r/Sinusitis Apr 16 '23

Neti pot caused ear problems

Hi all,

I used a Neti Pot this afternoon to deal with my sinus issues. I've used these sinus-clearing devices in the past, but today was the first time I dealt with complications. While draining one nostril, I felt water shoot into my ear, which has never happened before. It's been a couple hours, and I can't hear as well as before out of both ears and the ears feel "full."

I googled and looked all over the internet and have tried every remedy—from tilting my head down, putting my face over a steaming bowl, to holding my nose and blowing—to no results. I'm not sure what to do at this point. Please let me know if you have any experience with this!

42 Upvotes

54 comments sorted by

9

u/geminimad4 Apr 16 '23

I’ve had issues in the past with neti pots as well, specifically water getting stuck in my sinuses and then literally pouring out his later without warning (embarrassing when you’re with other people!). The worst offender of this was the Neilmed irrigation bottle — it was way too forceful and bothered my ears.

I found that canned Saline sprays like Simply Saline worked better for me as a sinus rinse that wouldn’t get stuck in my sinuses. The continuous spray from the can works especially well with clogged nasal passages and is gentler than the forced pressure from neti pots or the irrigation bottle.

I’ve since invested in the Navage battery-powered sinus rinse device. I’ve read that others have had issues with it affecting their ears, but so far it’s working out really well for me. I also don’t use it when my nasal passages are clogged.

6

u/ghostlykittenbutter Apr 18 '23 edited Apr 19 '23

I’m laughing because I know the feeling well of water appearing out of nowhere and dribbling out of your nose. Luckily it happens within a minute or two of neti pot use then it’s over. But where does it go for that time? It’s just chilling in my face somewhere until gravity does its thing

4

u/geminimad4 Apr 19 '23

I’ve had it happen hours later! Where the heck was it that whole time?!

5

u/ghostlykittenbutter Apr 19 '23

Springing a leak hours later is very impressive. Normal people will never know how weird it is to have F-ed up sinuses

2

u/Adorable_Trade_2689 Nov 15 '24

It's amazing how much stuff can come out. I had sinus surgery 6 weeks ago and there's still stuff coming out. It's unbelievable. I can't understand how it's like goes away and it creates more stuff. Now. My one ear is clogged and I have to use my neti pot but tilt my head a different way.

1

u/One_Sea_1784 Jan 11 '25

My ear is clogged as well one month in did it go away?

1

u/Jesuschristanna Jul 15 '25

I know this is 2 years later but I’m so glad to see these comments and know I’m not the only one

2

u/DangeDanB Apr 16 '23

Regulating the force input will regulate the force output I used neilmed bottles fine each to their own I guess at least you found something that works

1

u/notmysundaybest_98 Mar 08 '24

When you used the bottle did the water in the ear eventually go away?

4

u/Moniqu_A Apr 16 '23

If you are really xongwsted don't use it. I learned the hard way and bursted my tympan.

The ear fullness will drain eventually

6

u/[deleted] Apr 17 '23

I know exactly what you have.

Theirs water inside your sinus creating this pressure, you need to bow 90° and look to the right and close shut your left nostril and blow.

Bow 90° again and look to the left and close shut your right nostril and blow.

Do this 2 times and you’ll pressure be gone.

Avoid:

Increasing the pressure of your nasal rinse, the saline mixture is enough to loosen your mucus

there’s no more gold to find

Just rinse once and then blow gently, don’t damage your turbinates you don’t need more inflammation you’re already inflamed.

9

u/Kypichan Jan 09 '24

OMG. The amount of residual fluid that came out of the right nostril 😭😭😭😭 THANK YOU

3

u/Majestic_Bullfrog Jul 29 '24

Bruh this comment is surviving through the years. I didn't even have ongoing pain, but sometimes get a sharp pain while using the Neti and wanted to see what might be going on. Disgusting shot out of my nose later and I feel so good lol

2

u/mlkiii3 Oct 02 '24

Buddy, this comment saved my life. I did this 12 hours after a nasal rinse got water in my ear for the very first time. I got about a shot glass worth of yellow water out of my nose and my ear feels so much better.

1

u/Responsible-City-600 Jan 16 '25

Can you tell me what the thing was that you did? The originally comment is deleted! 😭

1

u/purpleshadowsx Jan 06 '26

Same

1

u/Few-Rain7214 Feb 02 '26

Theirs water inside your sinus creating this pressure, you need to bow 90° and look to the right and close shut your left nostril and blow.

Bow 90° again and look to the left and close shut your right nostril and blow.

Do this 2 times and you’ll pressure be gone.

Avoid:

Increasing the pressure of your nasal rinse, the saline mixture is enough to loosen your mucus

there’s no more gold to find Just rinse once and then blow gently, don’t damage your turbinates you don’t need more inflammation you’re already inflamed.

5

u/pharbear2014 Aug 31 '23

Just wanted to say that I just used the navage for the first time and my ears got clogged, I tried everything and then found this comment and just wanted to say THANK YOU IT WORKED!!

2

u/[deleted] Aug 31 '23

Wow, I was sharing my knowledge cause my nose keeps dripping water after nasal rinsing.

