Hello everyone!
A dear friend of mine called me tonight to ask me for some advice on how to fix her clogged-up ear. It seems she is getting over a bad cold and was doing some heavy-duty nose blowing and her left ear feels all funny now. Sort of like when you're on a plane and your ears pop. Hers needs to pop but won't. I thought maybe a decongestant would help her, or opening her mouth as wide as she can--that helps me sometimes when my ears won't pop on a plane. She tried opening her mouth and even moving her jaw back and forth but it didn't do anything.
She said it's hard to hear now in her left ear and it feels very full and has a bit of pressure, so she's hoping to get it back to normal pretty fast. Does anyone have any words of wisdom for her? I also tried to gently remind her not to blow her nose with such force so hopefully this won't happen again. Thanks so much everyone, Michelle
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Both my ears have been clogged for over a month.. I think I developed allergies... Anyway, I've had two rounds of antibiotics, used RX steroid ear drops, and continually take decongestants and antihistimines.. My ears do pop, but neither stays open, and the "ringing" could drive one insane.. My hearing has improved, but does it take a long time for ears to completely open?
December 29, 2014 - 3:27pmThis Comment
this was really helpful. i've put some of the helpful comments in http://kooshad.com/stopped-up-ears/
December 22, 2014 - 1:31pmThis Comment
Yay! thanks for the link. This cold is awful, but the clogged up ear was so much worse. The first option worked.
April 4, 2015 - 8:25pmThis Comment
The first suggestion on kooshad.com link worked for me, left ear had been blocked for days. Thanks for the help.
February 3, 2015 - 11:03amThis Comment
I just had a plugged up ear then laying on the opposite ear for like 3 minutes then plugging my nose and blowing.
December 15, 2014 - 8:39pmThis Comment
My left ear was popping a lot. Then suddenley feels blocked but can still hear out of it but it sounds muffled. I have had a cold and my nose is still stuffy and Been blowing it a lot so could it be due to that
December 10, 2014 - 8:21amThis Comment
I actually just unclogged my right ear which was congested for a week from flu and blowing nose (normally). I remembered that a ear/nose doctor had already told me this a number of years ago: Pinch your nose shut and gently "breathe in", this creates a sucktion from the ear back inwards. Since my right ear was clogged, I lay on my left, to let gravity help along. Nothing seemed to happen. Then I yawned. It popped open! Redid the clogging by blowing with nose closed, then sucking the air in again then opening nose and yawning motion with jaw. Opened it up again. The doc said to do this a few times over the course of a few days to drain the fluid out of that tube. Good luck, everyone.
November 20, 2014 - 1:54pmThis Comment
Hi Anon,
Thank you for sharing your response! Let us know what the doctor says today! Best of luck!
Kristin
November 14, 2014 - 12:02pmThis Comment
i currently have my right ear congested after my bad cold. my eustachian tube is most likely clogged up with mucus. i'm going to the doctors today because its only getting worse. my left ear is starting to act up as well. i've used a saline nasal spray last night. worked like a charm to breathe through my nose BUT my ears felt the same. even when i tilt my head for a few seconds i feel stuff moving in there :(( i'm starting to hear very high pitched ringing and it just wont stop! GAHHHHH!!!!
November 13, 2014 - 11:39amThis Comment
Hi Anon,
I am so sorry to hear you are suffering this way! Are you sure that you can't get to the doctor? Having plugged ears with a cold is very common, but I am worried about the pain you are experiencing. It could be from a perforation in the ear drum that happened when you blew your nose.
If you are experiencing this much pain, you definitely should not wait to see the doctor.
In the meantime, you can apply heat to the ear, which may help with pain. Use a warm washcloth or a heating pad. Pain relievers such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (Advil, Aleve, and Motrin, for example) and acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) can help ease the pain until you can see the doctor. If the pain persists and your doctor is unavailable, I'd head to the closest Urgent Care.
Please let me know what you decide to do.
Best,
Kristin
September 8, 2014 - 1:12pmThis Comment