To ask about my blocked ear ...again!

[Coolieloach]

I posted a couple of days ago about a build up in my ear which is completely blocked and I have no hearing. Got some great suggestions about applying olive oil and a couple of posters suggested getting one of those home irrigation kits to ‘flush out’ ear which I did yesterday after it arrived from Amazon.

This didn’t work, but I’m now in a panic because as well having a completely blocked ear it now hurts too. I’ve just read on the NHS website that you shouldn’t put water in your ears?! But surely this is what nurses do to flush out the wax?

I’m totally distraught that I appear to have made things worse, can anyone offer me any positive thoughts or advice? I know it’s pretty trivial in current circumstances but it’s tipping me over the edge mentally!

Thank you!

@Devillishlypicklypickles

Only advice is to stop asking for advice from random strangers on the Internet and make a GP appointment, your blocked ear might not have anything to do with a build-up of wax, I frequently get blocked ears because of eustachian tube dysfunction usually caused by my sinuses or colds etc. You could give yourself a nasty infection by putting things like water etc in your ears. I hope you manage to get it sorted out soon, I know how bloody miserable it is!

Oh my goodness, yes - this!!

You don’t actually know it’s wax. It might be. But what if it’s not?

I get blocked ears every winter, when I get a cold (this has been the first winter in years that I haven’t, because everyone’s been staying home with colds due to COVID, and being much more hygienic, generally - bliss!).

My ears block due to do fluid build-up, and I basically just have to wait for it to pass.

Putting oil in them would absolutely make things much worse.

Erm because most HCP’s are preoccupied with COVID stuff and my GP surgery are not offering non urgent procedures or referrals

Well aware thanks, I am one.

Lots of places deal with ear sucking out, private practices and opticians. You need to keep going with the olive oil as the wax needs to be soft and ignore anyone that suggests ear candles. However you don’t know the reason, you could have an infection so it may be worth asking the GP.

If you can't get a GP to look in your ears you can buy a camera which connects to your phone via Bluetooth so you can have a look yourself

@WhatDoHedgehogsSay

Erm because most HCP’s are preoccupied with COVID stuff and my GP surgery are not offering non urgent procedures or referrals

Well aware thanks, I am one.

Lots of places deal with ear sucking out, private practices and opticians. You need to keep going with the olive oil as the wax needs to be soft and ignore anyone that suggests ear candles. However you don’t know the reason, you could have an infection so it may be worth asking the GP.

‘You need to keep going with the olive oil’?!

You’re comfortable, as an HCP, diagnosing and prescribing for the OP over the internet - when you don’t even know what the issue actually is....?

Can I jump in here and ask how much olive oil and whats the best way to get it in there? I am going through this at the mo too (so I empathise OP - not as bad as you though).
And...how do you stop it just dribbling out? I'm sorry I sound so thick.

Like someone said above when I did mine with water it did take ages , just carried on in small intervals all day until it came out . Hope you can sort it however you do so!

@WhatDoHedgehogsSay

Erm because most HCP’s are preoccupied with COVID stuff and my GP surgery are not offering non urgent procedures or referrals

Well aware thanks, I am one.

Lots of places deal with ear sucking out, private practices and opticians. You need to keep going with the olive oil as the wax needs to be soft and ignore anyone that suggests ear candles. However you don’t know the reason, you could have an infection so it may be worth asking the GP.

God you’re rude

Thanks everyone who’s been helpful

My gp won't do it anymore, but they recommended a local place to have them vacuumed and I got an appointment the next day. Boots and specsavers were at least a months wait. I feel for you it's so uncomfortable

Whatever OP, carry on asking the internet for advice rather than actual professionals. Can’t work out why you think my reply is rude, but carry on sticking things in your ear and see what happens.
You’re comfortable, as an HCP, diagnosing and prescribing for the OP over the internet - when you don’t even know what the issue actually is....?

Actually I suggested the OP see a professional but got shot down on that one. But if you’re going to get wax removed it’s easier when it’s softer as the lining of your ear canal won’t get stripped away.

The reason I said ignore anyone who suggest ear candles is because they are bollocks. But carry on. Maybe when you do your ear some actual damage the GP will see you.

Actually I suggested the OP see a professional but got shot down on that one. But if you’re going to get wax removed it’s easier when it’s softer as the lining of your ear canal won’t get stripped away.

The reason I said ignore anyone who suggest ear candles is because they are bollocks. But carry on. Maybe when you do your ear some actual damage the GP will see you.

