Ugh.

[surranndie]

Okay, so I've been trying to get over this cold for three weeks now. Which, ya know, is fine. Whatever.

But the fact that BOTH of my ears have been completely plugged up for the last three days, and are showing no signs of being *unplugged* anytime soon, is REALLY REALLY FRUSTRATING. Especially since I work with children all day and I can't hear them if they try to ask me something. And the teachers I work with try and talk to me and I can't hear them unless I'm within a couple of feet and even then, they have to be talking loudly. I'm supposed to teach a science club tomorrow and I won't be able to hear my students.

I've tried everything I know of to get my ears unblocked (and have checked WebMD for suggestions). It's related to congestion from my cold (it's not an ear infection - I've had those and this isn't it), so I've tried decongestants.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Comments

[lionille.livejournal.com]

Nope, just grannysquares and a hug. I was wondering where you'd been recently, you'd seemed a little quiet!

[surranndie.livejournal.com]

*snuggles with you pathetically before trudging off to work again*

[lapislaz.livejournal.com]

Try moist heat. Get a washrag wet with water as hot as you can stand and just hold it up against your ear as long as it's hot.

Hey at the worst you'll get a wet, warm ear.

[surranndie.livejournal.com]

Heh! Yeah, tried that. Washrag gets cold very fast, too, which is annoying. But thanks - it's good to know I'm not crazy for having tried it! :D

[luchia13.livejournal.com]

Q-tips!

Just kidding. Anyway, have you tried those saline nose-de-pugger things? I'd try and find a clever way to say this, but I'm writing the world's worst lit paper ever, so here's the not-smart way: your sinuses affect all kinds of crazy stuff in your body, which you probably know, and when I get sinus infections it gets everywhere from my eye sockets to my ears. My mommy always gave me the nasal spritzer stuff when I got them, and it helped. I don't know whyyyy, but it did. Also, Gatorade. It's like Windex, it cures everything.

Edited to add that you probably don't have a sinus infection, I'm just telling you what I know.

Also edited to add that there's also that nifty swimmer ear stuff at the store, if it's something unrelated to your cold (which is unlikely, but I'm just throwing a lot of stuff out here in the hopes of helping you).

[surranndie.livejournal.com]

Hmmmm...something to consider, definitely! I'll keep an eye out in the drug section for something along those lines! Also - yeah, I drink Gatorade on a daily basis anyway, so that doesn't appear to be helping! *grin* Thank you!!

[amedia.livejournal.com]

My ears get plugged up periodically for no apparent reason, so I keep one of those kits around that has the drops and the squirty thing. You put the drops in for a couple of days before you try the squirty thing, and make sure you use warm water because squirting cold water into your ear is just plain nasty. Sometimes the drops will do the trick and you don't even need to do the squirty thing.

When even that doesn't work I go see the doctor - she has the scrapey thing that gave me ideas for torture fanfic. Um. That wasn't very encouraging, was it? Well. She also has a nurse with a professional-strength squirty thing who does a wonderful job.

[surranndie.livejournal.com]

I didn't know such a thing existed! I'll take a look and see if I can find one! Thank you!! :D

[avari-maethor.livejournal.com]

I've had trouble with my ears for years. Here's what I use...

Sweet Oil, warm it up for a few seconds by rolling the bottle between your hands or in the microwave (be very careful with this to not get it to hot). Once the oil has been warmed pour a small amount into your ear. The warm oil melts through the gunk in your ear. After a minute or so put a dry rag to your ear, turn your head and let it drain out.

Go to the doctor. This is what I usually do. Once a doctor in my college town used a hook on me to get gunk out of my ear... THIS HURTS LIKE A BITCH, DON'T DO IT! My family doctor however, gets warm water and sucks it up into a syringe and then shoots it in my ear. It sounds like it would hurt but it actually feels okay. The pressure of the water unclogs your ear.

I hope you feel better soon!

[surranndie.livejournal.com]

*HUGS* Thank you so much! I ended up finding some ear drops that seem to be doing the trick. I'll definitely keep this suggestion in mind for future reference, though! :D