How to clear out fluid behind the eardrum?!
Question: I have a cold/flu, and one of my ears has become blocked. I can't hear from it at all. I've seen a doctor, and they said to chew gum until it drains. The gum isn't working, and in the meanwhile, I'm very dizzy and having problems hearing. It is not painful or infected. It is fluid behind the eardrum, not ear wax. I've taken a few sinus pills, and tried breathing steam, but nothing has worked. Are there any other things I can try?
Answers: I have a cold/flu, and one of my ears has become blocked. I can't hear from it at all. I've seen a doctor, and they said to chew gum until it drains. The gum isn't working, and in the meanwhile, I'm very dizzy and having problems hearing. It is not painful or infected. It is fluid behind the eardrum, not ear wax. I've taken a few sinus pills, and tried breathing steam, but nothing has worked. Are there any other things I can try?
If you try the nose-pinch-blowing thing, do it in reverse, suck in, don't blow out - you've already got pressure in the outward direction - it sounds like you need it to go the other way.
By creating a negative pressure (i.e. a slight vacuum) inside your nasal cavity, you might be able to pull some of that fluid out of your ear though the eustachian passage. If you do that while lying on your side with the affected ear up (so gravity helps a little), you might notice a sound or some reduction in the pressure. Also move your jaw like you were chewing something big. Decongestants may help this process as well.
This Might sound weird but put some salt into a sock warm it up in the microwave and put your ear on it it actually works
try swallowing air. that's what the doctor is trying to accomplish by having you chew gum, I think. That's how you relieve pressure on an airplane or after diving so it's worth a shot.
I'd try pinching your nose and slowly blow out of your nose every couple of hours. It's worked wonders for me. Except do it when your sitting down, because you may get dizzy for a couple of secs.
Sudefed will work wonders.