Discussion
I can hear a rushing sound in my right ear in time with my heartbeat, and when I block each ear in turn there is a mild but definite loss of hearing from that ear. There is also a squelching sound when I push the ear shut.
Any chance it's just wax or is it likely to be more serious? I'm early fifties.
Any chance it's just wax or is it likely to be more serious? I'm early fifties.
All that jazz said:
Wax 
. See nurse person at your local quack. They will jetwash them for you and clear all the crud out.
Sounds like a blockage of some sort. You could try some of the earex stuff to clear it out if you like, it can help - when I went for a jetwashing the ear I had trouble with cleared fairly easily, but when the nurse said she'd have a go at the other ear she had to up the pressure. It came out in one big lump about the size of a pencil tip rubber. Ew.. See nurse person at your local quack. They will jetwash them for you and clear all the crud out.Edited by davepoth on Thursday 8th December 23:04
Yeah it's not very pleasant. Personally I found the ear drops to be a waste of time. It does loosen a bit but it's incredibly messy as the fluid just runs out of your ears and down your face unless you're prepared to lay still on your side for ages and "balance" the fluid in your ear while it works. Best to just go for the jetwashing but make sure they start with gentle pressure as it can be really painful and disorientating if they have to increase it. Everything is SUPER loud when you walk back outside immediately after having had it done too 
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Shame they can't get rid of my constant tinnitus though 
I do mine myself, now.
Many years ago, despite having what I thought to be perfect hearing (I was always the person who could hear a car alram etc going off two miles away) I had to have them syringed due to needing a hearing test for a job. I was told at that point that this usually meant I would need them done again quite regularly. Pah!
Fast forward to a few weeks ago and my right ear completely blocked. Given it was probably 15 years since I had them syringed, I didn't think this was too bad! My neighbour then suggested he did his own and had done so all his life. I decided to copy his method..
All I did was warm some olive oil, drip it into my ear, leave it 10 mins or so and then used warm water in a washing up bottle to squirt in there. It worked perfectly and as expected, some rather nasty looking "stuff" appeared as a result.
Many years ago, despite having what I thought to be perfect hearing (I was always the person who could hear a car alram etc going off two miles away) I had to have them syringed due to needing a hearing test for a job. I was told at that point that this usually meant I would need them done again quite regularly. Pah!
Fast forward to a few weeks ago and my right ear completely blocked. Given it was probably 15 years since I had them syringed, I didn't think this was too bad! My neighbour then suggested he did his own and had done so all his life. I decided to copy his method..
All I did was warm some olive oil, drip it into my ear, leave it 10 mins or so and then used warm water in a washing up bottle to squirt in there. It worked perfectly and as expected, some rather nasty looking "stuff" appeared as a result.
Digby said:
I do mine myself, now.
Many years ago, despite having what I thought to be perfect hearing (I was always the person who could hear a car alram etc going off two miles away) I had to have them syringed due to needing a hearing test for a job. I was told at that point that this usually meant I would need them done again quite regularly. Pah!
Fast forward to a few weeks ago and my right ear completely blocked. Given it was probably 15 years since I had them syringed, I didn't think this was too bad! My neighbour then suggested he did his own and had done so all his life. I decided to copy his method..
All I did was warm some olive oil, drip it into my ear, leave it 10 mins or so and then used warm water in a washing up bottle to squirt in there. It worked perfectly and as expected, some rather nasty looking "stuff" appeared as a result.
I've done this myself in the past, it does work but it's also risky - i always did it so the nozzle was slightly angled so it doesn't squirt the water directly onto the wax / eardrum but more of a flushing action thus washing the wax out of the ear. Mine need doing as we speak and i'm tempted to do another DIY job myself! Many years ago, despite having what I thought to be perfect hearing (I was always the person who could hear a car alram etc going off two miles away) I had to have them syringed due to needing a hearing test for a job. I was told at that point that this usually meant I would need them done again quite regularly. Pah!
Fast forward to a few weeks ago and my right ear completely blocked. Given it was probably 15 years since I had them syringed, I didn't think this was too bad! My neighbour then suggested he did his own and had done so all his life. I decided to copy his method..
