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Original poster

Advice r/e ear wax blocking ear.

29 replies

LilyLoo · 20/03/2007 18:18

Can anyone help DP been in pain with ear since last week. Has used ear wax remover drops from Boots and lay on hot water bottle last night. This dislodged a bit which looked white and came out in flaky pieces. I could see a congealed lump of this this am in his ear but it seemed to have gone back down this eve. Doctors receptionist said docs don't syringe anymore. Any advice as he in pain and deaf in that ear and i am sick of him moaning. Thanks

OP posts:
raspberryberet · 20/03/2007 18:25

Get an appointment with the GP anyway. They might not syringe it, but it's worth seeing him/her to see what other treatment they suggest.

OrlandoTheMarmaladeCat · 20/03/2007 18:25

Warmed (not hot!) olive oil in ear before going to sleep. That always helps in this house. Pillows get messy though so you need a towel or something.

Original poster
LilyLoo · 20/03/2007 18:36

How much oil would you put in otmc ?

OP posts:
Judy1234 · 20/03/2007 19:19

I was deaf a week ago. It was absolutely dreadful although no pain. I saw the doctor twice. I bought drops. I used olive oil too (which the second doctor recommended) and I said I just couldn't function deaf and she offered to get the nurse to syringe them which worked! There are risks with syringing but it worked with me last week. Insiste. If they don't find somewhere that you can pay to have it done. I would have done anything to get it sorted out.

Judy1234 · 20/03/2007 19:19

And you have to be putting oil in for about 4 days before they will syringe to loosen the wax up.

malaleche · 20/03/2007 19:25

If he is in pain it could be infected - get the man an appointment with his GP. Funny how men prefer to moan about health problems than actually do something about it...

Original poster
LilyLoo · 20/03/2007 19:29

Thanks Xenia so i shoul be more sympathtic then ? He now lay on settee with ear on water bottle with oil in it. I agree Malache i cannot stand this anymore and will make him an apt tommorow.

OP posts:
Judy1234 · 20/03/2007 20:53

It was dreadful. I couldn't even hear the microwave finishing or the children fighting or the phone going and that was without my having any pain even. Tell the doctor he's being putting drops in for days and that hasn't work and oil so they can get on with syringing if they will do that. He may need antibiotics if there's an infection too.

steinermum · 20/03/2007 21:00

We used a wacky thing once recommended by a homeopath, called a Hopi Ear Candle. DS said it helped him and felt really nice, but does anyone else know if there's any research on it?

steinermum · 20/03/2007 21:00

Warm olive oil as well, always a good option.

Original poster
LilyLoo · 21/03/2007 09:10

Thanks everyone he got an appoitment for this afternoon. He did the oil last night and said it had eased it a little so thanks for that advice. He hoping they will syringe it today. Never heard of that steinermum anyone else?

OP posts:
Judy1234 · 21/03/2007 10:00

The second GP I saw said use olive oil. My GPs reception gave me a leaflet on how to get it in properly as I left and I put it in for 4 days before the synringing. She said it was better than the drops I'd bought and was using.

KerryMum · 21/03/2007 10:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Judy1234 · 21/03/2007 11:10

There was a diagram. I think it was just to ensure the wax gets in there. I used a baby's medicine spoon. The diagram said pull the side of the ear back as you had your head on the side and put the oil in. Keep ear on the side to let oil run in and massage with your fingers just where the ear reaches the cheek to help it go in. I think the main thing is that it goes in. You can usually feel it going in. Stay with head on one side for 5 mins. Do ideally twice a day.

satine · 21/03/2007 11:13

My dd had earache last week, so I put warm olive oil into her ear and I was amazed at how much went in! You'll probably tell me that I damaged her permanently but it almost became a mission, to see how much went in...well, it was in the middle of the night, so I wasn't quite with it! It did help, though!

MrsBadger · 21/03/2007 11:36

I'm afraid ear candles don't actually do anything that a hot water bottle can't - the manky stuff you might have seen inside one after use is a product of the candle, not of your ear (ie if you burn a candle by itself in clean air it still generates exactly the same mank).

The warm olive oil really works though.

KerryMum · 21/03/2007 13:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Twiglett · 21/03/2007 13:08

the drops of olive oil have to be applied for up to 2 - 3 weeks

(I've just had my ear syringed .. had to argue with dr's receptionist even though dr had told me to make the appointment)

it was totally and utterly fascinating the huge big wadge that came out .. most satisfying

KerryMum · 21/03/2007 13:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Twiglett · 21/03/2007 13:09

my doctor recommended the olive oil over any drops you can buy (had been using otex for a week before going0

Twiglett · 21/03/2007 13:10

yes kerrymum .. they say it will shift eventually .. I had mine syringed because I was getting dizzy and nauseus and have a 2 year old to look after

Original poster
LilyLoo · 21/03/2007 13:10

Thanks Twig will tell him to demand the syringing then. He rung before saying sticky stuff coming out of his ear now in lumps so maybe oil dislodged it a bit.

OP posts:
Original poster
LilyLoo · 21/03/2007 13:12

Just a thought but he uses ear buds on a daily basis which i have told him not too. Do you think these could have contributed to this ?

OP posts:
Twiglett · 21/03/2007 13:14

definitely

the ear buds push the wax further in and compact it .. and could leave fibres behind which just help to form a more solid plug

old saying never put anything in your ear that's smaller than an elbow

Twiglett · 21/03/2007 13:15

I would think if wax already coming out he probably won't need syringing .. can he keep doing the wax for 2 weeks then ask at doctors

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