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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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Turns out it was just wax! I talked to a doctor friend of mine and he told me to flush it out with warm water and a syringe. It worked fantastically! I flushed it over and over and the wax started to just come out. The hearing came back slowly. I am just fine now.
February 7, 2011 - 12:39amI even cancelled my doctor's appointment tomorrow.
It's amazing that a little wax build up could cause so much annoyance and irritation.
This Comment
Anonymous April 15, 2010 - 5:55am
September 2, 2010 - 10:05amEverytime anyone yawns...they all go deaf...so dnt worry..:)
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Shannon! Thanks! it does work it takes awhile but thanks! :)
August 21, 2010 - 12:34amThis Comment
Hi Anon - It sounds like you've tried just about everything. Must be very frustrating. Have you tried decongestants? They've helped some people and might be worth a try. Good luck! Pat
April 15, 2010 - 5:13pmThis Comment
I wonder how many people actually read the question.
I'm currently having the same problem and it's very irritating. My ear is clogged because... pay attenttion now... I blew my nose. So no, blowing my nose won't solve the problem - it'll make it worse. With common sense I'd reason that there's too much pressure there, due to the blowing. UNLIKE with Swimmers Ear where I'd again reason that the problem is not having enough pressure ( which is why blowing will often ease the problem ).
Shannon, this is why your suggestion was indeed stupid. Read the question properly next time before giving advice.
I've tried pinching my nose and 'breathing in' which sometimes helps, but not now. I don't think doing this is healthy though ( don't think blowing is healthy either, but that's just me ).
April 15, 2010 - 5:55amAlso tried yawning and chewing, still no avail. Very annoying.
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I don't know why, but this comment made me laugh so hard; I can't stop reading it.
April 3, 2016 - 9:29amThis 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 - 1:51pmThis Comment
try yawning it works for me
April 5, 2010 - 3:21pmThis Comment
I have the opposite problem. My ears are a bit clogged or popping anyway because I have a eustachian tube defect. I was searching for "yawning makes me go deaf" cos I can hear OK (on my personal norm, I am partially deaf) UNTIL I yawn! When I yawn that makes me go deaf. As soon as I am done yawning I can hear again. Nothing seems to explain this as it's meant to help, not make it worse!
March 12, 2010 - 8:13amAny ideas?
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I have the same problem but I don't really want to use the ear nedications stuff. My right ear feels kinda puffy. I try to pop it but it just goes all puffy again!!!!! If I leave it alone will it work?
February 3, 2010 - 7:09pmThis Comment