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To tell you all that I just unblocked my own ear and it feels AMAZING?

219 replies

Fossiliferous · 01/07/2024 11:40

It's been blocked on and off since I had covid in 2021 😬

It gets worse every time I get a cold or my hayfever is bad, so I assumed it was a middle ear thing. Had a phone appointment with my GP about it when it first started and was advised to do steam inhalation and use otrivine nasal spray, so that's what I've been doing when it blocks and eventually it clears. My ears never seemed very waxy and due to it being linked to congestion I never thought it might be wax.

But about 3 weeks ago it blocked and just wouldn't unblock. I've been almost completely unable to hear from that ear since and it's been misery, so disorientating.

Anyway I thought in desperation last week to try wax removal just in case and got some bicarbonate of soda spray, when I tried it my ear literally fizzed and popped and seemed slightly clearer so I've been doing that twice daily for 5 days. This morning I thought I'd give it a rinse with a bulb thingy and some very slightly salty water and OMG the gak that came out 🤢 I thought it would never end, and then one really big stringy bit (like a ribbon of dead skin) came out and all of a sudden I could hear again and my head stopped feeling faintly swimmy. It took 3 x 500ml jugs of warm water (teaspoon of salt added to each) though, I was rinsing it for about 15 minutes til the water came out clear.

Everything is so loud! Its obviously been far worse than I realised for ages Blush

Once I get used to everything being so loud again I'm going to do the other ear, which I thought was unaffected but now this ear is properly clear I can tell that the other one is a bit blocked too.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
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Fossiliferous · 03/07/2024 20:11

fancystrawberries · 03/07/2024 20:03

Anyone with links..? 😅

This is the bicarb spray I used

And the rubber bulb syringe can be bought at any chemist, we just had one here already from god knows when.

OP posts:
Fossiliferous · 03/07/2024 20:12

TheBlackSheepbaaaa · 03/07/2024 19:53

Started reading this thread last night and I am now laid here with the sodium bicarbonate spray bubbling away in my ear 😆
Thank you Op ( and Amazon Prime!)

Isn't the noise satisfying?? When I sprayed my ear the first time it was the first thing I'd heard in that ear for over a week 🤣

OP posts:
purplecube · 03/07/2024 23:19

I’ve been feeling like my hearing has gone downhill recently as I’ve been struggling to hear quiet people, especially when there’s background noise. Could this be wax? My ears don’t feel blocked or uncomfortable and no wax ever comes out of my ears. I thought it was just getting older (I’m mid 40s) but now I’m wondering if it’s wax that has been building up inside. I’m tempted to try this but slightly nervous after reading some stories of side effects.

EBearhug · 04/07/2024 00:04

neighboursmustliveon · 03/07/2024 19:47

You inspired me OP, my spay and bulb arrived today so first spay has been done!

Please do not spay yourself, that is too extreme!
😉

JimandPam · 04/07/2024 07:22

I'm joining the club 🙋🏻‍♀️

My DH has had a blocked ear all week so I've just ordered the bicarbonate spray and bulb thing.

Will report back! 🫡

familyissues12345 · 04/07/2024 09:42

fancystrawberries · 03/07/2024 20:10

Oh how I wish there was something similar for permanently blocked sinuses!!

Have you tried one of those Neti pot things? I think their meant to be good

Fossiliferous · 04/07/2024 10:38

You know I said I'd do my other ear? Which I'd always considered to be fine, but after unblocking my really bad ear the other day I realised the other one was kind of blocked too?

Just done it... OMG I can hear so well now!!!

And here's a couple of gross pics for you lovely bunch of weirdos...

To tell you all that I just unblocked my own ear and it feels AMAZING?
To tell you all that I just unblocked my own ear and it feels AMAZING?
OP posts:
Fossiliferous · 04/07/2024 10:39

That's about 1/3 of what came out of the bad ear though 🤢

OP posts:
Pancakewaffle · 04/07/2024 10:44

I reckon the OP should be getting a commission off the sales from this thread 😅

Currently lying down with the stuff in my ear too. No crackle sound though, disappointing!

Fossiliferous · 04/07/2024 10:47

Pancakewaffle · 04/07/2024 10:44

I reckon the OP should be getting a commission off the sales from this thread 😅

Currently lying down with the stuff in my ear too. No crackle sound though, disappointing!

The seller of that bicarb spray must be wondering wtf has happened to the ears of the nation 🤣

OP posts:
fancystrawberries · 04/07/2024 16:53

familyissues12345 · 04/07/2024 09:42

Have you tried one of those Neti pot things? I think their meant to be good

I have but it’s not working for some reason.

alrightluv · 04/07/2024 17:01

I've ordered bicarb stuff it's arriving today. Just come back from holiday so left ear is even more blocked after the flight.

WhataPithy · 04/07/2024 17:26

I’ve ordered the Knoxzy (?) spray and the rubber bulb thingy too Grin.

Starting tonight, exciting!

fancystrawberries · 09/07/2024 18:49

Ok my elderly mum told me yesterday that her ear probably must be blocked or something, she hasn’t heard a thing for a couple of weeks. And thanks to this thread I had such good advice, she asked how on earth I could know all this. 😂 Spray is on the way.

JFDIYOLO · 09/07/2024 21:11

Please keep us posted!!! 🤞 for her

BringMeTea · 22/07/2024 15:13

Any updates re the spray? @fancystrawberries @WhataPithy ? 🤩

wackel · 27/07/2024 13:16

Hugely inspired by this thread, I have been at work with the bicarb spray for the last 5 days. I was looking forward to the expelling of at least some gak this morning, aaaaaand…. nothing!!
My right ear now feels more blocked than before so I can only assume any wax in there must have been absolutely solid but that it has started to soften and swell a bit 😬. I may need a few more days trying to soften it, or I need to try with warmer water maybe! Ugh, so disappointing!

NotAPersonalAttack · 27/02/2025 22:54

As a teen, my GP's nurse syringed my ear as I couldn't hear.

Oh my days, the whole kidney dish was full of swimming wax, the nurse said she had never seen anything like it <proud>.

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