Bunged up ear

DorsetDude

DorsetDude

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Being a regular swimmer I occasionally get that thing where I get a bunged up ear'ole after a swim. It usually clears after a few hours at most.

However lately Ive had 1 which took ages to go and last Friday got bunged up and is still bunged this morning. Almost completely deaf in that ear.

Last time the nurse at my GPs advised me to drip olive oil in, which I have been doing but so far nothing. I also got some "no-wax" stuff which Ive been dripping in to no avail.

Anyone any advice on where to go/what to do next? (apparently ear syringing isnt performed anymore)

Please speak up ! ;)

Cheers
 
Had a similar problem. My left ear was completely blocked for about three weeks to a month. Lots of olive oil and then went to doctors and had a nurse syringe it. Good as new now. They do syringe still, it's just a new method where they blast a fine jet of water into the ear cavity and blast the wax out. Completely painless and a relief to have my hearing back.
 
DorsetDude said:
apparently ear syringing isnt performed anymore
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It is here.

Usually the olive oil which is suggested to be done a couple of days before syringing removes most of the wax.

The last time I had it done, I had so much wax built up and applying pressure that it felt like I was being repeatedly stabbed in the ear with a sharp pencil.

I sometimes get a strange side effect which is very odd when playing guitar. I can play one note but hear two different notes!


Steve.
 
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Get to the GP - anti biotics and it's gone in a couple of days.
 
I use earol before diving and have never had an ear infection due to trapped water ever since. I was pretty much always getting an infection after dives. Have you thought about using something as a preventative measure or is that something you already do?
 
You can get your own rubber-tipped syringe from amazon.
 
ive got a otex kit that i use regularly at home. Instead of using oil, it has a peroxide solution that bubbles in your ear that will attempt to dislodge any wax. THen you use the included widget (looks like a rocket blower) to blow warm water into your ear over a sink.

Truth be told if your ear is totally blocked you will likely need a good syringing (sounds awfull but i actually found it rather pleasant!).
 
I dont *think* it's an infection just blocked.

As for preventative measures, I have swimmers ear plugs in when I go but sometimes they arent in quite right I assume and I get water ingress. I shall have to look up earol. And maybe a neoprene band around my head might keep water out better or something.
 
DorsetDude said:
Being a regular swimmer I occasionally get that thing where I get a bunged up ear'ole after a swim. It usually clears after a few hours at most.

However lately Ive had 1 which took ages to go and last Friday got bunged up and is still bunged this morning. Almost completely deaf in that ear.

Last time the nurse at my GPs advised me to drip olive oil in, which I have been doing but so far nothing. I also got some "no-wax" stuff which Ive been dripping in to no avail.

Anyone any advice on where to go/what to do next? (apparently ear syringing isnt performed anymore)

Please speak up ! ;)

Cheers
Click to expand...

Give it a good old howk with the end of a matchstick, works a treat :lol::gag:
only kidding.
Ask your GP if they will refer you to the local ENT or at least check your ear for infection, easily picked up in a pool, but that could take forever, There is a hearing aid clinic (House Of Hearing) near me and I know they use a suction device to suck all the crap out but leave the grey matter in place. It's the same gadget they use in the hospital and the person who does it is properly trained. Might be expensive but if your desperate and don't want to wait forever for the local hospital appointment. You want to make sure there is no infection in there.
 
I get ear infections occasionally what with me being a hearing aids wearer (usually when I get a new set of ear moulds and they don't quite fit at first).

No268-earhole_zpsd7cde2a2.jpg


Although there are times when I wish there is an actual cure for tinnitus, anyone has that? (Sorry for steering this thread off topic).
 
they dont do syringing any more but they have a water jet machine. if youve been using oil for at least a week they should be able to use that on you.

just book an appointment with the nurse at your GP.
 
Ian D J said:
Although there are times when I wish there is an actual cure for tinnitus, anyone has that? (Sorry for steering this thread off topic).
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Oh yes (ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss)

I've had a burst eardrum for 50 years and I know the inside of it like the back of my hand, had tinitus in it for a year or so now, doc sent me to a specialist who as much as kicked my butt out of the door for wasting his time (no cure for tinitus) not that I'd actually asked to go in the first place.

As for syringing, let the doctor or nurse do it, they can check inside your ear first to make sure it's ok to do.
 
Don't **** about with your ears. If one has been blocked since last Friday, I suggest you get to your doctor and let him have a look.
 
I've had the water jet treatment too, but a lot of SA doctors still use the syringe. Usually pretty straighforward if you use oil for a couple of days first. I agree with Hugh though, let a doctor or nurse check your ears before they do anything. Any infection can be aggravated - and cause a lot of pain - if you try to wash the wax out.

Tinnitus? Hmm, don't know if I suffer from that, but I do have a slight ringing in my ears from shooting before hearing protection was standard. There's nothing that can be done about that.
 
They do ear syringing up here in Scotland, can't think why it would be any different where you are. Local doctor's surgery, just book an appointment with the nurse.
I've used Earex in the past, especially before travelling by plane.
Thank goodness for the NHS. Why don't our friends over the Pond want something similar?
 
