blocked ear after a bad sinus cold?? Positivity please.

[Kaylee19882024]

Hi can anyone give me any positive story's.
I had a cold 2 weeks ago which turned into more of a sinus cold a week later, was really phlemy. Now iv had a right blocked ear for thr last 12 days. Crackles when I eat or yawn or tilt my head back. Will this get better eventually? Driving me mad as everything sounds muffled and it's giving me anxiety all the time.

My daughter had this after what I think was covid. Tried to shift it for months using over the counter meds. Paid to see an ENT, he prescribed antibiotics and steroid nasal drops and it was gone within 2 weeks.

@mumTTCbaby2x
I really hope it does go :(
Iv had 2 hours sleep again tonight. I'm exhausted. I can't sleep as I wake up even more deaf and start freaking out in a panic. I was disoriented 2am this morning from waking up in a panic and woke my partner up calling him dad and told him to listen for me 🤷‍♀️😥 not quite sure what was going on. I just want to be unblocked so I can live a normal life and look forward to Christmas. Thank you

OP can you see the GP again, or pay to see one privately? I'm pretty sure I was told that different antibiotics work for different infections, so the ones they gave you may not have been strong enough. If the GP can see how ill you are still, they may overcome their caution and prescribe something stronger. Go and cry at them.

Saline nose spray and steaming

@NotbloodyGivingupYet
Yeh I was only given the usual amoxicillin first time and was probably given to early at that point. Iv rang doctors and waiting for call back so il deffo let them know my list of problems right now 😏 cheers

Search YouTube on simple exercises to help drain your sinuses. There is one where you pull your earlobe and press against your cheekbones with your thumb.

I do them several times a day and haven't been full on congested since.

I had this after Covid a couple of years ago and have been left with tinnitus. It's really shit.

It took mine weeks and two lots of antibiotics to clear. I found the otovent nose balloon helpful, taking decongestants helped a bit, doing lymphatic drainage helped a bit. What actually cleared it was driving along a fast road with the car windows about 1/4 down - it made my ears pop and was such a relief.

I rang the doctors this morning, which they then told me to go to a chemist!! I went to a chemist who told me they would only perscribe me what I'd already done and to see a doctor.
Currently waiting for a doctor to call me back 😔

Be very very clear with the doctor on how it is impacting your ability to sleep and live a normal life..ie its not just annoying like some blocked ears to some people.

@SeaToSki I will indeed. I will update when I hear back from the doctor. Thankyou

honestly you just have to give it time. I sympathise as I get this a lot and also ear wax as apparently I have very narrow ear canals. I also have to wear a headset for work. If it’s catarrh the saline and steam should work but it won’t be immediate. I know it’s shit but it will pass

I had this at the end of the summer, I feel your pain!

Mine was like that for a fortnight then just popped when I blew my nose one day, I was at the hairdresser and had gone to the loo with foils in my hair, I was so excited I told the hairdresser all about it and he looked at me like I was insane!

Syringing is to do with wax and a total red herring, ignore. I had been through about 3 cans of Sterimar (bloody expensive for salty water!). I think it was inflammation in the Eustachian tubes, if I were you I’d try ibuprofen but when I went to the doctor a while later due to ongoing headaches he did a head CT and confirmed sinus infection, said that the only thing that really works is steroids. NB I never had any green mucus from my nose, which is what the internet will tell you signifies a sinus infection, but the infection was clear as day on the CT. (I got the CT as it was a private appointment via my work health insurance).

@HotCrossBunplease
I bet you was excited lol I would be if mine popped back for me too.
I know it's probably going to take time, Im just struggling to keep going with day to day life at min it's depressing me so much. I just can't sleep at all. And can't seem to eat much at all. Iv been using beconase morning and night but no help yet

I know - it’s really awful to effectively go deaf overnight x it’ll pass x you’re doing the right things

UPDATE..
iv been seen by my doctor, which said that I'm basically doing all the right things and that it will go.
She said my ear is still looks congested inside and can see little bubbles that show that :(
I cried my eyes out and begged for help basically (been the baby I am) but there's really not a lot she could do as it has to resolve itself :(
.. but when?? 😪 I just want to be unblocked so I can hear properly

💐🍷

Steam in the shower and then Neilmed rinse. Making sure you get it all round the tubes. At least twice a day. You may find it doesn't unblock a first but eventually the salt water will get all the way round and help. You might have old gunk up there caught. I get it all the time especially on one side. There's also facial massage tips for sinuses on You Tube. I find moving my jaw round at the affected ear all helps - like you are chewing gum.

Did you not ask about steroids?

It's grim OP, sorry you're still suffering. One weird tip - put a bit of cotton wool in your ear if the feeling of your ear being blocked is really unpleasant. I've no idea why it helps, but it does really help me with that horrible sensation. Don't ram lots in too far of course!

@HotCrossBunplease
That was first thing I asked for as I thought would be a good idea, I still do. But she said she wouldn't give them for this kind of thing :( and said I'm doing good the right things. Not that what I'm doing is helping! Fed up..

@IntheArctic
Thanks for that tip :) I will give that a go for sure

My sympathies. I suffered with a blocked ear (first one, then the other, then both at the same time) over my wedding. I was on antibiotics, 2 courses when first one didn't help. I then went away on my honeymoon and my ear kept leaking as the pressure of the plane made it worse.

It took about a month in total to get clear. It just popped one day and I felt clearer.My ears have never been the same since. I struggle to hear low level noise. I've been to an ear specialist and they say my ears are fine and clear, but that it could have damaged my inner ear. All they can do is wait and see if it gets any worse over time.

I can hear normal sounds fine, but low level sounds are difficult for me to pin point. Not great when I am a teacher and have to work out which student is talking behind my back!

I hope you feel better soon. I found nothing really helped except time and rest.

@SmallChanges3 haha bless ya, i think that's first time iv laughed at anything for weeks. Sorry to hear your still having some issues but glad your over the worst part :) it's been a rough ride for sure. Did you get a lot of crackling sounds? Mine keeps crackling a lot espically in the car or when I eat or drink

Valsalva manoeuvre holding nose, closing the good ear very firmly shut with your other hand then blow. It should not mess with the good ear if you have it pushed in firmly.

Good luck.

I'm not sure if this will help as my post-cold issue tends to be sinuses rather than eustachian tubes but I would propose rinsing out sinuses 2-3 times per day with Sterimar/similar, apply a hot water bottle behind the ear to get things moving, take Bromelain which will help thin the mucus.