To ask about how to unblock my ear

[Coolieloach]

I really don’t want to go to the chemist but my ear a blocked and I feel,I am completely deaf in one ear.
I gently used a cotton bud but nothing changes. Is it true olive oil can help? I’m not in much pain but it’s bothering me to the extent I want to try and clear it,
Any advice please?

It could be blocked eustachian tubes. Hold your nose and blow.

Try ear drops. Cotton bud can push wax further in

A cotton bud is the worst thing you can use, you’re just ramming packed wax up against your eardrum. Throw them away.

Olive oil will soften the wax, though it will take several days for it to loosen. You can then order a bulb irrigator from Amazon and try to flush the ear out with warm water.

Olive oil is a good start. I bought myself an amazing ear water shooting syringe thingy from Amazon that cleared a huge amount of wax from my ear

My DH was advised by the GP to use olive oil to soften any wax build up - not sure if it’s working. Then he’s getting them syringed which has to be privately paid for as not currently available on the NHS. GP also advised against using any kind of cotton buds in the ear.

Watching this thread with interest as I’ve been basically deaf in one ear for a couple of months now. Have tried olive oil and Otex and both were useless.

What about the candle treatment?

@greytminds

My DH was advised by the GP to use olive oil to soften any wax build up - not sure if it’s working. Then he’s getting them syringed which has to be privately paid for as not currently available on the NHS. GP also advised against using any kind of cotton buds in the ear.

^^ This.

Olive oil yes, to soften up the wax causing the blockage.

If it doesn't come out on its own I'd then make an appointment with the GP and ask for syringing (still do the olive oil though because they'll get you to do this anyway before they syringe it).

Bit gross but it really is a glorious feeling when it pops out and fascinating to see

Once it does come out though, I wouldn't put anything in it like drops etc... Keep your ears as dry as possible from then on, in the shower etc...

STOP USING COTTON BUDS!!

Yes olive oil will work, a couple of drops every day for a few days. I use almond oil too.

Ok thank you, I have olive oil here. Sorry if this is stupid question but what’s the best way to heat the oil and I’m not sure I have a syringe so what the best way to administer?

It's very distracting when one ear is blocked. Oil based ear drops for about 5 days followed by sodium bicarbonate ear drops might help. The soda bic Ear Drops fizz. I wouldn't push anything into my ear, it usually makes things worse and I'd be cautious about flushing the ear myself, you could cause damage to the ear drum if you use too much pressure.

I will stop using ear buds

@Coolieloach

Ok thank you, I have olive oil here. Sorry if this is stupid question but what’s the best way to heat the oil and I’m not sure I have a syringe so what the best way to administer?

Can you nip to the pharmacy to get a syringe? It really will be easier to do it with one. I mean I guess you could get someone to tip a small tea spoon with a few drops on into your ear otherwise 😂 keep your head tilted to the side for a minute or so to make sure it really gets in there and doesn't just run back out.

I never heated the oil personally.

Cotton buds I meant!

If it's not blocked by wax, then an air steward trick I read on here years ago is

Take a small diameter cup (think airline drinking glass)

Put a serviette/tissue in the bottom

Put boiling water into the serviette so it's nearly soaked, but no free fluid

Hold it to the blocked ear to steam it carefully - might be miraculous, might do nothing

Warm olive oil in the ear then lie down with your ear on a warm hot water bottle covered in an old towel.

Do you have a small dropper bottle from something else you could wash out and use? Failing that you could put the end of a straw in the oil and then put your finger over the open end which will effectively vacuum a small quantity in the end submerged in the oil. Hope that makes sense.
You could warm the oil but you will only need a tiny amount which will quickly come to body temp when you put it in your ear. Heating the oil could risk burning inside your ear.

I use hydrogen peroxide 3 percent food grade and use a calpol syringe to put a few drops in my ear when it gets like that. Its the active ingredient in otex. It works well for me. It actually dissolves the wax, you can hear it working. A pharmacist told me about it years ago, its the only thing that will clear my ears without having them properly syringed.

U can use a calpol syringe for the oil

This is probably the worst advice but it works, I use the tip of my finger and sort of use it as a plunger and eventually it pops and its fixed - prepared to be attacked with how dangerous and unhygienic it is

The only thing that worked when my ear was blocked for weeks, was a water syringe.
I ordered it from amazon and it came within a day.
You basically hold your ear over the sink and sqyirt warm water in it.
I was desparate by this stage mind and it may not be for everyone.
Amazing what came out of my ear!
But I could hear again and it was instant relief!

Microsuction is better than syringing if you are paying privately

Olive oil is a good start, twice a day

Don't use cotton buds

I had this and the whole ear was blocked.

After a long wait for an appointment, I got them suctioned.

It was fucking amazing.

I had to use olive oil to soften the wax.

I tried all the above methods and unfortunately none of them worked as it was so blocked.

I use olive oil drops for about a week and then get them syringed. It's painless but made me dizzy last time. Worth it though.