A natural pick me up remedy

IlonaRN

I had a watery, clear discharge from my ears recently. It was so bad that they often blocked up! They also itched terribly!

When I had my ears cleaned recently (at the ENT as I wear hearing aids), the ENT nurse suggested a spray called "EarCalm", which I purchased from Lloyds chemist (Boots were 20p more expensive!). It is effectively a very dilute solution of acetic acid. It cleared up the itch and the watery discharge also.

I don't know if it would work for you, but it might be worth a try?

Hear-Hear

Avoid hoppi candles. There is no regulation of this business, and they are unsafe. For verification of this view, ask your GP for his/her opinion.

Discharge > see GP or Practice Nurse if persistent more than 3 days. It could be a serious infection, in some cases if not treated it can damage or perforate the eardrum. Large perforations are permanent. Going back to hoppi candles, most practitioners are not qualified to inspect the eardrum for damage or potential damage. If you have a perforation, or an infection that could lead to perforation, then the hoppi candle treatment may well aggrevate the situation. Avoid, ask your GP or opinion, or use common sense.

Bubby

Hear-Hear wrote: »

Avoid hoppi candles. There is no regulation of this business, and they are unsafe. For verification of this view, ask your GP for his/her opinion.

Discharge > see GP or Practice Nurse if persistent more than 3 days. It could be a serious infection, in some cases if not treated it can damage or perforate the eardrum. Large perforations are permanent. Going back to hoppi candles, most practitioners are not qualified to inspect the eardrum for damage or potential damage. If you have a perforation, or an infection that could lead to perforation, then the hoppi candle treatment may well aggrevate the situation. Avoid, ask your GP or opinion, or use common sense.

I don't think it was a perforated eardrum, It was less painful this time than the time before and lasted a fraction of the time. I did have yellow pus coming out of one ear on Tuesday and although the pain has now settled (after taking painrelief 24hrs a day) my ears are still "blocked". Our GP isn't very sympathetic to ear problems (or any problems for that matter!) but I was wondring whether having them syringed would get rid of whatever seems to be in there?
Or can I buy olive oil in a dropper bottle?

Hear-Hear

The Practice Nurse won't syringe whilst the infection (if that's what it is) is still 'live'. You really need to get the ear(s) examined by the GP. Whilst he/she may lack sympathy, if there is an infection/pus, then you should be prescribed a course of treatment. Once cleared, you can ask for syringing, but the Nurse will only do this if necessary.

You can buy olive oil from the chemist. Depending on what they stock, you might need to get a dropper separately. Best of all would be ask for something like Earol which has an atomiser spray to squirt just the right amount of oil into your ear. If you can't get this at your local pharmacy, then Specsavers Hearing Centres or Boots Hearing Centres - there's at least one of these in most towns - should be able to supply you.

Bubby

Hear-Hear wrote: »

The Practice Nurse won't syringe whilst the infection (if that's what it is) is still 'live'. You really need to get the ear(s) examined by the GP. Whilst he/she may lack sympathy, if there is an infection/pus, then you should be prescribed a course of treatment. Once cleared, you can ask for syringing, but the Nurse will only do this if necessary. I did telephone but was told that ear infections are best left to run their own course and that if I was still in pain after 4/5 days then to make an appointment. The pain has gone but they are still blocked:(

You can buy olive oil from the chemist. Depending on what they stock, you might need to get a dropper separately. Best of all would be ask for something like Earol which has an atomiser spray to squirt just the right amount of oil into your ear. If you can't get this at your local pharmacy, then Specsavers Hearing Centres or Boots Hearing Centres - there's at least one of these in most towns - should be able to supply you.

Thanks I will have a look for this:)

dramarama

Hi Bubby!
I hope your ears have stopped giving you grief. I have constantly suffered from ear infections since being a toddler- I can understand the constant pain and grouchy feelings that go with it.

I have no miracle cures...in the winter I make sure my ears are covered with a nice snuggly hat and have a gross but wonderful recipe for sore throats, it helped when I had my last major throat infections : 1 large dollop of honey, a squeeze of lemon (fresh or in bottle), hot water and the gross but amazing bit....Cyder vinegar (about a cap full). :eek:
The vinegar is often in supermarkets or health food shops, don't be tempted to add malt vinegar...yuck!

Having made numerous trips to hospitals all over the country my best advise would be to speak to various consultants...I've been very lucky on ?NHS!

I have had 4-5 sets of grommits/t tubes and am now hard of hearing with a perforated ear drum...I'm deaf in one ear but they're reluctant to give me a hearing aid as its mainly conversations I can't hear.

In general I have not had an ear infection for 4 years now WOOOO HOOO! I have taken up yoga, eat as well as I can and take a probiotic multi vit everyday....that being said I'm drinking the yucky drink I mentioned at the mo!!

Here's hoping that you are all better and the nasty ear problems are well and truly behind you now. X

Hear-Hear

dramarama wrote: " ...I'm deaf in one ear but they're reluctant to give me a hearing aid as its mainly conversations I can't hear".

What a preposterous thing to have been said to you !! That makes me so cross. It suggests that you are being fobbed off. Hearing aids are designed to enable the user to hear.....erm..... conversations !!

Most of the old-fashioned analogue aids simply amplified pretty much everything, as did some of the older (pre-2008) digital NHS aids. But those issued since April 2008 have up to 12-channels for really fantastic clarity, as long as they are correctly fitted and programmed for you. There are even better models available on the NHS since the latest Catalogue was released on 01 August 2010.

A letter of complaint to the Head of Audiology would be a sensible step I think. Nothing to lose, and all that.....

dramarama

Hear-Hear wrote: »

dramarama wrote: " ...I'm deaf in one ear but they're reluctant to give me a hearing aid as its mainly conversations I can't hear".

What a preposterous thing to have been said to you !! That makes me so cross. It suggests that you are being fobbed off. Hearing aids are designed to enable the user to hear.....erm..... conversations !!

Most of the old-fashioned analogue aids simply amplified pretty much everything, as did some of the older (pre-2008) digital NHS aids. But those issued since April 2008 have up to 12-channels for really fantastic clarity, as long as they are correctly fitted and programmed for you. There are even better models available on the NHS since the latest Catalogue was released on 01 August 2010.

A letter of complaint to the Head of Audiology would be a sensible step I think. Nothing to lose, and all that.....

Thanks for your message, I must admit I was annoyed the first couple of times but now I don't mind so much- as soon as it starts to become an issue I will start chasing up hearing aids.
I've come across so much prejudice seeing how people who are hard of hearing/ deaf come into contact with, it's insane!!
Most of my family are hard of hearing...family get together's are pretty hilarious!!

Thanks again for your reply.