Need some help - wife's ears are plugged - 30days and counting
 

Hey all -

we've covered damn near everything else here, but have not ever seen any discussion on what to do with 'plugged ears'. She says it feels like she can't clear the pressure, and it is giving here headaches. We've tried antihistamine, decongestants, chiro, allergy relief, etc.

Visual inspection indicates some swelling, but she's otherwise symptom free. No runny nose, no sinus pressure, no temp....just this 'fullness' in her ears.

Ear infection maybe?

any thoughts?

thanks

td

I used to get allergy immunotherapy (shots) when I was little. I got off them, then had constant pressure fluid in my ears. as soon as I went back on them, the pressure subsided. I would just go to an ENT doctor and get it squared away asap. no point in her being miserable

Not a Dr. but my wife and I are avid scuba divers so clearing the ears is essential. My wife uses a combination of sudafed (little red tabs) and ear drops developed to prevent swimmers ear. The drops are part alcohol and if she warms it to 98F first it is effective at melting the ear wax and clearing the passages. Now she can always clear her ears at will and dive to 100ft comfortably.

Good luck!

Could be water in the ears.... very common. There is an increased risk of ear infection, so she does need to take care of this.

She can try doing it herself (using isopropyl alcohol)... the directions are on the internet. If that doesn't work, then her doctor can take care of it (probably by using isopropyl alcohol).

__

Visit an urgent care clinic? Seems like the sort of thing those places could handle quite inexpensively.

had a friend......
she went to a loud concert and crammed some tissue in her ear and it got stuck-
went to the ER with her and watched as the DR gently rinsed her ear with warm watter for a hour with little results-
the DR left for a moment and came back with more saline and I sugested that she hold her nose and mouth and blow gently, the DR expressed a little aprehention to it but agreed that she do it gently. nothing happened untill I pluged her other ear then a very large brown mass of wax poped out- it lookes like wheel bering greese

I am not a medical doctor either, but have experienced similar symptoms in the past.

For me, it has always been wax buildup causing an infection (I have tinnitus.) A quick trip to the doctor and a flush out cures the loss of hearing and pressure in the ears (caused dizziness also which lead to headaches. ) After treatment usually consisted of drops in the ears and some kind of anti-inflammatory.

I would get to a doctor and have them look inside and see what is going on.

Go see your friendly neighborhood ENT doc.

Ear candles found in a health food store. About a foot long, insert in ear, light large end, burns slowly and creates a vacuum that pulls out wax buildup. Very safe, simple and doesn't affect the workings of the inner ear. Have used them for years..

I think the butt-plug candles are mis-labelled....

Better talk to your doctor about that....

__

Ear candling and chiropractors will help as much as Unicorns, crystals and pyramids.

Go see a ENT. A real certified Ear Nose and Throat physician; a doctor of medicine.

She may have a simple problem or the start of something bad. One way to KNOW is a ENT. It is only her hearing. If you want a deaf wife, keep trying alternative solutions.

This happens to me from time to time. Hearing diminishes, sounds like I'm in a fish bowl. Had a doctor use a HUGE syringe full of warm water to blow all the nastiness out; found a DIY kit at a pharmacy. Fast, simple, effective.

It won't do any harm, but you could try Volsol. It prevents and can help clear up surfer's ear (same as swimmers ear but includes sand, surboard wax, bikini tops...).

Some women will do anything to not listen to their husbands.

Seriously, go to the Dr. Hopefully no permanent damage has been done.

don't flush or do anything..
have a Dr. or Tech take a look inside first...
having had several ear surgeries I know...
biggest thing you should put into your ear..
is your foot or elbow..
Q-tips are the worst !

Rika

When my tinnitus is bad it produces a sensation of having something in my ear plugging it. In fact, I first discovered I have tinnitus when I went to the doc for the "something in my ear" problem. Eustachian tubes were clear, ear canal was clear, no physical problem, just the sensation.

What did you do about the sensation?

Thanks,
Tom

Oh I so wish this could happen to me.....

I remember my mom using a suction bulb on my dad's ears. I don't know if she used hot water to help melt the wax or not, but I do remember seeing some ugly big pieces of wax.

Once had inserts to keep the Eustachian tubes open in my youth.
Headaches, ringing, etc.

