DH & having his ears syringed question

[saythatagain]

It's something he has to have done periodically due to (we assume) wearing those little earphones most nights. Anyway, he went along to the nurse this morning who said the wax was too hard and to come back next week. But more interestingly, she said this practise of syringing would be stopping in the near future because of risk of infection. If thats the case, then what do you do about shifting the wax? And what product to other people use to shift it? TIA

My 3 year old has hard wax in her ear that's affecting her balance. The GP told me to use oil 4 times a day and if it doesn't clear in 2 weeks she will be refered to a specialist. They don't syringe childrens ears at all now so I don't know what they will do for her if it doesn't clear.

Dh had his ears syringed a few years ago. The dr said to frip warm olive oil into his ears once or twice a day for two weeks to soften the wax before the syringing appt. That way the syringing could be done very gently.

'frip'?! 'drip'

(1-handed wriggly baby typing.)

Olive oil to soften. At my drs the 'syringe' is in fact a little high-pressure hose which squirts warm water in your ear - quite a pleasant sensation - can't believe any doctor really uses a syringe any more?

Warm (olive) oil spooned into the ear twice a day is the best thing - it softens the wax which then dissolves away on its own - normally. I had my ears syringed regularly as a child - I used to go deaf as my ears got totally bunged up) till the doc wouldn't do it anymore as he said it could damage the eardrum. I guess the risk of infection is due to the fact that all ears have some wax in to protect from infection and if you're continually taking it all out it exposes the inner ear more. Whatever you do, don't use over the counter drops - apparently they are supposed to make the matter worse!

Yikes bobs! Thats what dh has been using - Otex (sp?) I think. I let him know.

Another vote for olive oil. I used it over christmas to help treat an ear infection (caused in part by huge blob of hardened wax )

To follow on from bobs' point, I used Otex once and the pain was excruciating. I've no idea why but I will not be using it again!

Hi Cash - you make me smile you lovely lady!

I'm only going on what a friend in the medical profession once said (not a doctor but useful for all things medical) - yes it was Otex he mentioned - don't use it!!

LOL at "lovely lady"

I'm being a stroppy mare today in RL so I guess I'm making up for it on MN!

oh will bare that in mind we had to use some otex the other day as our emergency dr wouldnt see my dh. He was in such pain with his ear. Brought some in desperation but by the next day he had to phone them again and finally saw someone. They felt he must have an ear infection due to the pain but couldnt see past all the wax! pains are going now he is on antibiotics but will have to start softening the wax soon ready for syringing. We were worried incase we caused the infection by using oil and not sterile drops,was stongly thinking of getting the softening kind. So you definately recommend the oil then. does a build up of was cause infection then?

syringing is out of fashion as there's a risk of perforation.
olive oil daily can be fab, but if you've got hard horrid wax that's not shifting sodium bicarb ear drops for a week and continue then with maintenance daily olive oil. problem with some of the ear drops for wax is they can cause ear eczema, which then becomes infected and revolting and is uncomfortable.

Definitely try the olive oil - I used it twice a day for a week and was booked in for a syringing but when they checked my ear a week later it was all clear so no need for syringing - hurrah!

Re: the infection, I had a terrible sinusy cold type flu thing which I think caused the infection. However the nurse practitioner said that there was a huge bit of hard wax (sorry if TMI!) which was blocking my ear canal which made it worse.

Lots of sympathy to your DH - I thought the pain was worse that childbirth! Recommend hot water bottle against the ear to ease the pain. Doc should prescribe some strong painkillers - I had to have two lots of antibiotics before it cleared

Ear candling is fantastic, where do you live?

I can send some details.

I had my ears syringed loads of times over the years I was told I had narrow ear canal

Anyway i loved it too

DS has inherited my ears too

BTW I was told EAR CANDALS were deffo NOT to be used

No - I don't think a build up of wax causes the infection. Have just looked in my medical "bible" and there doesn't seem to be a connection between excess wax and infection. Basically excess wax doesn't hurt, but can affect your hearing and balance (I once ended up on the floor when my ears were blocked and couldn't get up!). The book says it's treated by warm olive or almond(?) oil.
Infections on the other hand can be really painful and the sooner you get to the doctor for antibiotics, the better - so you did the right thing!

excess wax can hurt if pressing on ear drum.

I once saw an experiment where someone had used one ear wax candle on himself and when he unraveled it it was indeed full of wax. He them lit one without sticking it in his ear and it was full of the same gunk when he unraveled it!

THANKS EVERYONE, THATS A GREAT HELP. HE HAS HAD LOTS OF EPISODES OF SYRINGING IN THE PAST. YEAH WE WILL GET ON TO THE OLIVE OIL AGAIN THEN ONCE THE ANTIBIOTICS HAVE FINISHED. CASHNCARRY, HE WILL BE THRILLED TO HERE EAR INFECTIONS ARE WORSE THAN CHILDBIRTH LOL. HE DID SUFFER SO MUCH! LUCKILY THE PAINS HAVE EASED GREATLY, HE COULDNT TAKE GOOD PAINKILLERS EITHER AS HE HAS A LIVER CONDITION. MIND YOU I THINK IT DID DRIVE HIM TO SOME PARACETAMOL HE SHOULDNT HAVE HAD DURING THE NIGHT!

Sorry bobs - didn't have a "bible" to hand so relied on nurse practitioner's explanation

did have to visit the real doctor twice subsequently so I can only assume that she was talking through her a*se on that particular point