Blocked Ear - cannot hear much - how can I unblock it?

[PavlovtheCatthatgottheCremeEgg]

I have had a blocked ear for over a week. It started with ear pain, which went away after a day, then stayed very very blocked. I thought it would go away, as I had it about 4-5 weeks ago and it just went again, but this time it is showing no signs of letting up. At night it is worse, and seems to effect my other ear a bit too. It is very muffled, and is making things hard to hear. My Dp also said I am mumbling as I canont hear how loudly I am talking, so he is constantly saying pardon to me, and me to him!

I can hear my spine creaking and myself swallowing ang myself talking, all of which is horribe. If there is other noise like radoi on, other people talking, I am struggling to hear what is being said.
I have tried to get a Drs appt for today but nothing but urgent appts only. My brother and his tibe of little ones are coming up this afternoon and I am very worried that I will not be able to involve myself as much as want, hear what is being said, appear to be too quiet. It is starting to get me down!!!

Any ideas on how to unblock it?

DP had something similair couple weeks ago. Put it on health thread should still be there. Some good advice. Most said warm olive oil as it can remove build up of ear wax. It worked for him.

this happened to me two weeks ago! I went on a flight and it was agony.

It started to unblock after a week when I blow my nose and it went 'pop'. It's popped loads since then. I hadn't realised how much it effected my hearing until it popped, and I was also speaking very quietly without realising.

thanks Lily I will go look. Did have a quick scout but nothing immediate...but I am also blind as well as deaf, as I dont have my contacts in LOL!

oh my - I've got the same problem but can't hear my spine creaking

I'm using Boots ear drops but to not much effect and intend going to the GP. My affected ear had a perforation years ago so I'm a bit wary. One thing is for sure she won't be syringing water jet style!

hi use audiclean hun it works for me!its 5.99 in chemist! my ear is blocked too n im gettin dh to use it on me tonight, my prblem is too much wax my ear is completly clogged with it

If you go to your GP, they'll refer you to the nurse who'll tell you to put warm olive oil in for at least a week to soften the wax, and if you still have problems they'll syringe your ears. But only after you've oiled em for a week!!

My dp went to gp who sent him home and said olive oil was by far the best thing.

ok, so olive oil.. How do I use it? warmed on a tea spoon and the on cotton wool like my mummy did when I was a wee girl, is that what she did?! Or did she put it in the ear then put cottom wool in to keep it in?
I will try it, as iit is a nightmare!

Buy one of those empty dropper things (by far the easiest way to do it) from the pharmacy, think they're a couple of quid. Put the oil in and leave it in a cup of warm (not hot) water for a couple of minutes. Use the dropper to put some in your ear and leave it for about 10 minutes, then tip your ear down and it should run out. Lovely!!

Probably best to do it twice a day.

warm it up in a little syringe or small pot, in hot water( i always use the lid of the bottle or another lid off something used up)if its olive oil.Lie on your side and put a few drops in, some times better to dip cotton wool in it then squess that out into your ear.

Or Almond oil, comes in a little bottle. you can then heat the whole, thing by standing it up in a mug of hot water. I used to use that.

Tyr and keep your head tilted so it will run in asap. Should start to soften and disperse the wax after a few days.

Go to the doctor. They will check and see how blocked it is. If, like my dctor saw last night, it is completely blocked they will prob send you away with instructions to put dropper of olive oil in your ear each night for about 5 nights, before returning to have your ear syringed.
I'm having my ear done next week, so need to start putting the oil in this weekend to let it soften. Can't wait because am fed up with having to hold the phone to my left ear.

Go into search for messages. Look for messages by LilyLoo with word ear in them. Advice from Xenia given by GP on how to put it in.

last time I had my ear syringed it ended up perforated so I'm reluctant to have it done again but my drops don't seem to be working too well. Maybe I'll try the olive oil

Oh dear NB
I've had it done before with no after effects. Rather enjoyed it Going from muffled hearing to full hearing was bliss.

well if olive oil workd let me know coz i'll use it too! xxx

Used olive oil twice a day for last two days, nothing so far...
Nurse friend said it may not be 'blocked' but swollen due to other probs, ie if inner ear is swollen, this can make whole ear feel blocked. She said if this is the case, the outer ear will often appear fine. She did not say what to do if this happens, but suggested I go see her at work tomorrow and she will take a look! She also said olive oil, for a blocked ear is the absolute best thing, suggested I try it until tomorrow.

No luck yet, but you never know, I might have a pool of gunk on my pillow yet!

HI, I think what normally happens is it has to work its way down, and could take a good few days, and it should drain away thru your inner ear into the tubes and down your throat.

If it is really impacted, you may have to see your gp, as what you are doing may not take effect if its really hard.

Also, I once had blocked ears when I had flu, then had to fly longhaul. My ear felt like it was full of wax but I went to the doctors and they said it was in fact swollen up inside.

Perhaps a trip to the gp would be advisable.

warm salt in a hankie draws out fluid and soothes. heat salt in a pan for a few minutes and pour into a hankie or cloth and tie up with a band. salt crystals better but can do with anything - retains heat and is really soothing

I've had the same problem when my inner ear was swollen after a cold i.e outer ear completely clear of wax. Dr said I simply had to wait for it to clear on it's own, anitbiotics etc would not help. Have to admit he was right but it took 5-6 weeks, very depressing I know.

Oh its awful. Its in both ears now. Funny thing is, when I tip my head forward, pressure eases and I can hear a litle better. I cannot hear much now, most things are muffled. I cant hear the aby crying at night, I cant hear a lot of what my DP says, I am apparantly talking more quietly and my speech is a bit effected.
I guess Dr is the only thing to do. I start back at work on tuesday, so cant go then, wednesday at work, cant go then. So only day is thursday . I was hoping to be able to hear before I went back to work .
Still trying olive oil. Doing nothing .

Do you have blocked sinuses ? I had a cold about 2 weeks ago and my head is still stuffy and hearing patchy, not helped by flying and stayiong at altitude and them not popping readily.

I did have, when hearing first went about 2 months ago. Cleared lots of gunk (sorry TMI) from nose with vicks steam...could another one help?

Should help, sounds like it is more likely that than just a wax build up. It can make you feel realy swimmy and tired. Also decongestant drops (Otrivine), Olbas oil at night and Sudafed could help.

LIZ - it feels exactly like that...I will try olbas oil. Cant do sudafed as breastfeeding...