Tips to unblock a painful blocked ear?

[PavlovtheForgetfulCat]

Remnant of a cold, which was/is chesty cough type, plus bunged up (not really runny) nose.

Ear has been blocked for a day, almost unblocked with a couple of crunches, then today it was half way there, but then started to hurt and now is blocked and painful.

It really hurts, esp when I put pressure on it. Feels like it needs/wants a really good pop and all will be ok.

Any tips? How do i do the olive oil thing? how hot with the oil? cotton wool soaked in it, or oil straight into ear then wool on top? Any other ones? Would prefer not to go into labour with a blocked ear its a bit annoying!

one other(very unpleasant)way is to snort salt water- but it isn't nice!

Bella - it's all those learner drivers, my ears involuntarily block themselves

Great news Pavlov... and did it feel good? I'm getting vicarious pleasure from how good I imagine that felt, like popping a particularly painful spot, instant relief!

Oh wow - REALLY?

Oh, I'm so pleased for you!!!!!

Fabulous news! Fabulous!

I can go to sleep tonight knowing I have achieved something.

All the best with the babies, girls

I've done the salt water one too, though usually sea water so really really unhygienic

x post, HF - yes, they must get you in a right PADI, eh?

Hahahaha, oh they do!

Chuckled at that one Bella .

I think i will need to do it again in a bit though (oh dear is this likely to become addictive ).

I shall keep the salt water one as a reserve

I am stupidly pleased as I absolutely hate earache.

headfairy surprisingly yes it did feel good, although I was somewhat apprehensive so could possibly have done it a bit harder. I now get that sort of yawn thing going on, you know its like an involuntary yawn without moving your mouth? And when that happens it is suggesting i might need to do it again. So I shall .

Nope...the other one popped again though maybe they are into taking it in turns

That's good, it's amazing what a bit of a jaw wiggle can do!

headfairy i remember reading your thread about your fall, was that you, did you post about it? I really hope you feel better soon x

Now my ear is throbbing, painful throbbing...not blocked though, or not as blocked...is that normal?

Now, it is very very blocked. And painful. And will not pop. I have tried .

I shall try a face steam next. I shall hold out on the salt water, as I would prefer not to throw up, methinks that will happen if I attempt that one!

I wonder if the gp would give me antibiotics if i have an ear infection so close to my due date? , would I want to take them? perhaps another thread for that. Shall think about it.

Oh, Pavlov

Does sound like it might be an infection...

Try the steam - good luck

I tried the steam, not working.

I am going to wait. I too think alas it might be an infection after all, which is just so typical. But I do not want to take anything for it like ABs as my immune system is bad enough as it is, without the ABS lowering it even more when i am about to have a baby.

But, at least I now know how to get rid of blocked ears properly under normal circs! it worked for a short while!

Sorry to hear it's worse... does sound like an infection to me I'm afraid... I'm sure you can have antibiotics when you're very close to your due date, I had some when I was pg with ds as I had bronchitis the week before he was born.

Thanks for asking about the fall... I'm very very bruised and walking like an old lady, but beyond that no harm done!

Menthylated crystals from the chemist. Dissolve a few crystals in boiling water and inhale.

Works wonders on a stuffy, blocked nose/ear.

Vev i have some of that, have used it before for my sinus infections. Can i use it in pregnancy? I recall last time, reading the instructions it said 'one or two crystals'. I was like 'that is clearly not enough' as I could smell nothing, and two just seemed daft, so i put a tiny weeny pinch in...

...and burnt my nostrils, my throat and eyes so badly I thought I had some some permanent damage .

Now, i follow instructions!

Ear no longer hurts, but is still blocked. Not in such a hard blockage, where you can hear your own voice., but more an 'everything is a bit swimmy and not so loud' manner. I notice more when I am in for example a supermarket or on the phone, do not know if I am whispering or shouting. But it seems much better.