Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To tell you all that I just unblocked my own ear and it feels AMAZING?

219 replies

Fossiliferous · 01/07/2024 11:40

It's been blocked on and off since I had covid in 2021 😬

It gets worse every time I get a cold or my hayfever is bad, so I assumed it was a middle ear thing. Had a phone appointment with my GP about it when it first started and was advised to do steam inhalation and use otrivine nasal spray, so that's what I've been doing when it blocks and eventually it clears. My ears never seemed very waxy and due to it being linked to congestion I never thought it might be wax.

But about 3 weeks ago it blocked and just wouldn't unblock. I've been almost completely unable to hear from that ear since and it's been misery, so disorientating.

Anyway I thought in desperation last week to try wax removal just in case and got some bicarbonate of soda spray, when I tried it my ear literally fizzed and popped and seemed slightly clearer so I've been doing that twice daily for 5 days. This morning I thought I'd give it a rinse with a bulb thingy and some very slightly salty water and OMG the gak that came out 🤢 I thought it would never end, and then one really big stringy bit (like a ribbon of dead skin) came out and all of a sudden I could hear again and my head stopped feeling faintly swimmy. It took 3 x 500ml jugs of warm water (teaspoon of salt added to each) though, I was rinsing it for about 15 minutes til the water came out clear.

Everything is so loud! Its obviously been far worse than I realised for ages Blush

Once I get used to everything being so loud again I'm going to do the other ear, which I thought was unaffected but now this ear is properly clear I can tell that the other one is a bit blocked too.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
VeryHappyBunny · 01/07/2024 23:45

SpottyBumPony · 01/07/2024 20:13

More importantly did you keep the wax!?!

Show quote history

Defo kept the cat, the wax was pretty gross because there were ear mites as well so some were mixed up in the wax. I reckon if you'd fired it out of a big BB gun it would have been fatal. Not sure what happened to it, probably bin.

It was many years ago but if it had happened now with the internet and ear wax fettishists I would most likely have auctioned it to offset the vet bill.

VeryHappyBunny · 02/07/2024 00:02

saltinesandcoffeecups · 01/07/2024 20:56

It’s a long story but my husband’s cat that had been living at his parents came to live with us. That poor baby’s ears were so bad. We took him to the vet and she started to look but just stopped and said it was the worst ear blockage she had ever seen. His entire ear canal was blocked… in both ears.

One surgery later and the poor little nugget could hear again.

Show quote history

Poor little thing it must have been agony and frustrating at the same time for him. Its great when you can get an animal out of pain and happy again.

Turkishcoffee · 02/07/2024 02:24

That was satisfying to read. I don't know if there is a secret genre of ear wax clearing fiction, but I would enjoy it if there was.

VeryHappyBunny · 02/07/2024 04:26

Turkishcoffee · 02/07/2024 02:24

That was satisfying to read. I don't know if there is a secret genre of ear wax clearing fiction, but I would enjoy it if there was.

On several levels, the ear wax fixation is a bit weird, but we've all been there to some degree, but mainly nobody was slagging off anyone else. The only bit of negativity was saying don't do certain things because it is dangerous and you could damage your eardrum. So only negative in a good and helpful way.

Very odd subject matter, but a lovely feel to all the messages.

With regard to the fiction, maybe that could be a new thing on Mumsnet where people with similar interests write a story on that topic as a group thing. Someone starts it off and others join in and write a few paragraphs or even a whole chapter.

Abbodabs · 02/07/2024 05:38

I had this for years on and off deafness from impacted wax but I didn’t know it was.
i found out that Specsavers do microsuction of the ear.
the big crack when they suctioned out my impacted wax was amazing and I could hear again.
everything was loud but it was amazing.
i usually go back to Specsavers for microsuction when I feel my ear getting fuml
again.
its amazing !

Original poster
Fossiliferous · 02/07/2024 05:45

newyear2024 · 01/07/2024 23:30

I'm so jealous OP. I have 2 blocked ears but the wax is rock hard and I can feel it when I put my little metal spoon wax remover in, doesn't budge apart from a few tiny dark brown bits now & again and no amount of olive oil has softened it! I can hear 'fine' but I have a feeling I've just become accustomed to them being blocked! I managed to remove one last year and it fell out onto the table and was like a rock hard pea, but sadly it's back again in both ears now

Try the bicarbonate of soda spray, honestly. You can hear it breaking down the wax. The feeling is incredible. I was doing it at night then lying with that ear facing up for 10 mins and for the whole 10 mins I could hear and feel the fizzing.

OP posts:
alrightluv · 02/07/2024 06:10

I'm going to try this. My left ear feels blocked and affects the sinuses on that side.

