Ear wax...

[beavereater]

OK...I know this is pretty gross, but I am just hoping someone out there has had similar problems. I think I clogged my ear with wax, and now I can't hear anything outta my right ear. I've been to the doc 2 about it, and he just either sucks it up, or flushs it out with water. This is good and all, but it costs me like 40 bucks...so doesn't anyone here know of a good way to deal with this kind of ANNOYING problem. Was thinking of taking a hose and just blasting my ear with water, but then I fear I might do some damage to the ear drum.

HELP!!

[gitreel]

They sell ear wax removal kits at the grocery store. They aren't very expensive. I have that problem too, so dont feel like the lone ranger.

[Grimey]

You're right, that is pretty gross.
Wish I could help, but i've never actually had the happen to me.

[beavereater]

They don't sell them at the grocery store here in Japan...they make you go to the doc. DAMN!!

[gitreel]

You might try a drug store. They would probably have one there.

Sorry, just trying to help..

[anubis13]

put a few dops of mineral oil in your ears. its the stuff that comes in those kits, usually with a bulb injector. the oil will soften the wax enough to clean out easily

[redwudz]

Dilute a solution of hydrogen peroxide at 50%. That is what my doctor uses. Mix with warm water at body temperature and use with a ear syringe. Leave in ear canal about a minute or two, then drain.

[budz]

I have the same problem and can relate. I have had to go to the ear, nose & throat doctor to get the earwax removed. You may want to ask for some ear drops from the doctor. There is one called, "AURALGAN", it actually softens the ear wax like to a liquid effect. It's the greatest thing to use but I was told by my primary care doc that it shouldn't be used for long periods of time. Another suggestion is to put VASOLINE on cotton balls and put it into your ears when you shower. It prevents your inner ears from getting wet then you won't have so much ear wax build up or a outer ear infection. The ear,nose, throat doctor suggested that to me since I'm abnormal because my body produces too much ear wax!

[vitualis]

Or you can just use drops of olive oil... Cheap, it works, and no chance of harm.

Regards.

[beavereater]

Or you can just use drops of olive oil... Cheap, it works, and no chance of harm.

Regards.

I was hoping this would catch your eye vitualis. I also read about the olive oil, but wasn't sure if that would REALLY work or not. I've been looking for an ear dropper...but just can't find one.

Anyway, thanks to everyone for the help. Going to get some olive oil.

[vitualis]

Yes, olive oil works... and it probably works as well as any other specific ear wax dissolving stuff. The only thing is that it doesn't come in a handy dropper type container.

You can try flushing the wax out in the shower but that will probably NOT work without softening it up first. I suggest that you try the olive oil. A few drops in the affected ear at night for a day or two and it should clear up (or soften up enough so that you can flush it out easily in the shower). Or, if you go see a GP, it will make his or her job much easier to syringe out the wax.

Things not to do:
- don't jam things in your ear (ike cotton buds) in the mistaken belief you will get out the wax. At best you will only impact the wax further down the external auditory canal and at worst, you can damage your ear drum
- don't syringe out your own ear! There is a skill to it and if you don't do it properly, you can again damage your ear drum/hearing (every year, a few GPs will be sued for damaging a patient's hearing while syringing someone's ear).

Regards.

[tweedledee]

I have used the Olive Oil method, then flushed my ear with a syringe that I bought from the local chemist, and Vitulas, if you are reading this, it is too small and puny to burst my eardrum. The doctors use a more industrial type.
Anyway, it works for me.

[offline]

I suffer from this so I designed my own tools. You have to be very
careful not to skewer the drum of course. This should horrify
vitualis of course but they are copied from tools used
by specialists.




a. Built from wire, one end is a bent loop (general cleaner)
while the other is a sturdy but soft flange bent slightly in the middle
for "wet" wax or waterclogged ears. Also clears "swimming pool" syndrome

b. Built from a simple paper clip, one end is slightly bent for
scraping (skin buildup) and the other for fine tune control when holding
with thumb and forefinger. For rough dry buildup.

