my right ear was hurting and itching. I pit in a q tip (2) and each one came out with blood on them. My ear does seem to be muffled and it is ringing. Later today I checked again for blood and there was only dried blood on the (very small amount) on the q tip. You cannot see in the ear far enough with flashlight by my wife so I know it is pretty deep in the canal. Pain this afternoon has subsided but ringing and muffled sounds still present