To beg for suggestions for severe ear pain relief!

[waitinginwonderland]

Posting for traffic!

I’ve been swimming twice this week and yesterday started to develop ear pain. Assumed it was irritation from the water/ear wax. It was worse today and could barely hear out of affected ear, so I saw pharmacist who checked it over and said no signs of infection. He gave me sodium bicarbonate drops and I have put them in, also trying warm compress and OTC pain relief. The pain is absolutely crippling - I’ve got a really high tolerance for pain and I’m in tears.

To add another layer, tomorrow is our adoption panel after 4 years of infertility, loss, surgeries, etc and I really needed to be at my best, not half deaf and in agony!!

Any tips at all for ear pain/impacted ear wax to relieve this overnight? I’ll try anything, however out there!

My partner finds relief from warm compresses. Won't cure it ofc but helps damper the pain. I get a damp cloth and zap it in the microwave for 10 seconds. It helps him get to sleep

good luck with your panel!

Sodium Bicarbonate drops can make it worse!

Stop using those - try warm olive oil instead. If you have impacted ear wax it will help with that as well.

Does it feel like water is in there? Adding water can get water out

Where are you putting the heat? I find putting it in the dip behind the lobe best also there are ear massages you can look on YouTube for

🤦🏻‍♀️ you are the second person to say that to me! Ironically I was using bloody olive oil before I went to the pharmacist and he said switch to the sodium! Will switch back!

It doesn’t really to be honest it just feels sore! I’m a pool and wild swimmer and never had this before, I was in the sea Sunday then in pool with my niece Monday but didn’t get painful until yesterday. I’ve got a hot water bottle over the ear at the moment! Will check YouTube thank you!

You may have water trapped in the ear, or it’s a coincidence and it’s ear wax. Did the pharmacist mention if you have excessive wax?

Try the warm compresses but if it’s as bad as you say ring 111 for advice.

I have had tinnitus for 30 years which does get worse when I have a cold, infection or excessive wax so I admit that I am very careful with my ears.

Pharmacist thinks swimming has impacted/swelled the existing wax. Never had any issue before with water or wax and I’m a frequent swimmer! Tried to book in for wax removal first thing but no appointments.

Do you think it’s ear pressure like on a plane? I had terrible ear pain at one point and an otovent ballon was amazing relief. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Otovent-Autoinflation-Clinically-Effective-Treatment/dp/B00308F9O6/ref=asc_df_B00308F9O6?mcid=84867778b5d135ec8f6b72fe3f89f61f&th=1&psc=1&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=697357044134&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6557353743662611115&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046923&hvtargid=pla-405660592488&psc=1&hvocijid=6557353743662611115-B00308F9O6-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1

Earcalm spray is really good but you would have to ask the pharmacist whether it's appropriate for the kind of pain you have as think it's mainly used for infections, definitely helps with pain though.

DD used to get a lot of ear infections and a salt sock seemed to help ease the pain.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEcL0Vwt_WJ/?igsh=MmJkaDRqMjB2bG82

Sounds like the pharmacist was pretty rubbish. Try another one, or better still, the GP. There are also lots of places that offer ear wax removal, if you google it you may find someone near by. They will get the wax out if there is any, or tell you if there isn’t and it’s an infection. Good luck for your panel!!!

@waitinginwonderland I'm a regular swimmer too, and had ear pain recently. Like you I thought it must be a build up of wax, so started using the sodium bicarbonate drops too. Which led to more pain and an infection. The pharmacist was pretty clear about the drops making it worse!

Microsuction tomorrow!

You can try over the counter ph spray - pharmacist will advise. With it cleared that should be enough to fend off the infection. If not then go back and demand antibiotic spray.

Next time- have your ears microsuctioned before swim holidays and use this spray prior to every swim.. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Earol-Swim-Tea-Tree-Oil/dp/B017BPAUVA

From a long time dodgy ear sufferer.

It sounds like you need to see another dr, I’ve had a lot of ear trouble recently and ears are sensitive.

Do not put olive oil in them or the ear calm stuff, the pain you’re describing sounds like an inner ear infection which they may not be able to see yet.

Get another Dr appointment and take painkillers.

Good luck at your adoption meeting.

Oh and to clear up what’s blatantly happened as happens EVERY time to me.

Water swells the wax and blocks a small portion of slightly awful swim water behind your ear wax. The swim water chemicals neutralise your ear acid (ph) and heat/ wet environment then allows the infection to grow uncontrolled (as it’s the ph which controls and prevents infection).

Basically no antibiotic will fix it without clearing it. A) because it cant reach it, and B) because the ph can’t resolve without getting the infected water/ material out - which it cant do because A - it’s blocked.

Someone will have microsuction somewhere tomorrow. If you give me an idea of area then I might be able to advise because I have this issue frequently.

Take an anti histamine tonight, it can help reduce the fluid in your ‘pipes’ reducing the pressure and see a gp / pharmacist (different one) tomorrow

They usually advise softening wax before wax removal.