Blocked ear-what's next?

Felt very blocked up in left ear after Covid and eventually had my ears ‘suctioned’ after using Earol for a week. Right ear was absolutely clear but the left ear had the largest, most stubborn lump of wax ever seen! (TMI?). Much better now, though still feel a little ‘thick’ there at times.

My Gp has a microsuction clinic for ears. Have you asked your GP nurse if you have anything similar?

Cerumol Olive Oil ear drops about twice a day until it shifts. Also, in this weather make sure you keep your ears covered while outside. I even put a little cotton wool in my worst ear. Woolly hat and hood. Sorry, I sound like your nan but know what it is like. Hope it resolves itself soon for you.

You could try hydrogen peroxide drops as well. They worked for me very well.

Earsfromhell, yes, a feeling of pressure, and, like Rosie1959, I suspect the Eustachian tubes are involved. Mine is related to allergies, rather than infection, though. I did once have the 'sinus massage' - where a nurse tapped my face in a certain pattern and it suddenly felt better!

A doctor told me to do this - holding both nostrils shut, blow your nose. Keep doing it, and do it several times a day. The Eustachian tubes should clear.

My ear keeps blocking and is sometimes painful and very itchy. The itch seems to be inside your head and is excruciating. A few weeks ago it was driving me nuts and I thought I had an ear infection, but decided to use olive oil drops and hope it would calm down. After a few days the itching and the pain stopped, but is still hanging around and I still get blockage.

However I use a hearing aid, mostly in the evenings for TV, and they cause wax build up. If you have a hearing aid you may need to have regular wax removal. I had the wax removed at a local ear clinic costing £30 but then saw this ear camera on Amazon which I am going to try Ear Camera on Amazon
You can use this device to get the wax out, but I would say you need someone younger with good eyesight to even think of attempting this. My daughter is a healthcare professional who is used to 'doing things' to people so she will be fine. Still, just having the camera would be very helpful to see if you have wax. Then you can decide what to do about it.

Hetty58

That horrible blocked feeling may well be congestion and swelling in the inner/middle ear (behind the eardrum) and not wax at all.

I've found that heat (from a wheat pack) makes it feel more comfortable, ibuprofen (if you can take it) reduces swelling - then it's a wait for the tubes to drain, so lying on that side.

Yes that makes sense Hetty58, the only relief I have found is pressing it with a hot, damp washcloth but it comes back as soon as I love it away. Can I ask is yours accompanied by quite an intense feeling of pressure?

I get a blockage now and again but I do it myself with Otex Combi. It's around £10 depending on where you go. You put the drops in for a few days the fill the little rubber syringe and squirt it into your ear over your wash basin. It's not painful and easy to to.

I get blocked Eustachian tubes which can be difficult to clear the usual remedies for ear wax are useless due to the nature and positioning of the tubes. I can sometimes make them pop by holding my nose and blowing hard.
The most effective remedy is a steam facial done in the salon the combination of pumped warm steam and facial massage does help. Good excuse for a facial as well

That horrible blocked feeling may well be congestion and swelling in the inner/middle ear (behind the eardrum) and not wax at all.

I've found that heat (from a wheat pack) makes it feel more comfortable, ibuprofen (if you can take it) reduces swelling - then it's a wait for the tubes to drain, so lying on that side.

I use Earol for a week before micro suction and once a week to try and extend the time between them closing up with wax. Recommended by the pharmacist.

Thank you for your responses I will try the bi carb drops beein doing olive oil 2x a day.
The odd thing is they aren't overly waxy. There is no more wax coming out that than the other side, which is fine. I suspect the blockage is on the other side of my ear drum.

Specsavers can suction them for £55ish, if you find your GP’s one of those who has given up syringing. Haven’t had it done, so can’t say how effective.

I find the bi-carb remedy better.

I use sodium bicarbonate drops (available from pharmacies) for over-waxy ears. Usually a couple of doses is enough and then a squirt or two of clean, warm water via a Calpol syringe.

Been doing this for years without any problems. Sometimes don't even need the water squirt because I do the drops as soon as I feel any itchiness or squidginess.

With a long term problem, you might need to do the drops for a lot longer but as soon as you feel the wax is loose.......

It’s olive oil every night for at least a week, then syringing.