# Help, my ear is plugged **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 5, 2002, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-ear-is-plugged/101983 "2002-04-05T12:24:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rubes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@rubes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rubes)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-ear-is-plugged/101983/1 "2002-04-05T12:24:09Z")
I had a head cold a week and a half ago, and I seem to be over it, although my left ear is still plugged. Holding my nose and blowing gives me an occasional pop, but doesn’t clear the tube. I’ve q-tipped way beyond recommendation. I could certainly use some doper suggestions rubes ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-ear-is-plugged/101983/2 "2002-04-05T13:56:26Z")
There was a thread on this in GQ a week or so ago… But generally speaking: sudafed…shower steam…drink lots of water…if you’re up to it, you can try [Hypertonic Saline Irrigation](http://www.westom.com/coolsite/nose_buffered_hypertonic_saline_solution.htm) (it’s what I use with good success). I’m not a doctor…yadda yadda ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-ear-is-plugged/101983/3 "2002-04-05T16:17:44Z")
Go to a doctor. I had the same thing happen about ten years ago - after a bad cold, my ear was plugged. They determined I had a big ol’ plug of earwax in my ear canal, and quickly and painlessly removed it via irrigation. Plus, I could hear better than I had in years! Go do it. ---
**Author:** ![Kayeby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de0a6/32.png) [@Kayeby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kayeby)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-ear-is-plugged/101983/4 "2002-04-05T16:34:31Z")
I second the idea of going to the doctor. My ear was blocked for a couple of days and I went to my doctor and had it flushed out - one inital water spray and then a second one to get rid of any remaining bits. It was pretty cool - I got to see little bits of ear wax floating around in a bowl and the _whooooosh_ as sound came flooding back was fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![GKW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d9b06d/32.png) [@GKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GKW)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-ear-is-plugged/101983/5 "2002-04-05T17:36:04Z")
When we were kids, my dad used to pour gin in our ears when they got plugged up. I’d suggest going back to the doctor; you don’t want to mess with a possible hearing loss. ---
**Author:** ![rubes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@rubes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rubes)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-ear-is-plugged/101983/6 "2002-04-05T18:17:14Z")
Well, ok, I guess I’ll have to schedule a doctors visit. I was hoping there was a wonder cure at Walgreen’s or where ever, but you guys are probably right. thanks, though, this is probably the push I needed. rubes ---
**Author:** ![rubes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@rubes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rubes)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-ear-is-plugged/101983/7 "2002-04-05T18:21:32Z")
ok, 3:45 appt with Dr.Scott ---
**Author:** ![Castaldi\_of\_the\_Mazzharat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@Castaldi\_of\_the\_Mazzharat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Castaldi_of_the_Mazzharat)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-ear-is-plugged/101983/8 "2002-04-05T18:47:00Z")
You can dilute hydrogen peroxide in water and drip it into your ears. This “eats” at the infected wax that is no doubt blocking your ears. It’s the same thing that happens with swimmers ear, except the infection probably comes from your sinuses during your cold. Just my two (2) cents. ---
**Author:** ![abel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2acd7d/32.png) [@abel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abel)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-ear-is-plugged/101983/9 "2002-04-05T18:58:34Z")
One time I had this happen, about two years ago. I had been lifeguarding, and it turned out to be a terrible case of swimmer’s ear. \ Basically my entire ear canal was swollen shut, they couldn’t even fit the little probe in to irrigate. They put in this little thing the doctor said was pretty much a tampon (there’s a nice thought) and I put antibiotics on it every day for a week. Eventually it opened back up, and they irrigated all this nasty mucus stuff out of it. \ During the time before I saw the doctor, it was one of the most excruciatingly painful experiences of my life. I could barely even walk it hurt so bad, and forget hearing on the left side! Abel, making the world safer with my super-vorpal level 38 double-wookie battle-felon. [http://www.progressquest.com](http://www.progressquest.com) ---
**Author:** ![Castaldi\_of\_the\_Mazzharat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@Castaldi\_of\_the\_Mazzharat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Castaldi_of_the_Mazzharat)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-ear-is-plugged/101983/10 "2002-04-05T19:03:17Z")
Oh, I know…can’t even move your damn jaw. Hurts like hell! ---
**Author:** ![rubes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@rubes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rubes)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-ear-is-plugged/101983/11 "2002-04-05T19:08:49Z")
If I didn’t already have a dr’s apptment, I think the tampon in the ear for a week story would have sent me running to the doc ---
**Author:** ![Velma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/85e7bf/32.png) [@Velma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velma)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-ear-is-plugged/101983/12 "2002-04-05T19:25:31Z")
Hey, I had swimmer’s ear too. Not to freak you out, **rubes** , but even the tampon cure didn’t work for me and my eardrum “popped” and bled all over my pillow one night. One of the most painful things I have ever experienced. Can hear fine now, though, after WEEKS of different antibiotics. But I did get some pretty great pain medication out of that ordeal;) . I have since learned never to use q-tips, it actually pushes the bacteria farther into your ear. Do the peroxide thing, or else you can get ear cleaning kits that irrigate pretty much the same way the Dr. does it at Walgreens. Take it from me, kids, q-tips are not meant to be inserted into your ear canal, your ear “cleanses” itself by working the earwax out, q-tips push most of it back in (except for the little bit you get on the tip). ::sigh:: of all topics to know about, why does it have to be earwax? I’m sure you’ll be fine. ---
**Author:** ![Velma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/85e7bf/32.png) [@Velma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velma)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2002, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-ear-is-plugged/101983/13 "2002-04-05T19:33:41Z")
Hey, I had swimmer’s ear too. Not to freak you out, **rubes** , but even the tampon cure didn’t work for me and my eardrum “popped” and bled all over my pillow one night. One of the most painful things I have ever experienced. Can hear fine now, though, after WEEKS of different antibiotics. But I did get some pretty great pain medication out of that ordeal;) . I have since learned never to use q-tips, it actually pushes the bacteria farther into your ear. Do the peroxide thing, or else you can get ear cleaning kits at Walgreens that irrigate pretty much the same way the Dr. does it. Take it from me, kids, q-tips are not meant to be inserted into your ear canal, your ear “cleanses” itself by working the earwax out, q-tips push most of it back in (except for the little bit you get on the tip). ::sigh:: of all topics to know about, why does it have to be earwax? I’m sure you’ll be fine. ---
**Author:** ![Yondan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/278dde/32.png) [@Yondan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yondan)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-ear-is-plugged/101983/14 "2002-04-08T15:23:46Z")
-Be proud of your expertise, **Velma**! And, while we can never be in the same place, we can always pass in the night! 🙂 Oh, and **Rubes** , see a doctor. ---
**Author:** ![rubes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@rubes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rubes)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2002, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-ear-is-plugged/101983/15 "2002-04-08T19:00:59Z")
Went to see the doc for a 3:45 on friday, by the time I talked to the checkin person (I was in line in time) it was 3:50-3:55 depending on which clock. They took my name, told me to sit, and at 4:30 they informed me that the doc left because I was late. So, I’m going back today, but I’ll see a different doctor ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2002, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-ear-is-plugged/101983/16 "2002-04-09T22:14:02Z")
I know what you’re going through, I recommend . ---
**Author:** ![Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/258eb7/32.png) [@Wonko\_The\_Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wonko_The_Sane)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2002, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-my-ear-is-plugged/101983/17 "2002-04-10T02:35:34Z")
Rubes- Tell us what was going on with your ear!