In agony from ear wax build up

[longtimebrowser]

Delightful I know but I am in complete agony from a build up of ear wax (confirmed by nurse). I've been advised to book an appointment privately but I can't get a slot for another week
To try and ease the pain and help clear the wax I am:

• alternating olive oil and Otex ear drops
• washing out ears with Otex bulb and under a running tap
• hot bath
• ibuprofen every 4 hours

What else I can do??? Was hoping for a nice weekend but can't move from bed at the moment!

When I had earwax build up I was told not to use Otex by the nurse as it causes more problems.

If you have one of those wheat bags you put in the microwave try heating it up and applying it to the area.

Ive also heard that filling a sock with rocksalt and heating that up can draw any fluid away from the ear - I haven't tried that myself though.

You have my full sympathy though as it's absolute agony!

Was going to suggest a wheat bag. Failing that, a flannel or hand towel soaked in hot water, wrung out, placed in a poly bag & then wrap in a thin clean cloth such as a tea towel or t-shirt. Place it on your pillow & lay on it.

I suffer really badly with ear wax, I have narrow ear canals apparently and wear a headset for work which doesn’t help.

I use the olive oil to soften it and then someone suggested I buy something like this. It’s just like getting them irrigated at the nurse. To add I am not a doctor so I’m not saying definitely get this or how advisable it is from a medical perspective but it helped me.

One thing I would say is sit down when doing it, as the chunks of wax came out it made me really dizzy. It’s also really satisfying seeing it all come out.

www.amazon.co.uk/Medi-Grade-Remover-Syringe-Quad-Stream/dp/B0795WHD42/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=ear+wax+remover&sprefix=ear&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1621071844&sr=8-6

Lie your face on a hot water bottle. Good excuse for lying around all day too! I get this a lot, and have learnt not to put anything else in the ear, olive oil, or Otex, or saline, or anything else that went in just made it worse. Also, not to have the wax washed out, tried once and agony. I get mine sucked out with the suction device, much less traumatic, and better for your ears. Good luck OP.

I second the war syringe. I was almost deaf in one ear due to a huge plug that had water trapped behind it. The relief when it came out was immense. Definitely do it sitting down as I lost my balance.

Last time I was referred to a specialist (meaning I had to pay...) clinic as the nurse at my GP surgery said I had a build up I couldn't clear on my own. Before my appointment at the specialist clinic a couple of weeks later I had taken Sudafed sinus clear and was using Otex. When I got to my appointment she said my ears were completely clear. It was really bizarre and I ended up not needing treatment, I think they were going to lazer it out or something.

Ibuprofen should be 6 hourly not 4 hourly. Max 3 doses in 24 hours. Can you alternate with paracetamol?

DON'T put anything in your ear!!!
It will only make it worse.

Where are you? If you are in the north west i can reccomend Manchester ear clinic. 60 quid for both ears and it is like a miracle.

This is microsuction by the way... hoovering it out. I would phone around several places and see if anyone can do it more quickly.

I wouldn't use the Otex, but continue with the Olive Oil. I would go to pharmacy and ask about strong pain relief, or get someone to go for you if poss. Very often pharmacists are good with that knowledge of which medicine will target pain. They are your best bet, if you cannot get to a doctor. Good luck.

Thanks everyone - currently sat with a hot water bottle that is working a treat! And will take onboard your advice to avoid Otex.

@Antiqueanniesmagiclanternshow sadly nowhere near the north west

Dr Mandell. He’s absolutely brilliant. His videos have helped me tremendously.

Specsavers do ear wax removal 55.00.
Just Google with your address and should find one near you

With regards to otex it worked for me in that it broke up hard wax but what it did was make the wax turn into liquid and slowly run down to make its way out of my ear which I had my head on it’s side so the wax could run out.

BUT, it started to dry and caused awful itching and soreness that took a very long while to clear up because the crust it formed was rigid but my skin etc underneath was not and friction resulted.

Funny enough unknown to me my father had bought and used Otex at the same time and had the same result.

The itching becomes unbearable!