Doyouthinktheyknow · 02/07/2024 06:20

It’s incredibly satisfying and I used to do it regularly. Unfortunately the last time I did it, I caused myself untold pain and was diagnosed with an ear infection and ruptured ear drum. They didn’t look in my ears though, it was via telephone so not sure I did actually rupture my eardrum but the pain was so bad I thought I might faint so I have retired my ear syringing bulb.

I paid for micro suctioning which wasn’t quite as satisfying but did the job. Unfortunately the infection left me with tinnitus and some hearing loss so not quite as loud as usual!

Look after your ears!

SeatonCarew · 02/07/2024 06:22

SantasRubiksCube · 01/07/2024 20:40

Just to add in response to a pp, please do not put just any type of oil into your ears, certain ones can fester and rot and cause fungal infections. I understand how satisfying it is to have your ears unblocked but you need to be so careful with what you put into/use in your ears, there's a reason why there are people out there who are professionally trained to deal with it. Having said that, I'd do anything to have one of my ears unblocked. I had a serious sinus infection two years ago which has damaged my eustachian tube on one side and my hearing hasn't been the same in that ear since, it drives me mad 😩 I'm also one of those gross people who has spent too much time watching ear wax removal/blackhead popping videos on YouTube 🤫

Try plantago drops from Amazon. (You put 15 drops in water and drink it, don't put them in your. ear! 😄)

autienotnaughty · 02/07/2024 06:31

I use to love getting my ears cleaned at doctors.

Original poster
Fossiliferous · 02/07/2024 06:32

Doyouthinktheyknow · 02/07/2024 06:20

It’s incredibly satisfying and I used to do it regularly. Unfortunately the last time I did it, I caused myself untold pain and was diagnosed with an ear infection and ruptured ear drum. They didn’t look in my ears though, it was via telephone so not sure I did actually rupture my eardrum but the pain was so bad I thought I might faint so I have retired my ear syringing bulb.

I paid for micro suctioning which wasn’t quite as satisfying but did the job. Unfortunately the infection left me with tinnitus and some hearing loss so not quite as loud as usual!

Look after your ears!

Oh gosh. I was very very careful. I only squirted the water in from the outer bit of my ear - didn't even attempt to put the tip of the bulb inside! Hopefully that is gentle enough for safety.

OP posts:
oakleaffy · 02/07/2024 07:20

@Frogpole If that's your own writing, not lifted off the net, you should write for sure!

oakleaffy · 02/07/2024 07:26

Ear candling was a big fad about 15 years ago.

'Hopi ear candles''

They actually contain wax.... I'd never use them, but audiologists warn of them and show how fake they are.
{Eg setting light to an ear candle while it is in a test tube, and lo and behold...the 'candle' base is full of wax!

oakleaffy · 02/07/2024 07:40

fancystrawberries · 01/07/2024 14:20

Anyone tried those Chinese ear candle things?

Please don't waste money and your health on those...See linked video above - complete ''snake oil''and potentially dangerous..They contain wax! {as video above shows}.

Doyouthinktheyknow · 02/07/2024 07:52

Doyouthinktheyknow · 02/07/2024 06:20

It’s incredibly satisfying and I used to do it regularly. Unfortunately the last time I did it, I caused myself untold pain and was diagnosed with an ear infection and ruptured ear drum. They didn’t look in my ears though, it was via telephone so not sure I did actually rupture my eardrum but the pain was so bad I thought I might faint so I have retired my ear syringing bulb.

I paid for micro suctioning which wasn’t quite as satisfying but did the job. Unfortunately the infection left me with tinnitus and some hearing loss so not quite as loud as usual!

Look after your ears!

I was syringing my ears myself for years and it was fine. I think with hindsight I had an infection but my ear was driving me mad with not being able to hear and getting a Gp is virtually impossible so I just thought I’d give it a go. My own stupidity! I’m sure you will be fine.

Buttheywereonlysatellites51 · 02/07/2024 07:55

Just wanted to say that when I initially clicked on this thread, I didn't expect to find it so fascinating!

I was telling my husband about it yesterday evening as though it was the most interesting thing that had had happened to me all day (it was, actually).

Am now seriously considering getting my ears suctioned.

Mycatsmudge · 02/07/2024 08:00

If anyone tries OPs advice they need to photo the gunk that comes out and post it on the Sporners corner of MN so we can appreciate in full😁

LoveRules · 02/07/2024 08:22

Many thanks for this thread my DD has been plagued with ears feeling blocked for years and always gets ear infections and headaches I'm now wondering if I should have taken her to have them degunked. It was never mentioned by the GP.

fancystrawberries · 02/07/2024 08:39

oakleaffy · 02/07/2024 07:40

Please don't waste money and your health on those...See linked video above - complete ''snake oil''and potentially dangerous..They contain wax! {as video above shows}.

