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!

@Intercity225 Obviously this is my surgery's policy. It may hit be the same everywhere.

may not be*

[quote ElderMillennial]@skodadoda I have been told by staff at my surgery, more than once, that they are not carrying out syringing due to covid and that I am at the top of the waiting list for when the service resumes. I had an appointment early last year and they called to cancel it on the day due to covid.[/quote]
Fair comment. Obviously policy differs in other areas.

I have a crunchy feeling if I press just below my ear lobe at the top of my lower jaw only on one side

Does it sound like ear wax?

@HildegardNightingale

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

You can take ibuprofen 4 times a day and you should leave at least 4 hours between doses.

Sometimes Dr's can prescribe 600mgs of ibuprofen four times a day. But that's only with Gp/ Dr advice.

Our GP has micro-suctioning on site. But they rent the space to a private practitioner so you have to pay. It's outrageous.

@dannydyerismydad

Our GP has micro-suctioning on site. But they rent the space to a private practitioner so you have to pay. It's outrageous.

Do you know how much they charge?

Try the Clear Ear Clinic.

I have this problem regularly and have to get them micro-suctioned. They will fit you in. You have to travel to Oxford or London but its a trip well worth making.

And stop wetting them OP! Dry them with a hair dryer on low and don't get your ears wet.

As someone who was hospitalised with an ear infection leading to mastoiditis please don’t use anything other than olive oil or antibiotic ear drops- maybe your GP will give you a prescription. I had mine micro suctioned, it was bliss! Paracetamol, a heat pad, ibuprofen, until you get seen. Ear ache is absolute agony!

@skodadoda I think DM paid £55

[quote dannydyerismydad]@skodadoda I think DM paid £55[/quote]
Thanks. That’s what Specsavers charge. It shouldn’t be happening.I’ve emailed my CCG about this.

@LemonSwan

Try the Clear Ear Clinic.

I have this problem regularly and have to get them micro-suctioned. They will fit you in. You have to travel to Oxford or London but its a trip well worth making.

And you will pay £100!

@RedcurrantPuff

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.

]]

I’ve got this, I use it on mine and one of my DDs ears, it’s great. Definitely works better when the earwax is loosened with olive oil. Sometimes you might have to do it a couple of days in a row if the wax is really packed in.

And you will pay £100!

True but the highstreet ones aren't much cheaper! So the difference is £40 to be seen straight away. Money well spent when its painful.

@BelleClapper

I use a hair grip. But I am a bit of an ear renegade. I also have a camera thing for looking in the kids/dh ears, and a light up scrapey spoon thing.

But a hair grip for my own ears (the looped end).

I always did this when I was younger, it was great. My DF always used the end of a match, that’s good too. I doubt any medical professionals would agree though 😆

I have a otoscope I use to check my DCs ears too.

I had this and had to take Ibuprofen (apparently it reduces inflammation) the Doctor told me.I also have very narrow ear canals and have a wonderful ear clinic where I pay £55 per ear . ( Clarity Hearing Christchurch /Dorset) Also have you tried Paramol at all .Check with Chemist over use .3 days only as Codeine based .Strongest painkiller without a prescription .If you are unable to move out of bed maybe try GP again for a prescription pain killer? I really feel for you OP its one of the worst sorts of pain ,right up there with Toothache! Hope you feel better soon xx

Once you are better I would urge the utmost caution about any sort of home type of irrigation .The Audiologist says that ears are very delicate and best left to the professionals . No poking around with a cotton bud either!

[quote ElderMillennial]@Intercity225 I have had microscution too but my GP surgery are not doing syringing. They say it's to do with risk / spray as it's obviously a different process to microsuction but given so many other things are getting back to normality it seems strange they are not doing this yet.[/quote]
Maybe it is the water spray that is the issue with syringing, dentists allow extra time to clean down the room at the moment after using any instruments with water spray so I'd expect the same for a nurse or doctor.

My DH used to get his ears syringed, the GP's surgery did them but did ask him to use drops for a set time beforehand to soften it first. Now he does it at home with an Otex kit.

Maybe nurses are busy with things like vaccines and urgent work so they can't afford to spend all that time for syringing and cleaning afterwards. I don't know. I think it's annoying they can't do it as it has been over a year now and it can cause problems.

I've paid for specsavers microsuction before but it's a lot of money to keep paying and not everyone can afford it.

Had mine done today at Specsavers. Can’t describe the relief, but it cost £55.
Please send an email to your Clinical Commissioning Group asking why ear wax removal is not available on NHS.

Hi all, I went for micro suctioning and they couldn't get it out as was too impacted! My hearing in that ear has been terrible for a long time. They told me to use sodium bicarbonate drops for a week and then go back - I'm using them but OMG I am now more deaf that before! I understand this is because the sodium bicarbonate breaks down and softens the wax so it becomes even more of a plug.

I'm due to go back next Monday but don't know how long I can deal with this awful deafness, it's driving me mad. I keep reading people saying these drops worked for them without the need for suctioning but what do they mean? Does the wax just drop out? Should I home syringe? I know I should probably wait until next Monday but honestly I'm really struggling...

I did once have a chunk of earwax fall out at my desk. (Not that I'd used any sort of drops.) Fortunately, none of my colleagues noticed. I assume though that using drops will help over time. Monday isn't so far away.

Many CCGs do NOT commission syringing anymore and it is not considered an essential service when staffing levels are low.
It is not a 5 min job - 2 ears is 20 mins plus cleaning of equipment and running through cleaner solution. High levels of patients dna these appts also.
Syringing was stopped during covid due to splash risk of fluid whereas suctioning is less risky/messy - we have resumed ear irrigation - had 3 patients booked today - only 2 turned up! 20 min appts are a big chunk out of my day - and am booked solid all shift with different things at the GPS I work at.

This has reminded me of how strangely satisfying it is to watch earwax removal on YouTube. Completely misses point of thread