Menopause Matters Forum

Menopause Discussion => Other Health Discussion => Topic started by: getting_old on January 30, 2018, 09:20:55 PM

Title: Blocked ears & lost voice
Post by: getting_old on January 30, 2018, 09:20:55 PM
I started with a cold last week and on Tuesday my left ear blocked, then on Thursday the right ear blocked, then on Saturday I lost my voice, so I currently can't hear or talk  :'(
Earliest doctors appointment is a weeks time so wondering if anyone has any suggestions that may help? I've been taking cold pills but they don't seem to be having any effect, so last night started taking echinacea and bought some eucalyptus oil plus Vicks to try.
Title: Re: Blocked ears & lost voice
Post by: Daisydot on January 30, 2018, 09:59:54 PM
Good old fashioned steam inhalation.put some vicks or similar in a bowl with really hot water,lean over bowl with towel over head and bowl and inhale the vapours that should help clear it.good luck get well soon xx
Title: Re: Blocked ears & lost voice
Post by: Annie0710 on January 30, 2018, 10:10:16 PM
Try sudafed
I had a sinus infection last January and ended with both drums bursting. I had zero hearing for about 3 weeks and had to go to ENT, I've had steroids and other treatments and my ears have never been right since so be careful x
Title: Re: Blocked ears & lost voice
Post by: Daisydot on January 30, 2018, 10:26:37 PM
I remember last jan myself my husband and my adult son all had really bad sinus infections and each one of us had to resort to calling push doctor online as we couldn't get docs appointment and it had to be the worst pain in eye sockets cheek bones etc,we all got antibiotics,I still get pain behind my left ear.hope you get some relief soon xx
Title: Re: Blocked ears & lost voice
Post by: getting_old on January 30, 2018, 11:03:04 PM
Thanks for the suggestions.
Currently doing the Vicks in hot water - wow!! No change, but it's potent!!

I have some ear drops that I've used when my ears have blocked in the past, without the cold element and I'm wondering if I should try them, but I'm a bit worried they may do more harm than good?? After a week I'm willing to try most things.
Title: Re: Blocked ears & lost voice
Post by: CLKD on January 31, 2018, 01:26:55 PM
Give the ear lobe a gentle pull, shake it a bit.  It might loosen what ever is stuck.  Get the Practice Nurse to have a look-see ....... GPs don't do ears these days in our Surgery  ::)
Title: Re: Blocked ears & lost voice
Post by: Scampi on January 31, 2018, 03:45:19 PM
Drops won't do any good if your ears are blocked due to a cold or infection - the blockage is in the middle-ear (or possibly Eustachian tubes between the middle ear and the back of the throat) , so behind the ear-drum.  The drops are designed to break down wax build-up outside the ear-drum.

Keep going with the menthol inhalation (keep your eyes closed!).  Unless you are in pain it's unlikely a doctor would advise anything else.  Maybe have a chat with a pharmacist?
 
Title: Re: Blocked ears & lost voice
Post by: getting_old on January 31, 2018, 04:58:24 PM
I'm off to the pharmacy shortly. Only issue will be the lack of voice and hearing so goodness knows what they will think I'm trying to get help for!!! Will take some paper and a pen.
Title: Re: Blocked ears & lost voice
Post by: suziq99 on February 05, 2018, 03:52:34 PM
I swear by the good old honey, lemon & fresh ginger juice in hot water. Every morning & evening.
Might take a couple of days to make a difference but it's good stuff.
Title: Re: Blocked ears & lost voice
Post by: CLKD on February 05, 2018, 05:08:54 PM
Can you hear me now   :-\ what did you try to relieve symptoms?

Thanks Scampi for the anatomy lesson, I never know how the ear looks inside or how it works.  I have to look in my medical book every time ........
Title: Re: Blocked ears & lost voice
Post by: getting_old on February 05, 2018, 07:11:51 PM
Still pretty much deaf but not quite as deaf as last week! I'm halfway through a large box of sudafed and it does seem to be helping, just very very slowly. I checked with the pharmacist and they said the sudafed was the best option, plus steam / vicks, so continuing that too.
Title: Re: Blocked ears & lost voice
Post by: CLKD on February 05, 2018, 07:55:37 PM
Thanks for the update!
Title: Re: Blocked ears & lost voice
Post by: Annie0710 on February 05, 2018, 08:30:35 PM
I Agree with scampi.  Throughout my saga last year, they were even talking about temporary hearing aids! the only drops I was prescribed was strong steroid nose drops, the only ear drops were wax softeners a few weeks later as theENT consultant had to dig out the dried blood from them bursting. 
Title: Re: Blocked ears & lost voice, now a boil & cellulitis!
Post by: getting_old on February 17, 2018, 02:48:01 PM
Well the hearing was pretty much back to normal until yesterday when my ears started to feel a bit blocked again but not as bad as before, however I can't take the sudafed because I now have a nasty infected boil on my leg, have been diagnosed with cellulitis, and have 7 days of ABs (clindamycin) to take  :'(   2018 is definitely my annus horribilus (sp?). Not sure if Dr Google is to blame but two pills in despite eating loads and drinking gallons of water my throat is feeling dry / constricted, I've had one dash to the loo, and I just want to burst into tears (that's not a side effect, but I just feel so rotten!). I just want it all to stop  :'(  :'(
Title: Re: Blocked ears & lost voice
Post by: CLKD on February 17, 2018, 03:41:24 PM
Oh have a  :bighug:  I get so fed up with what to drink next.  Nowt tastes 'right'. 

Have you been advised to elevate your legs when sitting?
Title: Re: Blocked ears & lost voice
Post by: getting_old on February 17, 2018, 07:26:01 PM
Thank you.

Haven't been told to elevate the leg, but that's probably because the boil is at the very top, almost in the groin area.
Title: Re: Blocked ears & lost voice
Post by: CLKD on February 17, 2018, 09:32:47 PM
Ouch!  Did it get lanced  :-X
Title: Re: Blocked ears & lost voice
Post by: getting_old on February 17, 2018, 10:06:27 PM
No. I don't think it's at that stage yet and I think the doctor was more focused on getting the cellulitis sorted.
Title: Re: Blocked ears & lost voice
Post by: getting_old on February 20, 2018, 08:46:09 PM
I was thinking that the antibiotic would finish clearing my ears but they actually seem to have blocked more since I started taking them  :'(
The cellulitis rash does seem to be receding but the boil isn't developing a head so thinking I might need another trip to the doctors once I dare leave the bathroom.