has anyone tried ear candles have been deaf for 2 months!!!

[mabel1973]

Hi

I have been deaf in my left ear for about 2 months now following a cold. I am assuming it is just a build up of wax. I have tried olive oil, am now on to Earex (which is basically the same, just different oil), but it actually seems to have made it worse. I was wondering if anyone has tried ear candles and do they work for this sort of thing.
I have to admit to sticking cotton buds down my ear which has prob made it worse, but I am desparate as it it getting me down now.
I have an appointment to see the doctor, but can't get in til next week.
HELP!

Didn't mean to scare you off but I felt my GPs didn't really know what was going on. Just don't let them say it will come back with time - ask to be referred to a specialist if they don't seem to know what is going on. The second GP I saw said told me that my ears just needed to "pop" like when on a plane. Went around for days holding my nose and blowing up like a balloon. Let me know how it goes with your gp.

I love earcandling - the warmth, relaxation and the gross pleasure of looking at what comes out !!
I think they work after i've had a cold (I have a hearing impairment but they don't seem to do anything for that) but i stick with them anyway.

Interesting thread though, seeing some professional opinions. might be a bit more careful in future.

I suffer from too much wax from using cotton buds too...I used a hopi ear candle & did find it helped - I was disappointed that it didn't suck all the wax up though..is that supposed to happen ?

If you're ears are bad, Otex is good, I think it sort of melts the wax. I think Earex just makes the wax disentigrate, so might be worth stopping that - I had to go back from the drs & use warm olive oil, before they could continue with the syringing, that way it tends to come out in a chunk (lovely)

Since having my ears waxed, I've had to get them done about once a year, so in my case, it does seen to encourage wax build up - no, I don't use cotton buds anymore

mojomummy- I have weird fascination at what comes out in my ear candles - think its sparked by the fact that the first time they were done, dh's mum did them and said she had never seen so much wax!

I always see lots of what looks like wax and white powder.

olivo - follow Twiglett's link...

according to my mum I have always had problems with my ears since I was a ababy - and do remember having my ears syringed when I was about 9 (also remember thinking how nice it felt!!!)

I have given up on the earex and gone back to warm olive oil - I thought maybe the warmth would melt the wax and it would come out easier (?).

Mabel, just wanted to let you know that I was also put on a course of steriods to help with the hearing loss. Sometimes a virus can attack your ear and result in hearing loss. And the steriods can help get rid of the virus (from my understanding).

Also, you might look up "sudden hearing loss" on the internet for more information. I'm not saying that that is what you have but I thought you might want to check it out.

If anyone is still following this thread I just wanted to ask some more advice.
I have been to the doctors this morning and he said my ear is clear, so it must be a blocked inner ear (middle ear?), the only think he could offer me were anihistamines, but as I'm pg I can't have them, so he suggested steaming and holding my nose and blowing. Both of which I've tried to no avail.
Has anyone got any advice and if any of the therapists read this thread again is this something you could recommend ear candles for?
Thanks - I am desparate - my 15 month DS is just learning to talk and half the time I can't hear what he's saying - it breaks my heart!

Haven't read whole thread so sorry if going over old ground. I found ear candles an expensive waste of money.

Otex followed by syringing worked brilliantly for me. Big chunks of brown wax came out. Sorry if TMI but it was most satisfying and I could suddenly hear again.

Sorry mabel. I just read you last post and my comments are useless.

I refer you back to the earlier posts...

Ear candling has no beneficial effects that cannot be replicated with a warm flannel and if improperly done can cause serious injury.
It is not going to help inner or middle ear trouble.

Afraid your doctor is probably right, and steam (with olbas oil if you can bear it) is probably your best bet.
If it doesn't improve in a couple of weeks though, go back to him and ask for a specialist ENT referral - if nothing else it'll make him realise how much it's affecting you.

I was deaf in one ear for 2 months after christmas, in both ears briefly

it was due to a bad cold and that coughing virus thing.

Sorry to say I tried everything, but like you I had fluid in the inner ear and just had to wait for it to clear. Blow your nose a lot and drink plenty of fluids. But at the end of the day it is patience...