Help - blocked ear

[EatPrayYoga]

I have been told time and again to use olive oil of ears. are getting blocked.

I used a cotton bud a couple of nights ago as my ears felt itchy. I shouldn't have but I couldn't help myself. I then put in some olive oil to try to counteract any damage I'd done.

Since then my left ear has been very blocked. I put in quite a bit of olive oil (2/3 of the dropper) and they felt better but I put in the same last night.

I'm now thinking I am putting in too much olive oil. Sometimes I put olive oil in and in the morning find the oil and wax has come out. In the past few days nothing has come out so I think it's compacted but putting the oil in seems to have made it worse.

I've had an ongoing problem with my ears for over a year but my appointment for syringing was cancelled due to covid in March and they have mostly been fine since then until now when my ear is blocked again.

It feels very uncomfortable and slightly painful now.

I know I shouldn't have put a bud in it so please don't flame me for that!

You need some Otex, absolutely brilliant stuff and works far better than olive oil.

You probably pushed some wax further in with the cotton bud.
try specsavers - you might need the syringing

I’ve had two blocked, itchy ears for the last 3 months and it’s been driving me insane. Tried olive oil and the extra strength otex to no avail. Finally went to the GP as one ear was sore and itchy. She thought it might be fungal and took a swab for testing and so I started on canestan ear drops and that has made a difference.

No judgement on me for the cotton bud - I clean my ears out with Kirby grips and it’s very satisfying!

Try Otex and remake your appointment for syringing.

My surgery are still not doing syringing. Apparently I am top of the list but I've been there since about April!

I called specsavers and got an appointment for next weekend for microsuction but had a long conversation with the guy in the phone about whther I need to pay for that as I went before they stopped doing microsuction and they only partly cleared the wax. Usually they will tell you to keep putting oil in and go back after a week but last time I couldn't go back as they stopped doing microsuction. I realise this might not be the same wax but at the same time I paid them about £50 last time and they didn't remove anything and I went expecting that they would remove it even if it took two visits. So we'll see!

I haven't found Otex works for me. I've had this problem for about 2 years since I got pregnant with my first. I have had an ear infection in the past few months and I found that taking the antibiotics cleared everything out too.

I shouldn't have used the cotton bud and then put so much oil in. It's really annoying to have a blocked ear.

I've started using hydrogen peroxide 6%. You look up the correct dilution online. It's very satisfying because the reaction is exothermic, so you get heat and fizzing in your ear & definitely feel that it's working!

The pharmacist might look at you a bit thought, as it's a component of home made bomb making.

I really wouldn't use Otex / hydrogen peroxide or any more oil in your situation. If you live anywhere near an audiology clinic (such as Clear Ear Clinic) go and get them to do microsuction. Done properly by a trained audiologist it will be instant relief and they will give you a thorough examination of your ears at the same time. No need to put oil in beforehand. Syringing is largely believed to be less effective and potentially dangerous.

Taking antihistamines works for me.

I am booked into specsavers for microsuction but they tell you to use oil for 7 days

Taking antihistamines works for me.

Interesting. I wonder why this works.

@EatPrayYoga

I am booked into specsavers for microsuction but they tell you to use oil for 7 days

Taking antihistamines works for me.

Interesting. I wonder why this works.

I expect because allergies affect my nose and throat and all are connected, I'm supposed to take them all year.

It's good that it works for you

As for the oil, the GP and everyone constantly recommend that but I think I've been using too much

Apparently I have narrow ear canals but this didn't affect me until I was about 35