[DVD_Ripper]

Avoid the garden hose attempt.....

A doc once told me to, while in the shower, use the 'pulse mode' on one of those multi-head sprayers, and wash it out for 30-40 seconds a few times a week.... seems to work ok.

[IAIHMB]

They sell ear wax removal kits at the grocery store. They aren't very expensive. I have that problem too, so dont feel like the lone ranger.

Q-tips?

[DVD_Ripper]

They sell ear wax removal kits at the grocery store. They aren't very expensive. I have that problem too, so dont feel like the lone ranger.

Q-tips?

No, a solution you put in your ear and it breaks up the wax and flows out... you would need some cotton to stuff in there so it doesn't flow out all over your clothes. Talk to a pharmacist at your local drug store... he will be able to recommend the best 'kit'

[Guest]

They sell ear wax removal kits at the grocery store. They aren't very expensive. I have that problem too, so dont feel like the lone ranger.

Q-tips?

Bad idea if you are having problems. These impact the wax onto the hairs that are constantly pushing the wax out,furthering the problem.

[Capmaster]

I got a buildup so bad once that I went to the doc. Everything was muffled and sounded like I was in a tunnel.

The doc used a machine similar to the pulsing dental spray machines filled with very warm water. He worked out a hard plug the size of a pea I brought it home and proudly presented it to my wife, who got grossed out and made me throw it away

[Rookie64]

Ear Wax FAQ from Douglas Hoffman, M.D., Ph.D.

What is this stuff, anyway?
Ear wax is a sticky liquid secreted by cerumen glands. It isn't really wax (paraffin.) Skin contains many tiny glands whose sole purpose is to secrete a variety of substances. Sebaceous glands, for example, secrete sebum, which gives skin its "greasy" quality. Sweat is also produced by microscopic glands. Cerumen glands are found only in the skin of the ear canals.

What good is it?
Ear wax, sticky stuff that it is, is very good at trapping anything foreign that flies, crawls, or is blown into the ear canals. Dirt, tiny bits of plant material, small insects, bacteria and so forth are immobilized by wax. Think of wax as the sticky stuff on a No Pest Strip. The primary purpose of ear wax is to protect your ear canal (as well as your ear drum) from such foreign materials. Ear canal skin moves (very slowly) out of the ear canal, carrying with it any wax and debris that are adherent to the skin. Most of the time, the ear canals are fully capable of self-cleaning in this manner.

What problems can ear wax cause?
Ear wax can cause hearing loss, pain, and cough. Hearing loss occurs when wax completely occludes (blocks) the ear canal. This prevents sound waves from easily reaching the ear drum, in exactly the same way that ear plugs (or a strategically-positioned finger) block sound. Even a small amount of wax, if wedged between the ear drum and the ear canal wall, can reduce the ability of the ear drum to conduct sound. Some people tend to form very hard wax, which can cause pain by putting pressure on sensitive ear canal walls. Finally, since the ear canal shares some of the same nerves which give sensation to the throat, ear wax can provoke a "tickle in the throat" which can then lead to cough.

Why am I having this problem NOW?
While some folks have problems with ear wax throughout their lives, many people develop "problem wax" suddenly, without any obvious explanation. Similarly, a person may have wax problems only with one ear and not the other. Ear surgery can occasionally result in the new onset of ear wax problems. It is more commonly the case that there is simply no good answer to the question, "why is this happening now?"

How should I clean my ears?
Everyone has heard the ridiculous commandment, "Never stick anything in your ears smaller than your elbow." This may have been funny the first time but now is about as fresh as "Why did the chicken cross the road?" In fact, ear swabs are safe to use, if used correctly. It is certainly safe to swab the outer portion of the ear. The opening of the ear canal can also safely be swabbed. Deeper swabbing is potentially risky for three reasons. First, if you have a lot of ear wax, placing the swab into the canal will tend to "pack it down," which can turn a partial blockage into a complete blockage. Second, you may damage the ear drum if the swab is inserted too deeply. Finally, if you scratch or abrade the ear canal skin, you may cause a painful infection of the canal ("swimmer's ear," known medically as otitis externa.) Despite these risks, if you do not have a lot of wax and are careful in your technique, you can swab more deeply in the canal. But why would you want to do this? Wax migrates out of the canal all by itself and does not need your help. Remember, wax protects the ear canal skin and ear drum.