There are cleaning kits at the pharmacy that are supposed to work.

Now I use this method now Hydrogen Peroxide for Earwax Removal, followed by a warmer shower with extended spray right into the eardrum and drain.
If the water is too hot, you can get dizzy and lose balance though.

I haven't found anything that will help. Sometimes I feel like sticking my head in a wood chipper. The first couple of times it seemed to last forever, but now when it comes it's less than a day.

My doc told me I had a wad of wax in my ear. He suggested I try an over the counter ear cleaning kit before seeing the ENT guy. Followed the directions and wads of wax looking like old wheel bearing grease poured out. Took abou 20 minutes.

+1
Home remedy is recommended by my Doc as well. "If it doesn't clear, come and see me."

THANKS for all the suggestions -

It does not appear to be wax buildup, at least not that the docs can see when looking in. She's tried a bunch of wax cleaning ideas....but maybe we'll make another run at that to be sure.

Also tried benadryl, various decongestant products, etc.

Keep those ideas pouring in - and thanks!!

td

Quick update -

We think it has to do with TNJ issues, she grinds her teeth at night we are now considering that her jaw is out of whack, causing the discomfort in her ears....

anyone have any experience with TNJ and any remedies that have worked?

thx

td

Often TMJ/TMD pain is from the disc in the joint slipping forward and the "ball" of the ball/socket of the joint riding on what's called the "retrodiscal tissues" which are the tissues that are behind the joint. The disc does not have much of a nerve supply, but when it slips forward and the joint rides on the tissues behind it (which are full of nerves and blood vessels), then ALOT of pain can result. The auriculotemporal nerve services this area, and also portions of the ear, hence the referred pain to the ear.

You need to find a TMD "specialist" in your area. The Academy of Craniofacial Pain http://www.aacfp.org/directory/index.cfm would be a good reference to find someone. Often treatment involves splint therapy to try to recapture the disc back in the correct position, then another splint to hold things stable. Sometimes muscle relaxants are helpful too. Often lifelong maintenance treatment is needed after the joint is stablized, once the ligaments that hold the disc in place are stretched out, this sort of problem can happen over and over if you are not careful. Sometimes orthodontics can help to hold the jaw in a better position.

Hope this helps.

Go see an ENT.

About 3 years ago I had fluid build up in 1 ear following a mild cold. The ear did not become infected but the fluid would not drain because a vacuum had been created. It didn't hurt much but I couldn't hear worth a darn on that side until an ENT installed a tube. That provided instant relief and then fell out after 2 years.

I youtubed it and found jaw exercises. They worked for me. My ringing in my ears has also dropped in volume. Very tight muscles on the joint which effect the ear canals.

My wife had TMJ but after many years of wearing the splint at night it appears to be mostly resolved.

30 days and hasn't seen a doctor? WTF? If most things go on more than about 7 days there's a problem and one ought to seriously consider having it looked at.

See also, "how to turn little problems into big problems"

I grind at night and have worn a dental appliance for it for years. Can't sleep without it now.

You like anecdotal stories ?

I have a friend who wouldn't go to the doctor about his ear. He lost most of the hearing in his left ear, and had to go see a doctor eventually anyway.

And the joke is, ''He wouldn't listen.''.

Ha,


Ha.

Not very funny, is it. That's because your hearing is no joke. And guess what ? I have another friend who is going through the same thing for over six months. He too has lost much of the hearing in one ear. But hey, think of the time and money he is saving...

This is me being nice. Nobody wants to say I told you so later.

I have chronic hearing/sinus problems ever since I can remember. I don't take clogged ears lightly. If your wife has had this for 30 days+, putting this topic on a public forum is the last thing I would do.

Go see an ENT.

I have hearing loss - permanent.
I have Tinnitus - constant ringing in the ears since my 20's , I'm 63.
I have had (2) sinus surgeries.
I have had Vertigo - that is nasty
You lose the sense of balance with ear blockages.



If all of the over the counter stuff doesn't work - you need to take this to another level.

All the best.

thanks once again -

point of clarification, she has seen a doc and verified that there is no wax buildup....and we have Kaiser, so there is the usual 'wait and see' BS as we escalate up the food chain with them.

we are trying to get into the local TMJ specialists now.....and thanks for the encouragement to escalate this!!

TD