The ENT (Ear Nose and Throat specialist) took one look in my ear and said the words that changed everything: “I thought so. This isn’t an ear infection.” That was 15 years ago.

The reason I remember the date so clearly is because I was due to give birth to my third child any minute. My left ear had become blocked and if you’ve ever had a blocked ear you know that throws you a bit off balance. I couldn’t hear at all from my left ear and felt so off-centre, that I couldn’t imagine giving birth like that.

I was desperate for an appointment and specialist appointments are not easy to come by at the last minute. Thankfully, my mum had been a sporadic patient of an ENT over many years and rang his office, getting me in.

I had already tried oils and ear drops to dislodge the wax that the GP had said must be blocking my ear. Someone my mum knew had suggested ear candling that I thankfully didn’t attempt.

So, what was the problem with my ear?

It took the ENT seconds to diagnose me by just looking…