Show quote history

No I wouldn’t, I was just curious as a friend used to get them years and years ago but I was always sceptical and didn’t want to try them. Thanks!

Aliciainwunderland · 02/07/2024 08:47

Turkishcoffee · 02/07/2024 02:24

That was satisfying to read. I don't know if there is a secret genre of ear wax clearing fiction, but I would enjoy it if there was.

I would read this. And if it happened to include anything about pore strips….

fancystrawberries · 02/07/2024 08:52

VeryHappyBunny · 01/07/2024 23:39

Oh yes. We had loads of cats, well over 50 in total, though not all at the same time - that would've been mad. We used to have around a dozen or so at once, some came, some died but there were no hard and fast rules. If two came together we would just count them as one. We had strays, ferals, unwanteds, cruelty cases and some that were just dumped either at the back gate or over the garden wall but you name it we took them in. Cost a bloody fortune with vets and food, but it was worth it.

We also had rabbits, guinea pigs, chipmunks, a hamster, some goldfish but only 4 dogs? several overwintering hedgehogs, loads of wild birds, wild baby bunnies, etc etc etc. The most we had at any one time was 37 permanents and a few wildies that would be released when fit.

They all lived in the house. Cleaning them all out was worse than painting the Forth Bridge. Feeding the rabbits and guinea pigs was a job and a half. At one time there were 15 rabbits in massive dog crates all round the house and 7 guinea pigs in custom built HUGE runs in the upstairs bedroom. They all liked different things - spring cabbage, carrots, broccoli, curly kale, celery etc, the guineas also liked red chicory, red peppers (extra vit C) only the flowers of broccoli - not the stems and the chipmunks loved sugar snaps (not mange tout as they only ate the peas and left the shell, and they turned up their noses at fresh garden peas) and baby corn.

We are vegan so the bits they didn't like we could have. The rabbits only liked the dark outside leaves of spring cabbage so we had the inside ones and the broccoli stalks went in stir fries. One day my Mum said oh great celery heart, I said no that's for Florence the oldest guinea, she loved them. I'm afraid my Mum didn't get a celery heart until after Florence died.

I'm stuck in a care home at the moment so no animals, but I'm effecting an escape next week and will get a couple of rescue dogs once I'm settled in my own place. Hurrah!

I bet you're sorry you asked.

Show quote history

If two came together we would just count them as one. 😩❤️

Not sorry I asked, but it does sound overwhelming.

We’ve had several strayed animals too, it’s like they just find us.. We have 2 half tame crows in our garden, children of 2 half tame crows we had before that. They hardly ever leave, and they bring me gifts. Hedgehogs two, which my cat sits and waits for every evening. My dh calls our garden a circus, it’s the same animals every day and night all with habits you get to know if you watch them.

Hope you will get to come hone soon and get your dogs.

Dexterrolledoffthesofa · 02/07/2024 09:13

Went down the sink, sorry! I tried to show DP but he was horrified that I'd even suggest he look 🤣

LTB 🤣🤣🤣

JFDIYOLO · 02/07/2024 09:50

Take them to Specsavers or audiologist - they're specialists. Hearing tests are free, and they will be able to tell you if there's an ear wax buildup causing the problem, advise what to put in to soften it and do the microsuction. It will cost though - maybe £70.

VeryHappyBunny · 02/07/2024 11:08

fancystrawberries · 02/07/2024 08:52

If two came together we would just count them as one. 😩❤️

Not sorry I asked, but it does sound overwhelming.

We’ve had several strayed animals too, it’s like they just find us.. We have 2 half tame crows in our garden, children of 2 half tame crows we had before that. They hardly ever leave, and they bring me gifts. Hedgehogs two, which my cat sits and waits for every evening. My dh calls our garden a circus, it’s the same animals every day and night all with habits you get to know if you watch them.

Hope you will get to come hone soon and get your dogs.

Show quote history

Thanks, I'm moving out of here next week and going far, far away. The logistics of getting there are a bit worrying. I've not got enough stuff for a removal van but too much for my car so I'm looking for a man and a van and possibly his mate as I've not driven for nearly 3 years and its a loooooooooong way.

Looking after all the animals was a full time job in addition to being Mum's sole carer, but there was never a dull moment. One of the rabbits, a tiny Netherland Dwarf, used to chase the cats around and the ferals were terrified of him. We called him Woofa, as in w for wabbit and as it turned out he was aptly named as when he rushed up to the cats he would WOOF very loudly.

If I could go back and do it all again I would, in a heartbeat.