clogged ear... any remedy?

[Papa Deuce]

I have a cold. While descending on a flight on Thursday, my left ear clogged. It hasn't unclogged. I went to an ENT Dr. of Friday. He said I have fluid behind my ear. He gave me no medication. He also told me to take decongestants. Well, it is Sunday and my ear is still clogged.

Any ideas on what to do? He said that there is no sign of infection.

I have been chewing gum, yawning.... and doing what the doctor said to do.

 

[Missy Mouse]

I have a cold. While descending on a flight on Thursday, my left ear clogged. It hasn't unclogged. I went to an ENT Dr. of Friday. He said I have fluid behind my ear. He gave me no medication. He also told me to take decongestants. Well, it is Sunday and my ear is still clogged.

Any ideas on what to do? He said that there is no sign of infection.

I have been chewing gum, yawning.... and doing what the doctor said to do.

Hydrogen peroxide and a cotton ball. Leave it in your ear for an hour or two. My ENT recommended this to me.

 

[SunFloridaDisney]

Was going to suggest the hydrogen peroxide but someone beat me to it!

 

[Blondie]

Hydrogen peroxide and a cotton ball. Leave it in your ear for an hour or two. My ENT recommended this to me.

I've never heard of this! Do you soak the cotton ball in the hydrogen peroxide then put it in your ear?

 

[Blondie]

Forgot to ask, Papa Deuce how was your WDW vacation? Do you like it any more now?

 

[Missy Mouse]

I've never heard of this! Do you soak the cotton ball in the hydrogen peroxide then put it in your ear?

Yes, exactly. If you can sleep with it in that's even better. When you take it out you'll have a nice ball of wax or fluid attached to the end of the cotton ball. Never unblocked my ear though, as my blockage comes from a sensorineural problem!

 

[MushyMushy]

This is really bad and should in no way be construed as advice. When my ears get clogged and won't unclog, I blow my nose with the nostrils shut... VERY. GENTLY. That will often do the trick when nothing else does.

 

[lovesmurfs]

This is really bad and should in no way be construed as advice. When my ears get clogged and won't unclog, I blow my nose with the nostrils shut... VERY. GENTLY. That will often do the trick when nothing else does.

Yep. It can hurt like heck, but it works. I think my husband was taught this when he was learning to dive.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Forgot to ask, Papa Deuce how was your WDW vacation? Do you like it any more now?

it is in December.

 

[Syrreal]

This is really bad and should in no way be construed as advice. When my ears get clogged and won't unclog, I blow my nose with the nostrils shut... VERY. GENTLY. That will often do the trick when nothing else does.

That's called a Valsalva. Scuba divers do it all the time to equalize the pressure in their ears when diving.
I was actually going to suggest it! And I second the doing it VERY VERY GENTLY.

To the OP, you may want to combine a decongestant with either the hydrogen peroxide cotton ball or one with alcohol. It could help the fluid move around in there and out.

 

[Papa Deuce]

That's called a Valsalva. Scuba divers do it all the time to equalize the pressure in their ears when diving.
I was actually going to suggest it! And I second the doing it VERY VERY GENTLY.

To the OP, you may want to combine a decongestant with either the hydrogen peroxide cotton ball or one with alcohol. It could help the fluid move around in there and out.

I found a bottle of Swimmer's Ear removal fluid in my travel bag..... will be using it shortly.

 

[golfgal]

If the fluid is BEHIND the ear drum, none of these will work. It may take up to a week or more for the decongestants to work and clear out your ear. I had that a couple months ago and it took almost 2 weeks for it to go away.

 

[Nancyg56]

This is really bad and should in no way be construed as advice. When my ears get clogged and won't unclog, I blow my nose with the nostrils shut... VERY. GENTLY. That will often do the trick when nothing else does.

This is what the ENT had me do, and it worked. The blockage after a very bad ear infection had affected my hearing, and after the "procedure" it was better. He also said to take a decongestant prior to flying until the blockage was completely gone.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Hydrogen peroxide and a cotton ball. Leave it in your ear for an hour or two. My ENT recommended this to me.

This works for ear wax build up but never heard it used for fluid behind the ear drum.

 

[Tazicket]

When I had fluid behind my eardrum, my Dr. gave me a prescription for a super decongestant that eventually dried it out. He also suggested doing the very gentle nose blowing thing. I never could really get it to work. I think I was afraid to blow too hard. Are you supposed to blow gently until something pops or do you not want anything to pop b/c that means you have ruptured your eardrum?

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

This is really bad and should in no way be construed as advice. When my ears get clogged and won't unclog, I blow my nose with the nostrils shut... VERY. GENTLY. That will often do the trick when nothing else does.

I also stick a finger in the ear that isn't clogged to direct the force to the ear I want to clear.

 

[MushyMushy]

When I had fluid behind my eardrum, my Dr. gave me a prescription for a super decongestant that eventually dried it out. He also suggested doing the very gentle nose blowing thing. I never could really get it to work. I think I was afraid to blow too hard. Are you supposed to blow gently until something pops or do you not want anything to pop b/c that means you have ruptured your eardrum?

When I do it, it's like a pop you get when you yawn on a plane, or when you're going through the mountains. It never hurts me and I can feel the fluid (or whatever it is) moving.

 

[Syrreal]

If you are worried about hurting anything, plug your nose and blow relaly gently, just so you can feel that you are blowing, then just swallow. It has the same effect. You will hear your ears pop like on a plane but it won't hurt.

 

[TinkNH]

I had a similar issue with a cold last year and dr reccomended mucinex..which I think is the miracle OTC drug of the century. The stuff works like a charm every time I get a cold to clear me out FAST. (I am prone to bronchitis so take it as a precaution and (knock on wood) have not had a bout of it since I found this stuff.) She told me to take 2 every 12 hrs. Ear was cleared up in about a day and a half. I think she also told me to use afrin nasal spray..but I hate those so didnt.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Wow! Finally it cleared! Over 2 weeks later. I never would have thought it could take so long.