What should I do about problem wax?

People with a history of ear disease should go to an ENT for wax problems and not try treating the problem themselves.

Most primary care physicians will attempt to remove wax by irrigation (squirting warm water into the ear canal to wash out the wax) or by scooping the wax out with a curette (a very small, metal ring at the end of a metal handle.) The curette technique can be very effective in skilled hands, but can be very painful (and potentially damaging) in less-than-skilled hands. (Incidentally: removal of an impaction of hard wax is inevitably painful, regardless of technique.) Irrigation is always uncomfortable to some degree; some folks tolerate this better than others.

Ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctors usually remove wax by suction and/or curette techniques. This is typically done with the assitance of an operating microscope to give the doctor optimal visibility. ENT doctors have a variety of tools to remove wax, and will typically alter their methods depending on the hardness and location of the wax.

Over the counter wax removal systems typically use irrigation with a solution containing hydrogen peroxide. This can be very effective, although hard wax and complete blockages often require more aggressive treatment (by a doctor!) Also, bear in mind that you run the risk of converting a partial blockage into a complete blockage by using peroxide, because the liquid can get trapped between the wax and the ear drum. This is true for any home remedy.

Some home remedies are safe and effective. A vinegar-water-peroxide solution (1:1:2) can be warmed to body temperature and applied to the ear canal to soften wax. A drop of baby oil can be placed in each ear canal on a regular basis (typically, once or twice per week) to soften hard, painful wax. People who have a history of middle ear infections, swimmer's ear, or a hole in the ear drum should NOT try these remedies, nor should they allow a physician to irrigate their ears, as such methods can lead to a painful and/or dangerous ear infection. As a rule, people with a history of any ear disease should go to an ENT for wax problems and not try treating the problem themselves.

CANDLING has gained popularity in recent years. In this technique, a candle is placed in the ear canal. The wick is lighted and the candle is allowed to burn for a short period of time. Supposedly, the burning flame creates a vacuum at the other end of the candle, which can suck wax and other evil humors from the canal. When the candle is removed, the base of candle typically will appear dark brown, leading the person to believe that their ear wax has been removed by candling. THIS IS A HAZARDOUS AND INEFFECTIVE TECHNIQUE! Hot wax can burn the external ear, and if any gets into the canal it can cause a painful burn, infection, or even a perforation of the ear drum. One could conceivably set one's hair or clothing on fire. REMEMBER:

[DVD_Ripper]

CANDLING has gained popularity in recent years. In this technique, a candle is placed in the ear canal. The wick is lighted and the candle is allowed to burn for a short period of time. Supposedly, the burning flame creates a vacuum at the other end of the candle, which can suck wax and other evil humors from the canal.

I think this was first done by Wile E Coyotte

[anubis13]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/08/06/ear.hair.reut/index.html

[Doramius]

They don't sell them at the grocery store here in Japan...they make you go to the doc. DAMN!!

They have those funky looking sticks with a hook or cup at the tips instead of Q-tips there. Those sticks are nice for people who gets heavy build up. Do you have allergies? Q-Tips work for me, but I'm not very bad with ear wax. My wife has allergies and when she gets a check up, the doctor pulls out a chunk with that ear checking light scope thingy, and those plastic funnel things seem to clear her ears pretty well. The doctor usually has to use 2 because the first one clears her ear. My wife also uses Q-tips daily, but her build up is pretty heavy with allergies.

[Guest]

They don't sell them at the grocery store here in Japan...they make you go to the doc. DAMN!!

http://www.buyershaven.com/ear-wax-cleaning.htm