Impacted ear wax pain - help!

[Blondeyoghurt]

Hello,

Need a second opinion on this as I’m at a loss as to what to do

For the last 2 or so months my left ear has been so blocked on and off throughout the day, until 2 weeks ago I cleaned it out with a cotton bud (I know.. don’t say it )

Since then it’s been quite painful, I’ve had antibiotics from the doctor for an infection before they even had a look, just because I’m also 36 weeks pregnant. They didn’t shift the blockage so the doctor had a look and confirmed it as impacted ear wax.

Roll on 5 days, I’m using sodium bicarbonate ear drops and they’re doing absolutely nothing, if anything they’re making the pain unbearable

The pain is so far in it almost feels like it’s creeping into my throat! And I have such a blocked and stuffy nose on and off (I assume is just from pregnancy though).

Does anyone have any ideas as to what’s going on or what I can do?

I appreciate your opinions, thank you!! Xx

Good luck at the doc's. Some just don't do wax removal. I have this problem too and microsuction has definitely been the best solution for me. I pay privately and it's worth every penny but I once had it done at our local hospital on the NHS. Syringing can cause infections or other problems. I'd definitely suggest you don't syringe them yourself. I did that once and ended up with a horrible infection that took months to shift.

I'm amazed a couple of posters suggested Hopi candles. They clearly don't actually do anything and are a complete waste of money. I'm amazed anyone is gullible enough to believe they work.

Another vote for microsuction. I suffered for over ten YEARS on and off until I had it done. Truly life changing!

Even the Hopi tribe has disowned them!

@Blondeyoghurt - it did cross my mind that all the pushing giving birth might pop out the ear wax!

Anyway, after reading the replies, yes, although I said about syringing, that was because I hadn't heard about micro suction. I had heard about sometimes damage with syringing, but it seemed as if in your case it was too bad to get rid of any other way, so worth the risk, but the micro suction is the way to go me thinks. Hope you get it sorted soon.

I pay for private microsuction for my DS - it’s £55 a session and they’ve recently reopened.

Paying for suction is a thing now??

As a veteran of ear problems I have had suction a good few times and find the experience hideous beyond words

Funnily enough I've never been syringed but I really don't fancy that either.

Urgh ears.

So the doctor reckons the drops are probably just feeding the wax rather than getting rid. She thinks it could have stemmed from my pregnancy and could be a bit of rhinitis?!

She’s told me to leave my ears alone for now and give steaming a go or some nasal spray to see if it’s my sinuses blocking everything. Does this sound about right?

I think I’ll give my nose a go and then if that still doesn’t work maybe go for the suction. Just worried anything more I do to my ears will just make them worse

Have you recently had antibiotics?

@EngagedAgain yes they gave me them first, I finished them only about a week or so ago so there’s no way I could have another infection so soon.. I hope

Oh right. I'm not a medic or anything, it's just that I'd have thought they should have worked by now, but sometimes I think another type of antibiotic is needed if one don't work, but you may be limited to certain ones being pregnant. I'm just thinking it's pretty shitty to have to suffer with an ear ache. I've had two over my lifetime, with 20 years apart and both times had antibiotics and they've worked more or less straight away. I've also in recent years had ear wax, but the drops such as you tried worked, although I done what you did with a cotton bud but not too deep and got a little out, because it don't just come out on its own. I know we are not supposed to do it! Think you may have done some damage or introduced an infection. Definitely don't poke about in there again.

Reading back your OP, so you used the cotton bud before the drops. Expect you pushed the wax in further then and maybe it's pressing on your ear drum causing the pain. Those ear drops do make it feel a bit bunged up in a way. Even if you have anything done the wax has to be softened up first. I'm at a bit of a loss what else to suggest.

Drops never work for me that well when I am in pain for impacted wax. I have damaged ear tubes from an abscess years ago so the wax just doesn’t seem to come out.
I got referred to the ENT but had to wait 6 months for it but it was brilliant! I would pay privately for it again without a doubt!

Before lockdown, every 3 to 4 months I go to the ENT department at local hospital to get my ears micro suctioned. It is the best feeling ever! 😊 So much so I would pay to get it done, but luckily I don't have to.

I don't use cotton buds but can see why some use them to have a root around their ears. I imagine having your ears micro suctioned is a similar feeling. 😁

I'm lucky in that the nurse clinic at my GP surgery will use water irrigation to clean blocked ears - I just have to convince the GP that I've tried drops, and let him look to see that the issue is definitely just wax (so jumping thru hoops but I'm sure it's necessary). I generally have this done every other year.

Just a quick update - I was in so much pain last night that a lovely man near me managed to fit me in there and then for Microsuction. Turns out my ear was so impacted and swollen from it all that he had to alternate between Microsuction and irrigation but oh my god it was worth every penny!!

I’ve always had problems with my ears blocking up (as previous posters said due to small ear canal) I’ve had them both micro suctioned and had the water type too.

I’ve recently discovered an at home method when I was desperate.... but am obviously not advising this (!) but it’s now worked for me twice and for my brother in law.
I use a water teeth flosser, it does exactly the same action as the water ear treatment, pumping warm water into the ear drum to dislodge the wax. I went very carefully and it worked a treat within seconds! Saved me £80 and a trip (and no where was open with lockdown)

I'm so glad you found someone who could help. I remember the relief after simple micro suction so can imagine you feel a bit better now.