Blocked Ear: tips on being able to hear again?

[amy-ward]

Following yesterday evenings dives, I now seem to be deaf in my left ear and it was OK to start with thismorning but now its really annoying me as I cant hear anyone anything says to me!

I sat at the dinner table tonight and had to just switch off because I was getting sick of saying "sorry?" "pardon?" "you're going to have to speak up love" I feel like Im 72 not 22!

Whether Ive just got water in it or if Im getting ill or what I dont know but has anyone got any tips on being able to hear again? and jumping up and down 20 million times with my head on a slant hasnt worked, nor had popping my ears because it just wont pop. I looked a right idiot sat in the pub holding my nose and blowing like I needed a poo!

Aimz xx

[wilbo]

warm olive oil. repeat morning and night for 7 days.

edit: you can drink it - but better poured into your ear.

[DIVE BUDDHA]

sounds like u mite not have pressurised enough on ya descents !

maybe giving them a few days rest followed by a trip to the gp should there be

no improvement

[big_si]

Bit of a silly suggestion but I had that in one ear the other week (after a shower so guess it might be water trapped in it somehow???)

and I noticed that although I couldn't 'pop' the ear, when I stamped I could feel it bulging... I stamped harder and it did it more. So then I did it really hard and it 'popped and all was good in the world again

told you it was silly!

[amy-ward]

yeh i didnt really fancy running to the GP to waste their time just yet...ill get the olive oil on it...they told me to do that last time but it had little effect but worth a try again i spose...I even bough olive oil from the pharmacy...Last time i had this trouble they ended up cleaning my ears out with what seemed to resemble some sort of roadside digger cross power washer...didnt like that so trying to avoid it!

Ax

[DIVE BUDDHA]

Originally Posted by amy-ward

yeh i didnt really fancy running to the GP to waste their time just yet...ill get the olive oil on it...they told me to do that last time but it had little effect but worth a try again i spose...I even bough olive oil from the pharmacy...Last time i had this trouble they ended up cleaning my ears out with what seemed to resemble some sort of roadside digger cross power washer...didnt like that so trying to avoid it!

Ax

oo good old syringing !yes very nice ! had that a few times! very embarresing what comes out lol!!!

[Sparky750]

I was going to suggest a big stick and just poke around a bit but all the other suggestions seem much more sensible

[Steven]

Originally Posted by Sparky750

I was going to suggest a big stick and just poke around a bit but all the other suggestions seem much more sensible

never do that!!!

my GP says never put anything in your ear smaller than your elbow!!

[Richard Mason]

You could have impacted a bit of wax in there; sounds like the GP syringed your ears. You can buy DIY ear syringes from the chemist. I used to go for a syringing at the Drs every 12 months or so, but since I bought the DIY thingo, I've not had to bother, and I'm saving $30 for a trip to the Drs each time I DIY.

The other possibility is that you've stretched your eardrum on the descent, I did that once and got a bleed across the eardrum, which formed a scab on there; took about a week to clear up but this was very painful and I think you'd know if you'd done that.

I'd give it a few days, maybe try the DIY ear syringe and if that's no good and it doesn't improve, go to your GP.

As for olive oil from the chemist - it's exactly the same as the stuff you buy for cooking, only difference is that you pay pharmacy rather than Tesco price for it.

[Martin Owen]

If there is any water trapped in there then a few drops of Swim Ear Co Pharma Swim Ear in Accessories from Simply Scuba
will get it out