All I did was warm some olive oil, drip it into my ear, leave it 10 mins or so and then used warm water in a washing up bottle to squirt in there. It worked perfectly and as expected, some rather nasty looking "stuff" appeared as a result.
Yes, I probably should have added that I don't go full-on 'cracked Hoover dam'
In fact re: the angle, my friend uses an old shower gel bottle with an adjustable cap (the square type which flips out of the lid)
This is his Mk3 approach as his Mk1 effort involved one of those spray bottles you can use for dusting plants, ironing etc etc.
I think it depends on just how bad things are in there as to which approach you use and how direct the jet needs to be.
Some will get away with just a simple, angled flush, others may need to go the Mk1 approach with direct jetting - which is a bit like hiring in Bruce Willis and his drilling team and probably carries the same associated risks.
I just don't do Doctors and hospitals unless I have absolutely no choice.
In fact re: the angle, my friend uses an old shower gel bottle with an adjustable cap (the square type which flips out of the lid)
This is his Mk3 approach as his Mk1 effort involved one of those spray bottles you can use for dusting plants, ironing etc etc.
I think it depends on just how bad things are in there as to which approach you use and how direct the jet needs to be.
Some will get away with just a simple, angled flush, others may need to go the Mk1 approach with direct jetting - which is a bit like hiring in Bruce Willis and his drilling team and probably carries the same associated risks.
I just don't do Doctors and hospitals unless I have absolutely no choice.
Dr Jekyll said:
I can hear a rushing sound in my right ear in time with my heartbeat, and when I block each ear in turn there is a mild but definite loss of hearing from that ear. There is also a squelching sound when I push the ear shut.
Any chance it's just wax or is it likely to be more serious? I'm early fifties.
The rushing sound can also be known as pulsatile tinnitus. I suffer with it from time to time but i also have hearing issues. Any chance it's just wax or is it likely to be more serious? I'm early fifties.
No help to anyone here, but hearing in my left ear is a bit pants.
Went to GP who said he couldn't spot anything, such as waxy buildup or owt. Arranged a visit to ENT specialist who said similar and hearing test confirmed what I knew already - hearing's a bit rubbish. Even had a scan as they thought it may be a calcareous growth or something.
Long story short; nothing wrong, my left ear just doesn't work like it should.
Went to GP who said he couldn't spot anything, such as waxy buildup or owt. Arranged a visit to ENT specialist who said similar and hearing test confirmed what I knew already - hearing's a bit rubbish. Even had a scan as they thought it may be a calcareous growth or something.
Long story short; nothing wrong, my left ear just doesn't work like it should.
Digby said:
Yes, I probably should have added that I don't go full-on 'cracked Hoover dam'
In fact re: the angle, my friend uses an old shower gel bottle with an adjustable cap (the square type which flips out of the lid)
This is his Mk3 approach as his Mk1 effort involved one of those spray bottles you can use for dusting plants, ironing etc etc.
I think it depends on just how bad things are in there as to which approach you use and how direct the jet needs to be.
Some will get away with just a simple, angled flush, others may need to go the Mk1 approach with direct jetting - which is a bit like hiring in Bruce Willis and his drilling team and probably carries the same associated risks.
I just don't do Doctors and hospitals unless I have absolutely no choice.
Getting your ears cleaned should be done by someone who knows what they're on about, too much pressure can burst your eardrum.In fact re: the angle, my friend uses an old shower gel bottle with an adjustable cap (the square type which flips out of the lid)
This is his Mk3 approach as his Mk1 effort involved one of those spray bottles you can use for dusting plants, ironing etc etc.
I think it depends on just how bad things are in there as to which approach you use and how direct the jet needs to be.
Some will get away with just a simple, angled flush, others may need to go the Mk1 approach with direct jetting - which is a bit like hiring in Bruce Willis and his drilling team and probably carries the same associated risks.
I just don't do Doctors and hospitals unless I have absolutely no choice.
From a bloke who has a new eardrum...
Not caused by flushing, but you still really don't want to have to have it done!
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