The only things I put in my ear now are Earol and Ear Calm. The Earol helps keep the wax soft and the ear calm stops any irritation or itchiness caused by getting water in my ears from washing or the rain etc.

Our local independent hearing aid place does wax removal, no appt necessary, may be worth checking.

You have just reminded me that it was microsuction I was offered as well but didn't need so I asked the nurse if there was anything I could do for maintenance going forward and she told me just to leave my ears alone and stop using anything, which pretty much went against everything I have been told before so now I am completely confused about what works. Good luck OP and I hope you get it sorted. If it's painful could you have an infection also?

There’s a campaign by RNID to get ear wax removal back on NHS.

rnid.org.uk/get-involved/campaign-with-us/take-action-if-nhs-ear-wax-removal-services-arent-available-in-your-area/

Apparently I’ve got a tiny ear canal, and have had to have it microsuctioned twice so far. The 2nd time, they told me to put a couple of drops of olive oil in weekly.

I agree it should be on the NHS. By the time, someone is suffering hearing loss, tinnitus and pressure in the ear, they shouldn’t only be able to get treatment if they can afford it!

@Intercity225

Apparently I’ve got a tiny ear canal, and have had to have it microsuctioned twice so far. The 2nd time, they told me to put a couple of drops of olive oil in weekly.

I agree it should be on the NHS. By the time, someone is suffering hearing loss, tinnitus and pressure in the ear, they shouldn’t only be able to get treatment if they can afford it!

Absolutely, I’m quite angry about this. It hardly fits the category of ‘cosmetic’. I’ve had to make an appointment with Specsavers to pay £55 to get my hearing back.

Have long term ear issues and get mine microsuction. One time I couldn't get in to see my ent so used drops. Only use sodium bicarbonate drops not oil based. The oil based ones do soften it but actually makes it expand so can make it worse if already blocked.

As others had said a heat against your face is really the best thing.

Anyone who has problems getting this sorted on the NHS please please complete the survey Skoda has linked. GPs are supposed to provide this service or refer to ENT if they can't (it is a service that is commissioned by CCGs). There is a massive issue with surgery's refusing or sending people private and it needs addressing.

rnid.org.uk/get-involved/campaign-with-us/take-action-if-nhs-ear-wax-removal-services-arent-available-in-your-area/

I don't have a problem with ear wax but I have psoriasis and that can block the outer ear canal and is itchy as a very itchy thing.

I bought a camera, it has a a scrapy hook type thing on the end.

Now I'm not going in as deep as you would need to for wax but it might help if you can see where the wax is.

I got it off amazon for about £10-12.

Please don’t use sodium bicarbonate or drops in your ears. This turns the wax to slime and makes it very difficult to remove.

I agree with the other posters olive oil really works. Warm it up just slightly before adding the drops into your ear. I spent hours doing this once when my ear was really blocked. Just kept dripping the oil into my ear with a syringe leaving it for a while to soften and then flushing it out with another syringe with warm water. Eventually the wax just fell out of my ear, it was a huge lump and very satisfying. Really easy to do yourself but don't try and rush it

Please don’t use sodium bicarbonate or drops in your ears. This turns the wax to slime and makes it very difficult to remove.

The audiologist tells me to put them in for a few days before the microsuctioning? The wax close to my eardrum is stuck hard to the skin - I have to go back 2 weeks later, when the wax has moved further out, away from the ear drum and the olive oil has loosened the adherence to my skin. Even then, its still like a hard pinch, when they get those last few bits out!

[quote Bufferingkisses]Anyone who has problems getting this sorted on the NHS please please complete the survey Skoda has linked. GPs are supposed to provide this service or refer to ENT if they can't (it is a service that is commissioned by CCGs). There is a massive issue with surgery's refusing or sending people private and it needs addressing.

rnid.org.uk/get-involved/campaign-with-us/take-action-if-nhs-ear-wax-removal-services-arent-available-in-your-area/[/quote]
This is what has happened to me. I was categorically told, (by a receptionist!), that there would be no referral to ENT. She suggested going to a pharmacy and buying a diy device to remove wax.