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If it is behind the eardrum It has to be dried up by taking something like Mucinex which is guaifenesin which Dr's give to kids and adults to dry it up before it went OTC.
I would worry about drying it up so a infection does not begin.
My left ear has felt "congested" for a few days now, and I'm having a tough time hearing out of it. You know the feeling that you get sometimes after a long flight? That's how it feels. Yet I can't seem to fix the problem! Any suggestions on how to clear it out?
Did you have an upper respiratory tract infection or an allergy issue a few days before that? Were you on a plane recently or somehow had an altitude change recently?
As someone else said, a decongestant is probably your best bet. Sudafed is a great example. If this doesn't clear within a week, you should really see an ENT (ear,nose,and throat dr), or you run the risk of an infection. The longer this goes, the more uncomfortable (and expensive) the treatment can be. You should feel either a gradual "release" of pressure, or you'll hear/feel the "pop" in a few days. Oh, and cut out the dairy temporarily.
I am just getting over my congested ears and wanted to post so I can help people going through the same thing! I had a cold and then had an ear infection which cleared up on its own, but then had fluid (congestion) in my ears. Get the Sudafed that is behind the pharmacy counter. You'll have to show ID. Within two days my ears were feeling so much better! I'm on my fifth day of taking it and I'm almost completely better. Also, my vision was blurry due to the fluid in my ears, so that's common too.
You can get a serious infection in your brain from those neti pot things also, go to the Doctor and get something for your ears. That is generally the quickest way to get things cleared up.
My left ear has felt "congested" for a few days now, and I'm having a tough time hearing out of it. You know the feeling that you get sometimes after a long flight? That's how it feels. Yet I can't seem to fix the problem! Any suggestions on how to clear it out?
Probably wax buildup. It happens. Try flushing it with a dilution of glycerin soap (we use Bonner's concentrate -- and just a few drops in a cup of warm -- not hot -- water). You can use a syringe, but just trickle it in your ear (with your head over a sink or basin) and afterward, rinse with clear warm water, dry with a towel. Follow by a rinse with straight isoprophyl alcohol. Then, shake your head vigorously, lean over so your ear is pointing to the floor, and gently tug on the outer flesh of the ear. (This stretches out the canal.)
Do NOT pack the ear.
If you've tried this a few times and it still doesn't clear, see your doctor.
I normally lean crunchy... using alternative/herbal/holistic remedies for most ailments. (I practically grew up at Whole Foods Market in Texas, one of the original stores back when Whole Foods was still very granola...)
However, I just wanted to suggest, on this old resurrected thread, - when it comes to ears: do yourself a favor and go to the doctor.
And ear candling is a scam. It's risky even to try it as wax might even drip into your ears if you're not careful. We sold so many of those things at Whole Foods back in the 90's... total bunk.
And I agree about the neti pots, too. They can be dangerous if they are not kept sterile and the water used is not distilled or filtered correctly.
A strip mall hearing aid shop is competent to go in there an pop out an obstructing accumulation of earwax, which sounds like what you've got. They'll do it no charge, if they think they can convince you to buy a hearing aid.
If they see something that they are not medically competent to address, they won't do it, and will refer you to a doctor.
You can get a serious infection in your brain from those neti pot things also, go to the Doctor and get something for your ears. That is generally the quickest way to get things cleared up.
Only if you do not keep the neti pot clean and don't use sterile saline solution. They are perfectly safe when used properly, the trouble is unhygenic practices.
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Ear congestion
