Anyone have any good cures for clogged ears? A couple weeks ago I got a sinus infection, it got better, then I got a nasty sore throat for about a week. After that went away, my ears started getting plugged up from the inside. It sounds almost like swimmers ear but it is on the inside. Everything I've read just says either wait or take decongestants, both of which I have done. I do realize I'll probably need to see an ENT doctor ($$) if it persists but I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a few more days. As of right now, I'm at about 25% hearing in my left ear (pretty much where the clog has stayed) and about 90% in my right. Any suggestions?

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

try this: Valsalva maneuver

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valsalva_maneuver

I've tried the Valsalva, but the problem is that my right ear is not nearly as clogged. Therefore when I increase the air pressure, it goes into my right ear more so than my left - limiting the amount of pressure I can exert in fear of blowing out my eardrum.

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

Get to a doctor and have it dealt with professionally.

^^^What Paul said.

Having a son who went through 6 sets of ear tubes between the age of 2-6 and going by the ENT's comments each time, I'm wondering if you've got an ear infection.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

He'd probably know, they're painful and you usually have nasty ooze coming out of the ear, yea?

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

Yeah no ooze, also no dizziness or lightheadedness. Its really kind of weird, I've never had JUST a clog before.

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

Warm water in the really plugged ear...it will soften up the "crud" so that when you perform the Valsalva maneuver, you should be able to finally "break" the bond and clear the airway...then you need to follow that up for the next few days with more rinses of warm water...not hot, just warm.

In the past, I had used hydrogen peroxide (OTC strength), but that has a tendency to dry the canal out, so stick with the warm water. And by all means, do not poke anything bigger than your elbow in the canal. If you suspect there's something that needs to be removed, go to an EENT specialist and let them handle it. It's WAY TOO EASY to poke/damage an eardrum.

One other trick you can do with the Valsalva maneuver is while holding your nostrils with your one hand, use the other hand to push/hold the lessor-plugged ear canal closed so that there is only one airway that the pressure can escape through.

But your main concern is to get that blockage softened up so it can go somewhere.

GL and remember, if you can't get it unplugged by yourself within a short period of time, don't wait too long before you get to a proper doctor. Your hearing is way too important to screw around with.

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M. G. Burg
'10 - Dakota SXT - Daily Ride / ≈ 172.5K
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....'75 - Yamaha - 650XS / < 21.00 K
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......'85 - 4WINNS 160 I.O. / 140hp
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“I didn’t really say everything I said.”
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ~ Yogi Berra ~

. . . first you start up the 150 psi compressor . . .

With inner ear infections, you'd get the nasty ooze if it burst. Before that point it would start building pressure but not necessarily hurt.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

Go to the ENT. I had wax buildup a few years ago and my PCP couldn't get it out. Sent me to an ENT. Laid me on my side, used a kind of awl to screw into the wax and then yanked away, jerking my head off the table a few times before he cleared things out. Felt good when he was done. I've had not further problems.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I wouldn't recommend a valsalva to try to clear a blockage. It's too easy to damage something and if there's a infection any relief will be momentary.

Since it's been on again/off again for a few weeks it's probably time to get to the doc. Don't be surprised if he prescribes antibiotics. It may have started as routine viral infection, but the persistent ooze and blockages from that may have let it turn into bacterial in your sinuses. BTDT.

You can also try a steam inhaler and mouthbreathing. A steaming hot cup of strong peppermint tea and a dish towel over your head make a reasonable substitute for a commercial product. Peppermint has anti-inflammatory benefits and may ease the sinal cavities.

If you're concerned with cost, go to a minute clinic. $50-$60 and they at least have the tools to checks your ears, nose and throat. If you need antibiotics, they can also write you a prescription.

I also had the same issue as Kerry once. I was shooting skeet nearly every weekend, and used in the ear plugs. I was just shoving the wax buildup further into my ear canal. One day, I could hardly hear out of it.

fk the doctor... be a man!

(I'm joking, but you don't need to do that until you get old... hint)

I would guess that you still have an enlarged lymph node near the drain in the throat from the ear or a tender spot from a previous infection. This gives the illusion that you ear is "clogged" when its really just the sensation of pressure in that area.

If you can see that far back into your throat and its red or white or some other nasty color that is foreign to that area in your throat, then you are still battling an infection.

I don't think your ear is 'clogged'... but I am not you.

http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/govtregulation/a/EarCandle.htm

^^check that out

then look up "neti pot" and take care of yourself for a few days

If all that fails, ..... go be a pussy about it. (joking again... could you tell?)

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Also, feel around your neck, the base of your jaw and the lower back of your head near the neck for any bumps or irregularities.

If you find a dime-sized bump on your neck, you are still fighting an infection.

OF course, an ear infection is much different... but that is usually accompanied by pain.

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