Ears Go Pop!

[woodelf]

When your ears feel blocked, swallowing used to be the remedy to *** that sensation, but what if swallowing doesn't shift it? Any other suggestions as to how to shift that blocked up feeling? Ta Muchly - and I asked this in B and S too; I'm sorry for being greedy.

[maggiebee]

Hold your nose and "try" to exhale through it.

[Jahulaye]

I swallow and jiggle my head from side to side.

Spath, you’re absolutely right, I never knew that

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/foxnomad.com/2015/08/18/why-you-shouldnt-unclog-your-ears-by-holding-your-nose-and-blowing/amp/

[Buenchico]

Not that it really matters, but you've actually posted in Body &Soul twice, Woodelf.

At the risk of being accused of suggesting the bleeding obvious though, have you tried ear drops?

[gingejbee]

Ear drops will be for external problems...this problem is a bit further in...

[gingejbee]

oh, should have said....have you tried decongestant tablets?

[Sqad]

Well first of all, one must ask the question why, where and what has blocked your ears.
If it is the outer ear, then wax is the obvious cause.
If it is in the middle ear, then mucous or fluid is the cause.
In the unlikely event that is is the inner ear, then that is a different ball game.
Only a Dr looking into the ears will be able to exclude common causes and an ENT surgeon may need to be consulted re. less common causes.
Find the cause and off you go with the treatment.
You haven't given much of a clue ( history), so I will guess that it is following a cold.
Nasal decongestive drops would be my first line of attack..Ephedrine nasal drops with holding your nose and exhaling down it....spathyphylum, I don't believe that it can be dangerous.
Sorry for the long answer, but i have shortened it.

[woodelf]

Hi Sqad, my partner says it is prob fluid in mid ear, has had it for years and now it affects her balance sometimes. She will and has tried for GP apt or rapid access pdq asit driving her mad - sorry can't write fuller with this wonky screen reader.

[Sqad]

LOL...OK..then until she can get an appt ephedrine nose drops or nasal spray followed by nipping the nose and exhaling down it.

[chrissa1]

I’ve been holding my nose and blowing down it for ever and ever.

[Old_Geezer]

Wow Chrissa, it must've blown up as large as a balloon by now !

[woodelf]

Hi Sqad, I hope your LOL is not for laugh out loud, because it is not at all funny and my partner is in a lot of pain and is now, as I write, at the audiologist in Boots as apt with GP is not till April.

[Sqad]

woodelf.....I use LOL for various degrees of surprise OR amusement....in this thread it was for surprise.

If she is in a lot of pain, then she needs A&E as i cannot see what a Boot's Audiologist would have to offer.

[bainbrig]

After having both ear wax (i.e. outer) and bunged up eustacian tubes (i.e. inner) I can confirm it can be difficult to tell the difference.

My old ent consultant recommended 'Flixonase', which he described as an industrial strength nose spray, and it certainly helps clear the bunged up internal tubes, which in my case actually got so bad as to bring on tinnitus. Nowadays, fairly frequent use of Flixonase keeps the tinnitus down to a bearable level. Hope clearing this area helps you, too.

BB

[Sqad]

bainbrig, Flixonase is excellent for unblocking the Eustachian tubes, but it is only on prescription in the UK and i am not so sure that it hasn't been withdrawn.

[woodelf]

Okay Sqad, no offence and I don't think that much pain for A and E, but pain anyway, so it's a makeshift look-see from audio.