Ears getting blocked with wax
Discussion
I know, the thought makes me a little sick too…
Over the past couple of years I've found my ears getting quite blocked up with wax – usually instigated by swimming or having a bath. Whenever I do either of those it seems to dislodge/soften wax in my ears which then blocks my ears intermittently for a few days or even weeks in the current case. I'm sure it's wax and not water from the bath/etc, as I can get occasional lumps of it out on my finger.*
It's getting to the point where I'm a bit deaf first thing in the morning as I sleep on my side – right on my ears. After a bit of gentle tugging of the bottom of my earlobe, it gets better, but my hearing still isn't 100% in my right ear. I should probably go and get some ear drops to help get rid of the wax – can anyone recommend good eardrops, or should I just go and buy whatever Boots has?
Also – any long term recommendations to stop this happening in the future?
I would go to the Docs but that means trundling back to Essex, and I'm loathe to do that at the moment as I'm a bit busy!
Over the past couple of years I've found my ears getting quite blocked up with wax – usually instigated by swimming or having a bath. Whenever I do either of those it seems to dislodge/soften wax in my ears which then blocks my ears intermittently for a few days or even weeks in the current case. I'm sure it's wax and not water from the bath/etc, as I can get occasional lumps of it out on my finger.*
It's getting to the point where I'm a bit deaf first thing in the morning as I sleep on my side – right on my ears. After a bit of gentle tugging of the bottom of my earlobe, it gets better, but my hearing still isn't 100% in my right ear. I should probably go and get some ear drops to help get rid of the wax – can anyone recommend good eardrops, or should I just go and buy whatever Boots has?
Also – any long term recommendations to stop this happening in the future?
I would go to the Docs but that means trundling back to Essex, and I'm loathe to do that at the moment as I'm a bit busy!
- no, I didn't eat it.
Hi Tim,
It is a problem I suffer from all the time, it's grim and annoying!
First of all, forget the Otex, it is expensive and if you have a lot of wax doesn't work too well.
What you need to do is put a few drops of warm olive oil into your ear in the morning and evening, it naturally absorbs into ear wax and softens it up really well. If it is really built up do it for a week then have your ears cleaned out by the nurse at your local surgery. They don't use a syringe anymore, they use a little pump thing that won't damage your ear drum, it's actually quite soothing and dead satisfying when all the wax comes out and you can hear properly again!
Just to add, when you put the olive oil in your ears, lie on your side for about ten minutes to let it absorb, don't plug your ear with cotton wool as this tends to reabsorb the oil. Just wipe away anything that comes back out again.
It is a problem I suffer from all the time, it's grim and annoying!
First of all, forget the Otex, it is expensive and if you have a lot of wax doesn't work too well.
What you need to do is put a few drops of warm olive oil into your ear in the morning and evening, it naturally absorbs into ear wax and softens it up really well. If it is really built up do it for a week then have your ears cleaned out by the nurse at your local surgery. They don't use a syringe anymore, they use a little pump thing that won't damage your ear drum, it's actually quite soothing and dead satisfying when all the wax comes out and you can hear properly again!
Just to add, when you put the olive oil in your ears, lie on your side for about ten minutes to let it absorb, don't plug your ear with cotton wool as this tends to reabsorb the oil. Just wipe away anything that comes back out again.
bob1179 said:
Hi Tim,
It is a problem I suffer from all the time, it's grim and annoying!
First of all, forget the Otex, it is expensive and if you have a lot of wax doesn't work too well.
What you need to do is put a few drops of warm olive oil into your ear in the morning and evening, it naturally absorbs into ear wax and softens it up really well. If it is really built up do it for a week then have your ears cleaned out by the nurse at your local surgery. They don't use a syringe anymore, they use a little pump thing that won't damage your ear drum, it's actually quite soothing and dead satisfying when all the wax comes out and you can hear properly again!
Just to add, when you put the olive oil in your ears, lie on your side for about ten minutes to let it absorb, don't plug your ear with cotton wool as this tends to reabsorb the oil. Just wipe away anything that comes back out again.
Best advise. Although don't look in the container after. I cannot believe how much wax was in my ears. Nor could the nurse It is a problem I suffer from all the time, it's grim and annoying!
First of all, forget the Otex, it is expensive and if you have a lot of wax doesn't work too well.
What you need to do is put a few drops of warm olive oil into your ear in the morning and evening, it naturally absorbs into ear wax and softens it up really well. If it is really built up do it for a week then have your ears cleaned out by the nurse at your local surgery. They don't use a syringe anymore, they use a little pump thing that won't damage your ear drum, it's actually quite soothing and dead satisfying when all the wax comes out and you can hear properly again!