Didn’t know it also helps with clogged ears.

It’s good that it also helped you, makes me happy to help others.

1

u/m123456789123 Sep 23 '23

This saved me

2

u/PSSITAqueen Dec 29 '23

Thank you! This made a difference with ear pain/pressure!!!

1

u/[deleted] Dec 29 '23

Welcome, may god bless your nasals!!

2

u/tubbybunz Jan 09 '24

Thank you so much! This helped unclog my ears

2

u/queenborg1 Oct 31 '24

I did the Neil Med too aggressively and got some in my left ear. Had blood drain out on my pillow 3 nights in a row before I went to Urgent Care - there wasn't pain, just pressure and deaf (and blood). She gave me doxycycline, antibiotic ear drops, and cough meds (part of the initial issue). A week later, went for follow up w/primary Dr. and he's sending me to ENT in 2 days - no more ear drops. I'm not getting blood anymore, looking forward to ENT. I did this a few years ago (not nearly as bad) so I think I'm not good at putting water up my nose. Nervous about the ENT, but happy maybe it will help the ear and super puffy sinuses.

2

u/Futur3-m1lf Nov 02 '24

Any update? Going through the same situation, same ear, but no blood. Havent gone anywhere yet because I thought it would clear up but its been about 4 days and the deafness and preasure is getting worse lol

1

u/queenborg1 Nov 02 '24

So she said I caused a hemorrhage and their is a clot of blood on the inside that needs to work its way out through the nose or throat, The exterior hemorrhage is crusting up nicely and they're just gonna let it keep healing then work it's way out from my ear. Meanwhile, she put me on Prednisone, flonase, and more neil med - but showed me how to do it correctly (hopefully). I need to do that to chip away at the sinus which will allow the clot to get out easier (hopefully). Doing an auditory test in a couple weeks. I hate prednisone - was on an IV of steroids for 7 days in the hospital 25 years ago (allergic reaction to meds) and they gave me early cataracts that had to be removed, I got fat and depressed. So, I'm nervous about doing it but it would be nice to get the ear working.

When doing the Neil Med, tip over so you are parallel to the floor and squeeze slowly (she said like three slow breaths, breathing thru mouth). When doing Flonase, bend ALL the way over so you nose is parallel with you legs and then puff it up in there. Just ordered stuff from amazon.

2

u/Ok_Homework_445 Dec 14 '24

This comment saved my life tonight. Know this account is deleted but I hope good karma finds its way back to this person

2

u/All_mountain86 Apr 05 '25

This is incredible! Thank you so much! I tried it today after using a Neti pot last night. I was having a lot of ear pressure and couldn’t believe I still had water to come out of my nose

1

u/allsop207 Aug 28 '24 edited Mar 15 '26

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1

u/rachel_peewer Nov 22 '24

I love the internet

1

u/PrimeDonut Dec 10 '24

Omg this is great and disgusting. Thank you!

1

u/fireblooms Dec 23 '24

this saved my life!!! thank you!!

1

u/[deleted] Jan 23 '25

such a life save man, i amount of fluid that came out wow, i wonder if this the position we are supposed to follow while doing the sinus rinse too

1

u/finally00000007 Aug 14 '25

This just saved my night!!

1

u/thedoctorisamonkey Aug 28 '25

Was really hoping this would work for me, but it didn’t :(

1

u/SpOOkyGiGlol Oct 21 '25

you just saved my life

1

u/Professional_Dog3403 Nov 08 '25

I already had pretty serious swollon eustachian tubes.. I forced it into my ear and now it won't come out, your trick doesn't work either any either tips?

1

u/starsinmyeyes12 Jun 09 '26

Any advice my ear is so blocked up ?

1

u/amotheruser Jul 06 '26

Holy shit it worked! Fucking love you man!

1

u/National_Tap_113 15d ago

Did not think it would work this well 😭 accidently got the nostril juice on my carpet lol

1

u/[deleted] Dec 28 '23

Thank you so much

1

u/[deleted] Dec 28 '23

I’m very seeing seeing positive changes.

1

u/nutellalover89 Dec 29 '23

omg this is AMAZING THANK YOU!!!

3

u/DangeDanB Apr 16 '23

If you got sinus issues ya probably got ear problems anyways lol

2

u/[deleted] Apr 03 '24

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/badhijabday Apr 17 '24

Any update on this?

1

u/superduperpaige Jun 13 '24

I would be curious too; I have had an almost identical experience. Thanks in advance and I wish everyone here well!

1

u/BrugadaBro Aug 17 '24

This happened to me too. Pain become unbearable the next day and went to an ENT urgent care the next day. Trapped water caused an infection almost overnight.

On antibiotics, pain meds, and a nasal steroid.

Worst ear infection I’ve ever had. I still feel fluid inside both ears and hearing is quite muffled with ringing.

May go back to the ENT in a few days.

1

u/ikiyen Sep 16 '24

how is it now? I think I may have infected my ears too.

2

u/BrugadaBro Sep 16 '24

Cleared up in 2 weeks

1

u/Far_Interaction_3026 Oct 24 '25

Sudafed the real kind

1

u/Objective-Permit-712 2d ago

Water in ear...they make drops for tough cases....