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.

Hey! Similar to you, crackling & popping so hoping that’s a good sign and the end of this is near. I can’t stand it! I’m steaming with menthol crystals, using nasal rinse, beconase nasal spray and sucking on boiled sweats. The balloon doesn’t do anything for me yet.

Hello, just resurrecting this in the hope anyone previously posting might update with some reassurance that it got better and how long it took? I am joining the long line of sufferers and can totally relate with how awful this is! 😭

Hey! I understand where you are at right now, it’s horrible & really stressful. I can reassure you with time it does get better, just takes time. Get some beconase or even better some steroid nasal spray from a gp. And order the Neilmed sinus rinse from amazon, do that 2-3 times a day and make sure it’s with cool boiled water.
Dont panic, it’s a long slog & the changes are so small you don’t realise it changing, but it will get better. It took me over 12 weeks xx

Thank you so much for replying! 12 weeks is a terrifying prospect but good to know it does get better eventually... at what point did it become more manageable? I am so consumed by this at the moment, I can't concentrate on anything else and it's awful

Hey! No worries I completely get how distressing it is, it does consume you. What have you tried for it?
it just very slowly improves over the weeks and you realise it’s more manageable. The Eustachian tube will be swollen & that needs time to reduce. Try to focus on other things as a way to take your mind off it. I now have hay fever (first time ever) which is why it’s lingering I think & taken so long. So if you don’t have allergies it should resolve quicker for you. Feel free to PM me xx

I feel like I've tried everything - steaming regularly, saline sinus rinses, drinking lots of fluid, olbas oil/vicks, was given antibiotics last week by GP for the sinus infection which caused this, have started beconase, even panicked and bought one of the outrageously expensive 'ear poppers' in desperation (only started using yesterday, no immediate results but will keep it up in case). The problems is that I'm 16 weeks pregnant so can't take all the usual decongestants I usually would (which I think is how my sinuses got so bad).
I just feel so trapped in my own head, and can't stand the echo-y sound of my voice, it's driving me totally mad. And, like a lot of others, I'm so scared by the stories I've read from people who say it never got better!

Did you go to the GP at all? How long would you say before you noticed an improvement? Thanks so much again for replying xx

@Kaylee19882024 hi! Im exactly how u described! Its making me so depressed , i have a 3 month old. How long did yours last and did it clear :( x

@anxious123456 how are your ears now ? Did they clear? X

Hello! Have been meaning to update this post actually as I know others would benefit from the reassurance that, as others have said, it does get better!

Unfortunately it really affected my MH at the time (and has actually turned me into a bit of a hypochondriac, particularly whilst I'm still pregnant) but the good news is that it is totally better. It took some time - probably 2/3 weeks of not being able to hear properly/voice being distorted etc, but then another 6 weeks or so of pressure/fullness and a lot of popping and crackling (having to yawn pop my ears all the time which was so so annoying). But it's been about 2 months and I did have another cold which didn't affect my ears so I'm hoping it never happens again!

Sorry to hear you're going through this, I imagine it's the last thing you need with a small baby. I think the best thing is staying hydrated and using any decongestant you can (Otrivin or similar nasal spray in the short term (3 days max) and pseudoephedrine would be gold standard but depends if you're breastfeeding etc) assuming you've had a cold which is affecting your sinuses, and trying to distract yourself as much as possible. I really became so fixated that it affected me mentally in a way that was very disproportionate to the physical symptoms. Sending you best wishes for a quick recovery!

@anxious123456 thank you for replying! Im goad your better :)

how long do you have left?

i havent been ill but have felt very congested also not sure if its related to hayfever abd hormones make it worse i feel.

its really affecting me :( its all i think about, i dont wanna do things with my 4year old as i cant focus :( they keep crackling! Was you told it was eustachian tube dysfunction as thats what the dr said today and could see little bubbles in my ear. My ears feel abit painful due yo the pressure :( i havent been drinking a lot so will up it for sure. Im so glad you never got it again. Its soooo draining :( xxx

@anxious123456 also without sounding dirty. Since using the spray and decongestants ive noticed ive got mucus coming out. Did you get this? X

do you have an update @Kaylee19882024 ?

I have this now and it’s completely taken over my life; I feel so lonely, depressed, and utterly terrified that I’ll be left with permanent hearing loss . I am constantly snappy with my wonderful kids as I find their noise so disorientating with one ear.

any positive outcomes would be gratefully received !

Not the op but had the same thing for at least half of 2024 and not at all in 2025. In fact, I'd forgotten about it until I saw this post. It just went eventually.
It is annoying though, asking everyone to repeat everything

Thank you @BeCalmNavyDreamer that gives me some hope. I find that my mental health struggles are on par with the deafness in terms of awfulness :(

really hope it doesn’t last too long, though not overly hopeful if yours persisted for half a year. Glad you’re out the other side , thank you for responding :)

Ear syringing does not help with middle ear problems. It only clears out the wax from your ear canal. It will not help to unblock your Eustachian tube!

Hi, I can reassure you this DOES get better but warn you it will take time. Get the Neilmed sinus wash from Amazon. Hang in there you will be ok. Sending strength & love, I know how rotten it is. It will go though xx