Just to add, when you put the olive oil in your ears, lie on your side for about ten minutes to let it absorb, don't plug your ear with cotton wool as this tends to reabsorb the oil. Just wipe away anything that comes back out again.
illmonkey said:
Best advise. Although don't look in the container after. I cannot believe how much wax was in my ears. Nor could the nurse
Had mine done about six weeks ago after going completely deaf in in my left ear, both ears were completely blocked. I was amazed at how much came out too!Every couple of years I need to get mine done, last time I went the nurse told me to get the missus to drop some olive oil in each ear for a few days once a month to keep on top of it, hopefully I won't have to go back to the nurse again for a while.
bob1179 said:
Had mine done about six weeks ago after going completely deaf in in my left ear, both ears were completely blocked. I was amazed at how much came out too!
Every couple of years I need to get mine done, last time I went the nurse told me to get the missus to drop some olive oil in each ear for a few days once a month to keep on top of it, hopefully I won't have to go back to the nurse again for a while.
I've been told, if you get it done once, you'll always need it doing. Something about the water/system damaging the tiny hairs on the ear canal. Although I don't see the difference between it and having a shower with some going in your ear.Every couple of years I need to get mine done, last time I went the nurse told me to get the missus to drop some olive oil in each ear for a few days once a month to keep on top of it, hopefully I won't have to go back to the nurse again for a while.
Cheers for the advice Bobski and all!
Extra virgin? Or chilli infused?
I'd love to go and get my ears pumped out – I've got an incredibly sick interest in how much is in there!
I'll try the olive oil. What do you use to warm it up/stick it in your ear? Are we talking half a teaspoon or so?
In earwax related news, I hope you've all seen the episode of Mythbusters where they harvest the ears of the crew to make a candle out of earwax. Try not to vomit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-_ihZNrnN4
Extra virgin? Or chilli infused?
I'd love to go and get my ears pumped out – I've got an incredibly sick interest in how much is in there!
I'll try the olive oil. What do you use to warm it up/stick it in your ear? Are we talking half a teaspoon or so?
In earwax related news, I hope you've all seen the episode of Mythbusters where they harvest the ears of the crew to make a candle out of earwax. Try not to vomit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-_ihZNrnN4
TimmyWimmyWoo said:
Cheers for the advice Bobski and all!
Extra virgin? Or chilli infused?
I'd love to go and get my ears pumped out – I've got an incredibly sick interest in how much is in there!
I'll try the olive oil. What do you use to warm it up/stick it in your ear? Are we talking half a teaspoon or so?
In earwax related news, I hope you've all seen the episode of Mythbusters where they harvest the ears of the crew to make a candle out of earwax. Try not to vomit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-_ihZNrnN4
Get a small syringe (sans needle!) and all you need is a few drops. Extra virgin? Or chilli infused?
I'd love to go and get my ears pumped out – I've got an incredibly sick interest in how much is in there!
I'll try the olive oil. What do you use to warm it up/stick it in your ear? Are we talking half a teaspoon or so?
In earwax related news, I hope you've all seen the episode of Mythbusters where they harvest the ears of the crew to make a candle out of earwax. Try not to vomit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-_ihZNrnN4
TimmyWimmyWoo said:
Cheers for the advice Bobski and all!
Extra virgin? Or chilli infused?
I'd love to go and get my ears pumped out – I've got an incredibly sick interest in how much is in there!
I'll try the olive oil. What do you use to warm it up/stick it in your ear? Are we talking half a teaspoon or so?
In earwax related news, I hope you've all seen the episode of Mythbusters where they harvest the ears of the crew to make a candle out of earwax. Try not to vomit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-_ihZNrnN4
Nice...Extra virgin? Or chilli infused?
I'd love to go and get my ears pumped out – I've got an incredibly sick interest in how much is in there!
I'll try the olive oil. What do you use to warm it up/stick it in your ear? Are we talking half a teaspoon or so?
In earwax related news, I hope you've all seen the episode of Mythbusters where they harvest the ears of the crew to make a candle out of earwax. Try not to vomit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-_ihZNrnN4
The Chilli infused stuff gives and interesting sensation!
You only need a few drops in each ear so half a teaspoon will be plenty. My missus warmed it up by putting the spoon in some hot water to make it hot which tehn warmed up the oil. It worked pretty well.
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