To have a bloody good rummage in my ear with a cotton bud?

[Cheesyslice]

I'm going insane. It is SO. FUCKING. ITCHY. I'm climbing the walls.

I've had an ear infection since Tuesday. It's crippling. Been to GP twice and on anti b's plus nurofen / codeine / paracetamol. The left side of my face is swollen. Even hurts to bloody eat.

Obviously advice is to not stick anything in the ear but if I was gentle would I get away with a little ninja scratching session or would it make it worse?

my love of ear digging is absolutely not the reason I am in this situation in the first place

[Cheesyslice]

sleepy They are the strangest fucking things I've ever seen somewhat unusual.

[Cheesyslice]

Oh and how many people have gone and had a good dig around (with or without aid of implement) as a result of this conversation?

[runes]

Pmsl at this thread . I have swimmers lugs apparently, had them since i was 17 even though I only learned to swim in my early thirties, and still can't swim the length of myself . Having been through several different scritching apparatus, I can indeed confirm, as mentioned by some pps, that the kirby grip is THE instrument of choice for a thorough scobe of the inner ear area. However, several ear infections later, I am continually trying to ween myself off the kgs before any further damage is sustained. My poor battered lugs appear to no longer even produce wax , they must have felt it was a futile process to continue producing this protective substance given the continuous onslaught from me and my cotton buds, pen lids, hair clops etc .

[Wilberforce2]

I constantly have itchy ears and should never have read this because I've run out of cotton buds absolutely desperate to go and have a good rummage but I can't!

Oh and I always wake in the night and have to go and give my ears a good scratch!

[runes]

Hair clips

[Whereisegg]

Cheesyslice, my dp always manages to get good stuff no matter how many ear buds he uses per day, mine are never satisfying no matter how many days (hours) I leave them.

[ClayDavis]

highbrows, I used Hydrogen peroxide once at the start of an infection. I ended up with oral antibiotics, antibiotic and steroid drops, anti-fungal drops, and fortnightly visits to to ENT outpatients for 2 months. I realise there's a certain amount of 'post hoc ergo propter hoc' but it's not something I've tried again. These days I just go straight to the GP.

[HighBrows]

That was very unfortunate ClayDavis, for years I had recurring ear infections and for the last few years, maybe twice per year, I get a twinge and I put a few drops in and I'm right as rain.

[MarysDressSways]

Sleepy those look amazing! I love a bit of an ear rummage.

[Irishchic]

Jesus dont do this. My father is an ENT consultant and always said never EVER stick those things in your ears, they can cause permanent damage and hearing loss.

[timidviper]

My Nana put Hydrogen Peroxide in my aunt's ear when she was a child and it damaged her eardrum leaving her with poor hearing for the rest of her life. Don't do it!!!

[Whereisegg]

But it feels sooooo good!

[HighBrows]

Jesus TimidViper (great name) I'm shocked with the hydrogen peroxide stories.... I've only good things to report about it!

[FrogsGoWhat]

I used to have really itchy ears - then I stopped using cotton buds. Fixed!

It's a vicious circle.....

[babysaurus]

Anyone used those ear candles? Am seriously tempted (and it might be better than my cotton bud rummaging.)

[HighBrows]

OMG I love Hopi Ear Candling... it is the best thing ever. Get someone to do this for you. Bliss..

[ClayDavis]

I have no idea whether it was the hydrogen peroxide I'm just not willing to try it again. Just in case. It wasn't pleasant.

[Pollydon]

Ive resorted to sticking my little finger in & wiggling ( think a dog scratching its ear) then pulling finger out with a satisfying pop, ahhh lovely !

[GoodbyeRubyTuesday]

Don't poke things in your ears! I used to use cotton buds until I went to have my ears syringed. The nurse asked if I used cotton buds as she could see a lump of wax that I'd pushed and I'd come very close to poking through my ear drum!

Now I use olive oil and it's so much better. If you have thick wax you can feel it working its way through, it's sort of tickly but nice! The hydrogen peroxide drops are fun too, you can feel them bubbling, but they just break the wax up whereas olive oil softens it so it comes out or can be syringed out easily, according to the nurse :)

[BringOn2014]

With these drops does the wax fall out of your ear or just dissovle? And if it does dissolve, what does it dissolve into? I like to see what has been making my ears itchy!

[HighBrows]

Oh forgot to say I hardly ever use cotton buds.

[GoodbyeRubyTuesday]

The hydrogen peroxide drops are sold in pharmacies as ear drops, don't use just any old hydrogen peroxide. They were recommended to me by my GP when I could barely hear as my ears had filled up with wax! :)

[HighBrows]

Phew for you post GoodbyeRubyTuesday I was getting worried.
But isn't the bubbling brilliant, really nice and tickley

[ClayDavis]

It wasn't just any old Hydrogen peroxide. It was ear drops brought from the pharmacy.

[GoodbyeRubyTuesday]

HighBrows yes, I love the feeling! It's far better than cotton buds. I'm always disappointed when the bubbling stops