And if the issue isn’t even wax?

I have suffered quite a lot with this over the years .Sometimes you can ask your GP for a referral to the Nurse for irrigation .Ours dont do it any more and I go to a private clinic at about £50 per ear .Worth every single penny though for the relief of being able to hear again!

Poor thing, blocked ears are horrible. I have weirdly narrow ear canals and drops etc. Never work for me as they are to small and curvy to allow the stuff to flush out naturally, hence the build up in the first place. After years of syringing getting less effective I also do microsuction now and it is amazing. As pps have said they offer it in Boots and the like but there are also private clinics where it is available. If it is not something you’ve had before though hopefully it won’t keep recurring for you.

I used one of the Amazon kits in the last lockdown - like a big syringe that you fill with warm water and squirt into your ear whilst leaning over the sink. It took me a lot of attempts over a couple of days but it did eventually work and was amazing relief!! I would say if it is hurting, don't mess with it anymore for now. If it gets worse and / or you start to feel unwell, you should contact the GP. If it goes off, you could try again with the syringe. Don't think that it hasn't worked if you don't get results the first time - I definitely had to persist.

@Coolieloach

I can’t say it’s safe, I’m not a doctor myself but I can tell you it’s regularly done in our house.

Make sure you wash the equipment carefully though to avoid bugs/bacteria. Would also recommend using tepid room temp water.

Isn't the feeling of being blocked one of the first signs of an ear infection? It certainly is for me. I use a hot water bottle, its usually the only thing that actually helps.

May be worth speaking to a pharmacist. I don't know if they can have a look at your ear, but you could at least explain your symptoms and they can make recommendations

Pour boiling water over a wash cloth and put in a mug, lie down with the mug against your ear. It really helps with ear pain. That and painkillers.

It might not be blocked from wax. I have eustaschian tube dysfunction and mine frequently are blocked due to allergies, colds, sinus trouble and can take weeks to unblock. Best see a GP to see what’s going on! I wouldn’t ever recommend syringing with water as my ENT said it can also cause water to get trapped behind the earwax causing loads of issues. Good luck!

Have you tried Olbas oil?

Put a few drops in boiling water and let it steam the room, preferably a bedroom before sleep

Do this a few nights and it really helps

Op my gp recommended one of those kits so don't feel bad.

My OH has a similar problem during lockdown. Doctors said olive oil drops daily or otex for minimum 3 weeks.

They said do not syringe and I was told off for trying it as it can cause an infection / burst ear drum.

However if you are in pain rather than discomfort please call your doctors as they should be able to speak to you on the phone and if you have an infection antibiotics may be needed.

As prior posters have said, are you sure it's wax?

Mine are usually blocked the other side of the ear drum, so olbus oil helps for me.

If it's painful with adding the water it sounds more likely to be an infection. The swelling can lead to the blocked feeling. A GP (and some walk-in clinics - check they see ear infections first) can prescribe a spray with antibiotics and antifungals that can clear an infection. Last time I had the spray (April) I didn't need to see the doctor, I used e-consult and he phoned me before prescribing, but I knew what the problem was.

As tempting as it is, you are probably best not sticking anything else in your ears until you've had a professional check the ear channel and ear drum are intact.

and a couple of posters suggested getting one of those home irrigation kits to ‘flush out’ ear which I did yesterday after it arrived from Amazon.

Don't do this. My brother did it and ended up in hospital for a week. He really buggered his ear up, couldn't stand up, constant throwing up if he tried, his balance was screwed. Took 3 weeks before he was anything like normal. Doctors in the hospital told him to never do this, as invariably it always goes wrong.

@tinybuddha

It might not be blocked from wax. I have eustaschian tube dysfunction and mine frequently are blocked due to allergies, colds, sinus trouble and can take weeks to unblock. Best see a GP to see what’s going on! I wouldn’t ever recommend syringing with water as my ENT said it can also cause water to get trapped behind the earwax causing loads of issues. Good luck!

Same here. I’ve had ‘glue ear’ twice which is more common in toddlers. Not painful but makes me quite deaf and is a bit disorientating. Nothing you can do but wait it out (although they put grommets in kids’ ears now I think).

Don’t put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear said my mum, a nurse!

Wax expands when wet so things can get temporarily worse when you put water or drops in.
DO NOT WARM THE OIL, ENT doctors advice very strongly against this as there have been incidents of oil being overheated and patients giving themselves horrific burns to the ear canal and drum!