My ear won’t pop 😫

[Chillicheese123]

Hi all
Please help I desperately don’t want to bother the NHS right now !

So I have a sore ear, it’s not agony or really painful but more of a ‘deep itch’ sort of feeling.
It feels ‘full’ like it’s got water down it or something?

If I pinch my nose and blow (valsava maneuver) my other ear pops like it normally would. The other one has a loud rushing sound, intense pressure bordering on pain and I go very dizzy and spinny like I’ve just been on a rollercoaster. No popping. It then stays with the rushing sound for a few seconds until I swallow a few times and it goes away.

The spinny feeling occasionally comes at night when I turn over.

I don’t have a fever etc that I can tell and feel fine.

I also have a bit of a blocked nose on that side and when I wash my face in the morning and blow my nose, bloody snot comes out. Only in the morning though.

Any help would be greatly appreciated with virtual wine and OTT thanking.

Put some slightly warmed olive oil in it for a few days. It sounds like what I had years ago and I had to have my ears syringed

Keep chewing gum, yawn and don’t try to pop your nose too hard it can cause more damage . If it continues you will have to contact your GP.
Don’t put earbuds in your ear , I am deaf with constant tinnitus in one ear after an untreated ear infection ten years ago so don’t delay the problem too long . Good luck !

Thank you so much both of you !!!

You can ring your GP even if they may be more likely to do a phone consultation.

Try yawning

@Cassie71 I have done some exaggerated yawns and I just get a crackle in the ear and at best some sort of ‘run off’ (sorry for grossness) down the back of my throat that might be liquid draining off?

It sounds like it could be an ear infection, I’d ring your GP

It's an ear or sinus infection. Might self resolve, might need anti b. First thing is to not at anything in ear including water from shower. Difficult but not impossible.

Could it be an infection with very little pain?

My dp is just saying is need my ear syringing. It doesn’t feel like wax though it feels like liquid in there ?

Try a decongestant or antihistamine, but I really think you need to speak with your GP as these things can get worse if untreated.

It sounds like it’s blocked with wax. You need to use drops to soften the wax and then likely have it syringed.

It's probably not wax, from what you've said. I have chronic sinusitis (which every now and then turns into an ear or sinus infection, what fun), so this all sounds very familiar. You're doing all the right things, but sometimes you just have to wait for it to go away by itself. (I hate to say this, but my ears have only just cleared after four weeks of being blocked on both sides...)

One thing that I do find helpful, as recommended by my GP, is to do regular sinus irrigation. It helps to clear some of the gunk that can build up in sinuses and the surrounding area after a cold. It's a bit of a weird feeling, but you do get used to it! I use the Neilmed sinus rinse kit - it's about £15 and comes with lots of salt sachets, so you just need to mix them with cooled boiled water.

I've also got a steroid nasal spray (also from the GP) and sometimes take antihistamines to reduce swelling and irritation from rhinitis. These may help, especially with your postnasal drip, but probably not as much as the sinus irrigation!

PS the spinny feeling is probably because your inner ear is involved with your sense of balance and that can be affected when your ear is blocked. I once became so dizzy while doing the Valsalva manoeuvre (because of changes in pressure) that I fell over (and my ear still remained blocked ). So don't do anything too violent! You can't force a very blocked ear to drain - the VS is helpful but will only work on an ear that "ready" to pop, iyswim.

Inhaling steam is worth a go, will often help to shift blockages/mucus

Strangely I'm feeling very similar at the moment OP, I've put it down to wax - so am using an olive oil spray, but if that doesn't help I'm going to try and see the doctor

Same here - and the bit of gunk that comes out is foul smelling - sorry

What is happening with GP appointments now - are they still seeing patients?

I'm afraid that sounds like an ear infection. If so, it will either clear up by itself in a few days or it will get worse and you will need antibiotics. If you have any nose spray like a decongestant, that really really helps open up all the passages for ears as well as nose. X

I second the olive oil suggestion. It’s not magic, but it should help.

It sounds like your ear is blocked with wax, I have to have mine cleaned once a year and it is awful when they block. The nurse at your GP can syringe it out with water, you need to put olive oil in your ears for a couple of nights before you get it done t0 soften the wax. Normally the other ear is just about to block if one is already blocked

Sounds like swimmers ear. Phone gp and ask for ear drops/spray. Also keep the ear dry if possible.

Hi. Although I'm not a doctor I've suffered with ear problems all of my life culminating in an operation for cholesteatoma removal. It sounds to me like a middle ear infection. The gap behind the ear drum fills with infected liquid which stinks and puts pressure on the ear drum. It can leak out of the ear if there is a hole in the drum, and it will disappear down the eustachian tube if you swallow or yawn, although now and then it can block up due to the excess. The dizzy feeling is possibly due to the effect of pressure change and/or swelling around the bones of the ear which lead from the middle ear to the inner ear.

It could resolve itself but may leave scarring if it goes on too long and possibly even a loss in hearing. I believe you should see a doctor for possible antibiotic drops.

Thank you so much all. I’ve just remember that actually I have had this eardrum pop before, about four years ago. It was a similar thing, deep itch then I went to the walk in and there was a tear in the ear drum. I was just told to keep it dry, so I’m going to try that for a few days and try a nasal spray from the chemist. If no better I’ll give GP a call.

I have had a deaf ear for about 5 weeks, been to the doctor's twice, first time infection so took 2 lots of antibiotics (2nd app over phone ) and then i had to go in last week, so no infection just fluid behind the ear! It's not shifted at all and i can't hear anything, so they suggested i wait 4 weeks if still not cleared to call again. With everything going on im not sure what else they can do.
But def call as kine never hurt i only asked them to look when i went in about my chest as it was deaf, i thought it was wax or something

Sounds like you know what to do OP but can I second mackerella’s suggestion - the Neilmed nose irrigation bottle is great and very soothing. It will get all the crud out of your nose at least, while you wait for your ear to improve (or not).

@Chillicheese123 how are you now?