I have been ill for about 3 days now (with what I assume to be a common cold, sore throat, blocked nose etc.) and this morning I was sat down and started coughing for a long period of time. After this I noticed I had a small pain in my ear whenever I was to swallow or hiccup, I slept to see if it would wear off but when I woke up it was much worse. Theought the day it got better in terms of pain but now it s is just completely blocked up and it feels as though I am on a plane that has just taken off but just in my left ear. It is very uncomfortable and would like some advice as to why this has been caused? Maybe it s just because I am ill but it doesn t seem that way since it started just after a long coughing fit and that it s just in my left ear.