Ears Congested

[Sammy48]

My daughter has been suffering from earache for quite a few weeks. Been to GP he said no infection but they are congested. Any tips on how to uncongest them. It is really getting her down.

[Sqad]

How old is your daughter?

Is her hearing normal?

[Sammy48]

My daughter is 20 and her hearing is fine, Sqad.

[Sqad]

OK...that is handy to know,

You haven't mentioned if the Dr has given her any medication and if that is the case then i would go to the chemist and get her an Otrovine Nasal Spray and to use it in each nostril three times a day.

[Sammy48]

He gave her no medication, but did say try steam.

[Sqad]

OK...thanks......my answer stands.

[Sammy48]

Many Thanks, Sqad.

[magsmay]

Get some olbas oil add a few drops to boiling water and inhale the fumes -also adding a few drops of olbas oil onto her pillow may help -I personally would avoid over the counter nasal sprays especially if you GP has not recommended any medication.

[Sammy48]

Thank you Mags, great minds think alike, lol lol, she actually used Obas Oil in steam, this afternoon.

[furrypusscat]

My suggestion would also be olbas oil in boiling water as a steam inhalation or a few menthol crystals (not too many though, they'll blow her head off). I used to suffer with this problem and it took ages to clear.

[boxtops]

Is the congestion inside the ear, or in the outer canal? your practice nurse should be able to syringe the ear if it's outside.

[Clanad]

If the nasal spray Sqad[i is recommending is similar to our (in the U.S.) saline solution (one name brand is Oceans) then theres no medication nor any decongestant. Although primarily used for relieving congested sinuses by irrigating the mucous membranes throughout the sinus cavities, I've found it to be helpful in relieving ear ache as well, since the Eustachian tubes soon become clogged (they're inside diameter is about the size of a small piece of spaghetti).

Additionally, the Eustachian tubes were designed to drain into the back of the throat... so... tell your daughter to try holding her nose closed with one hand and [i]swallowing[i] to alleviate the clogged feeling... [i]don't] blow, which most people do, as that will only force the mucous up the tubes...

The use of the saline spray should be used all winter at least the minimum times per day Sqad recommends... even more won't hurt. This in response to the extremely dry air in all of our homes in the winter from over warming the air.

One last bit... you really need to sniff upwards several times when injecting the saline to help it get to the tiny recesses in the sinus passages... (I speak from many years of experience).

[magsmay]

Otrivine is a decongestant called xylometazoline not a harmless saline solution. You should not use this medicine continuously for longer than seven days -this is because the medicine can become less effective if used excessively. In addition, nasal congestion may come back (rebound congestion) when you stop using the medicine if you use it for too long. I can not for the life of me understand how this can relieve ear congestion as prescribed by Squad but as he says he is a retired ENT consultant them I'm sure he will be able to enlighten me should he feel the need.

[Sqad]

magsmay.... credit me with some knowledge....if only a little.

What do we know?

No diagnosis has been made except that of "congestion."
That is not a diagnosis but a description.

Let us assume that it means blockage in the middle ear.......that almost always implies malfunction (closure) if the Eustachian tube. Hence the tube needs opening and decongesting.
Otrovine is a decongestant, it shrinks the lining of the nose and Eustachian tube and hence makes room for air which then passes from the nose up the Eustachian tube into the middle ear...decongesting it.

If this is not simple enough for you....please let me know.

[douglas9401]

ear ear!

[237SJ]

I`d try Sudafed tablets for a few days. I`ve never managed to clear my ears by sniffing something up my nose but maybe that`s just me.

[magsmay]

Well done Squad . Your ability to copy and paste is unsurpassed.

[magsmay]

237SJ - no its not just you....

[237SJ]

Magsmay - well Sqad was an ENT consultant so maybe you shouldn`t dismiss his advice out of hand. And by the way (in my quite considerable experience) the Olbas oil does not work when it comes to clearing one`s ears so your advice is only subjective as well.

[magsmay]

237SJ - I am not presuming to be a general medical practitioner so therefore my advice is a little less pertinent. To take medical advice contrary to what your GP , who has your medical record in front of him when examining you, suggests, is dangerous, though I doubt a few sniffs of Otrivine is going to kill you but its the principle.
//well Sqad was an ENT consultant// -Really? You know him personally then do you? So am I actually -at the Royal National -I must be cos I've just told you that.....

[woofgang]

clanad in the Uk the saline spray most commonly seen is sterimar