Blocked ear after sinus infection

[fourstardan]

I had an RTI 7/10 days ago and that's mostly gone.

I went to the doc and he said the eustachian tube was blocked.

My ear and hearing is still the same.

I've.tried massaging but dosnt seems to help.

Has anyone else gone through this as I'm getting cheesed off with partial hearing!

[asfault]

I started a topic on this early in the year, Diagnoised with exactly the same thing.
It is still blocked. Feels like one ear is slightly underwater and i can hear my own voice as i speak inside it which is annoying.

[thebraketester]

fourstardan said:

I had an RTI 7/10 days ago and that's mostly gone.

I went to the doc and he said the eustachian tube was blocked.

My ear and hearing is still the same.

I've.tried massaging but dosnt seems to help.

Has anyone else gone through this as I'm getting cheesed off with partial hearing!

I had this last year. They give me steroid nasal spray and eventually it cleared in 2-3 weeks.

[Square Leg]

Get yourself an Otovent balloon.

It’s hard work blowing it up but I found it worked after months of other treatment didn’t.

https://www.chemist-4-u.com/otovent-adult-glue-ear...

[fourstardan]

I'm going to see a quack next week.

I dont think its getting any better and it's really getting annoying. However the sinus infection is still about 25% kicking about.

I had grommets as a kid for im assuming was glue ear, not seen the balloons, are they just extremely strong balloons?

[extraT]

Hold your breath, nose, and tilt your head back to look at the ceiling for as long as possible. don’t pop your ears, but if you do, make sure it’s the blocked side. Mucus should flow down into your throat.

Also, if you get a sinus rinse, make sure you’re clear of any infections before using.

ETA: Exhale a bit, so your nose and sinuses fill with air and open up!

Edited by extraT on Saturday 18th November 20:06

[fourstardan]

extraT said:

Hold your breath, nose, and tilt your head back to look at the ceiling for as long as possible. don’t pop your ears, but if you do, make sure it’s the blocked side. Mucus should flow down into your throat.

Also, if you get a sinus rinse, make sure you’re clear of any infections before using.

ETA: Exhale a bit, so your nose and sinuses fill with air and open up!

Edited by extraT on Saturday 18th November 20:06

Nothing moving here I'm afraid. Maybe im still blocked on my sinus.

[alangla]

fourstardan said:

I'm going to see a quack next week.

I dont think its getting any better and it's really getting annoying. However the sinus infection is still about 25% kicking about.

I had grommets as a kid for im assuming was glue ear, not seen the balloons, are they just extremely strong balloons?

I tried otovent, they appear to just be standard latex balloons, you feel a bit of a tit paying over the odds for a couple of them and the nasal inflator thing and even more of a tit standing in front of the mirror using it. It does, however, increase the pressure in your head far more than the normal grabbing your nose and blowing does, so if it works for you then go for it.

Personally I found Beconase, or its supermarket equivalent pretty effective, so give that a go. I initially got it after going to the GP with a blocked ear.

[fourstardan]

alangla said:

I tried otovent, they appear to just be standard latex balloons, you feel a bit of a tit paying over the odds for a couple of them and the nasal inflator thing and even more of a tit standing in front of the mirror using it. It does, however, increase the pressure in your head far more than the normal grabbing your nose and blowing does, so if it works for you then go for it.

Personally I found Beconase, or its supermarket equivalent pretty effective, so give that a go. I initially got it after going to the GP with a blocked ear.

Yes im using beconase actually. I think its improving, but its just so bloody slow.

[alangla]

If your sinuses or ear are still sore then the best thing I’ve found is Sudafed pressure & pain. It’s a pharmacy only product but is much more effective than the off the shelf cold & flu stuff https://www.boots.com/sudafed-max-strength-sinus-p...

I appreciate how frustrating this must be for you, I’ve tried pretty much everything you have at various points for annoying sinus & ear issues.

[fourstardan]

nuyorican said:

Try this. Take a child's balloon, fabricate something tube-shaped that'll stick in your nostril and tape it to the balloon's blowy-upy-bit. Hold other nostril closed while blowing up balloon with the other nostril.

Might try this when im WFH alone tomorrow haha

[parabolica]

In the exact same position OP so watching with interest. Kicker for me is I’m currently in the Netherlands where the strongest thing they in the supermarkets is paracetamol and ibuprofen. Strong stuff only on doctor’s permission and I’m not serious enough to be seen by a gp in person so basically have to wait it out.

[Caddyshack]

extraT said:

Hold your breath, nose, and tilt your head back to look at the ceiling for as long as possible. don’t pop your ears, but if you do, make sure it’s the blocked side. Mucus should flow down into your throat.

Also, if you get a sinus rinse, make sure you’re clear of any infections before using.

ETA: Exhale a bit, so your nose and sinuses fill with air and open up!

Edited by extraT on Saturday 18th November 20:06

Interesting, why wait for the infection to go? I assumed washing out the infected area would be beneficial? You clean other infected areas?

My DR did say to lay on the bed, on my back, with my head dangled off the bed and move my head side to side as that allows the sinus to properly empty.

[fourstardan]

I'm still bunged up on the sinus front and ear feels to be bout 10% better.

The NHS probably have more to deal with than me after two weeks of this so I'll give it another week and then go in.

Dosnt seem to be any over the counter remedies for sorting a blocked eustachian tube. I keep getting nagged to put olive oil in but won't.

[K77 CTR]

Try saline drops, nasal douching, antihistamines and increasing fluid intake. Steam inhalations will also help.

[Bearings]

Another Otovent user here.

Not sure I'd want to use a non-recommended balloon personally.

Last thing I'd want to do is over-pressurise the insides of my head by forcefully trying to inflate a balloon which won't inflate without requiring a huge amount of force.

Yes, you feel like a t*t but I find it usually works for me. Wish I'd known about it years ago when I had huge problems with glue-ear.

[fourstardan]

Why is this otovent balloon different?

It's about 12 quid for one!

[Caddyshack]

You can buy 5 for £8.99 on Amazon and the starter kit has the bit you attach to the end to put up to your nose. The balloon is of the right size for the pressure…I assume you are unlikely to buy many in a lifetime so why worry about £10?

[fourstardan]

Ive just ordered one arriving on Monday.

I guess I could also use it for after flights as my ear does suffer as well then.

[fourstardan]

Balloon arrive today. Hard to believe its not a normal balloon.

It's made bugger all difference and been on it today but will keep trying. I have noticed I keep getting an involuntary movement inside like when I've snorted water by mistake.

I wonder if going to a steam bath will be a better option than kettle steaming that doesn't seem to have that high level of steam for long.