about 5 time with this problem.  Everytime I got nasal spray and sinus pills.  he said it would go away, but its been like this for more than 2 years.  also have a funny feeling below the right ear and jaw, dont think it is glands,almost itchy, swollen.  I keep pushing my lower jaw to the front, then the crackling in my ears go crazy!!!  I even went to a dentist and had my wisdom teeth removed, stil no luck!  Its driving me nuts!!!  Wish i could get this solved.  It is really starting to make me worried.  What is it!!!!!!!!  Its  not a pleasure to wake up in the morning and go through life like this!

[me2kib]

I have the same problem, in addition to great amount of salty mucus coming from my sinuses.   If you figure out what it is, please let me know, I do this "open mouth as wide as possible" too almost constantly, sometimes it feels like someone walked all over your jaws.

[kelsey83]

I have also had these problems now for 6 months. Can't imagine 6 years. Anyway started with a cold then ears plugged up and my throat got really swollen. The lymph nodes in my throat were really swollen and have not ever gone completely down. Went to my dr 4 times and was told that I had an ear infection. I did 2 rounds of antibiotics and neither one worked. They wanted me to go get allergy testing done and I decided to go to an ENT first for a second opinion. I was told that it is acid reflux. The acid goes up in your throat and irritates it enough that your lymph nodes swell which will also swell the tubes from your ears making them have the plugged up feeling. You can get dizzy from this because your ears feel plugged and they help you keep your equalibrium. My ENT has me on Prilosec OTC 2 pills once a day for 6-8 weeks and hopefully that should take care of it. Going on to my 4 week and feel a little bit better but lymph nodes are still swollen and ears are still plugged. Just thought I would put this out there so you can all do more research to see if maybe acid reflux is your problem. Hope this helps someone.

[misssing]

well i am having fits also and its been going for 4 years. i was told my  ent that acid reflux cause the symptons of the full ear, air presure and feels like water inside the inner ear. i took the meds for a couple of years and then lost my insurance. i weaned myself off the omeprizol as it was too expensive, i did pretty well for a year with taking prilosec once in a while. now its out of hand. been to another ent since i have moved and he said it was a condition where the eutasian tube remains opened all the time and not caused from acid refluix. i 'm starting to think it is related to the acid going up into the passages like kelsey mentioned. so i am going to take the meds for a while and see if it helps. by the way, my problem started when i landed in a jet and my 1 ear didnt pop or clear. it never has in 4 years really cleared.