Unilateral deafness is unlikely to be infection esp in the absence of pain, discharge or fever. More likely to be disruption of wax. Microsuction can work for ear wax but other simpler measures often suffice. Get the ear looked at. If just wax, try sodium bicarb drops from the chemist. Can be more effective than olive oil.
 
kendo1 said:
They do ear syringing up here in Scotland, can't think why it would be any different where you are.
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I was gonna say it because their heads are bit thicker down there and they don't have syringes big enough but some folk might take it the wrong way :lol::lol::exit:
 
I'll keep trying with the no-wax ear drops. Each time I use them a little "something" comes out on the cotton wool, hopefully eventualy it'll get it all. Swimming again today, dreading getting the other ear blocked up as well now.
 
Get yourself some earplugs, Lloyds pharmacy do some good ones that keep water out of your ears so you can swim without worrying.
 
Already have special swimming earplugs but as said, sometimes they shift or something and water creeps in. A better designed pair would be an idea maybe.

[EDIT just looked at lloyds pharmacy online, don't seem to have any swimmng ear plugs in the 3 types they stock]
 
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They aren't specifically swimming ones but wax ones that mould in your ear. I've not found mine to leak
 
Just looked and you're right, they're not online. I got mine a couple of years back but if you want, I can go down to my local one and have a look as I'm sure I saw they were still stocked
 
Thanks for the offer but I dont want to put you to any trouble. Do these wax ones last for many swim sessions or do you need to replace quite often?

Cheers.
 
Go to a bike shop you'll get 50 pairs for a tenner. Use them once and throw them away.
 
chris954 said:
Go to a bike shop you'll get 50 pairs for a tenner. Use them once and throw them away.
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:thinking: Are bicycling earplugs renowned for their ability to keep water out when submerged then?

neil_g said:
not worth speaking to the nurse and getting the water jet machine done? had it done once and it was wonderful.
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Last time I spoke to the nurse at the surgery, month or so ago, she was adamant they only advised the use of the olive oil. Maybe I could ring my surgery and double check I suppose.

Cheers.
 
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DorsetDude said:
Last time I spoke to the nurse at the surgery, month or so ago, she was adamant they only advised the use of the olive oil. Maybe I could ring my surgery and double check I suppose.

Cheers.
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i call BS on that. like i say they dont syringe anymore (according to my old hants GP surgery) but they have a warm water jet thing that vibrates the gunk out.

oil is only going to soften it up (mine recommended doing that for a week before the water jet), but if its lodged deep its not going to come out..
 
Ive just rang the surgery to enquire and they are saying there is a directive not to do ear syringing. I asked abut a water jet "thing" and got blank looks (if that possible over a phone.)
Booked me in for next tuesday. Great. Im fed up with it already frankly, another friggin week. Sheesh.
 
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DorsetDude said:
Thanks for the offer but I dont want to put you to any trouble. Do these wax ones last for many swim sessions or do you need to replace quite often?

Cheers.
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It won't be trouble for me. I need to go there next week to get post op prescriptions - or rather husband will and he can look for you.

I've used them for a few swim sessions so far.
 
I think it's a case of the name being carried over to the new methodology.
 
neil_g said:
its not completely the same apparently.

my GP surgery said the water jet replaced it.
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I've had both - syringing in SA and water jet in Scotland - several times and can't say I've noticed any real difference. I suppose the water jet is calibrated to deliver a constant pressure, rather than relying on the doctor judging it, and he doesn't have to stop every couple of minutes to refill the syringe, but that's about it.
 
neil_g said:
its not completely the same apparently.

my GP surgery said the water jet replaced it.
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Yes. Before they used the machine, they used a large syringe filled with warm water, The process was still the same.


Steve.
 
Syringing is a later resort as it also rids the ear of the natural wax which is protective.
If it is wax, then Otex drops are good, but be prepared for some crackling and tickling, but after using the excess wax is removed easily with warm water from an over the counter syringe.
 
DorsetDude said:
:thinking: Are bicycling earplugs renowned for their ability to keep water out when submerged then? .
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I do apologise for using the wrong word I should have said Motorcycle shop. Surely if you do have an infection in your ear the worst thing you can possibly do is keep putting the same earplugs back in over and over again. I speak from personal experience of using MOTORCYCLING earplugs for swimming, yes they do keep the water out, they did when I used them for over an hour in the pool but if your not interested then I wont bother trying to help again.
 
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chris954 said:
I do apologise for using the wrong word I should have said Motorcycle shop. Surely if you do have an infection in your ear the worst thing you can possibly do is keep putting the same earplugs back in over and over again. I speak from personal experience of using MOTORCYCLING earplugs for swimming, yes they do keep the water out, they did when I used them for over an hour in the pool but if your not interested then I wont bother trying to help again.
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Whoa! You didnt mention you'd used them for swimming in your initial post is all. I just wondered what made you think they'd be suitable. Thankyou for explaining. Is there a brand name I can look for?
And I dont think I have an infection, just a blockage.

viv1969 said:
If it is wax, then Otex drops are good, but be prepared for some crackling and tickling, but after using the excess wax is removed easily with warm water from an over the counter syringe.
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Wandered over the chemist ear work yesterday and they gave me Otex funnily enough. Off to put some more drops in in a minute. I think the excess wax is slowly but surely getting removed with each use of these and other drops. Buying a syringe could be a plan although a tad risky I guess.

kelack said:
It won't be trouble for me. I need to go there next week to get post op prescriptions - or rather husband will and he can look for you.

I've used them for a few swim sessions so far.
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Thanks Kelly. It's ok though I'll look for a local one first. Good to know you have used them successfully.
 
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Persevering with the Otex and the "no-wax", each time a bit more "stuff" came out. Finally this morning I can hear again! :woot:

Cancel my appointment for next week now, saves worrying about making up work time to go etc.
 
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