Ear syringing

[HaveYouSeenNancy]

I had a very itchy ear and kept scratching, leaving the outer ear sore and a bit raw. I put sudacrem on it and I think some has gone inside. It feels blocked, a bit like a blocked nose and I can't hear anything in that ear. Do I have to go to the GP? Or can I buy something from Boots to clear it myself? It would take a couple of weeks to get an appointment and it's driving me mad. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

You have to use drops/spray before microsuction anyway (they don’t syringe anymore). Go to a pharmacy and they’ll advise!

I don't think GPs do it any more. I have a permanent problem with itchy flaky skin and excess wax and I wear aids. I go to an hearing centre about every 3 months for microsuction. Try Specsavers or a local audiology firm.
They will ask you to oil for a week or so.

Most GPs won’t do anything for blocked ears. When I mentioned mine they looked in my ear, told me my ear canals were narrow and twisty and recommended olive oil or Otex. Neither made any difference, but having microsuctioning was night and day.

I hadn't heard of microsuctioning, so that's brilliant thanks. I've never had any issues with my ears before, but I had Covid in November followed by sinus trouble ever since, then the itchy ear, so I'm new to this. I think I have a bit of tinnitus as well - it sounds like when you listen to a shell on the beach but louder. It's really annoying. I'll try the pharmacy, then Specsavers if I've no joy from the pharmacist. Thanks all for your help, and I hope you have relief from yours too.

At my surgery they expect you to have oiled your ear for 6 weeks before syringing and there's specific ear syringe slots. Different GP surgeries might have different procedures, I'd ring them to find out.

I suffer from waxy ears. I did exactly what you are told not to and tried using a cotton bud which pushed the wax into the ear and I suffered what you are describing. I used the oil for ears stuff to soften the wax for three days and bought a syringe from Amazon. You fill it with an olive oil and warm water solution and squirt it into your ear over the sink. It was amazing what came out of my ears and I got instant relief. This was about six months ago and I haven’t had a problem since. Maybe worth a try.

I also suffer from itchy ears from time to time and get prescribed Otomize ear drops which sorts them out.

Try Ear Kalm, you can get it from Boots

You won't get syringing on nhs. Specsavers and other private optician/audiologists offer microsuction. There is often a few weeks' wait though.

Be prepared to pay alot for micro-suctiion. I think it's about £55 at Specsavers. Ours don't provide the service now but the private clinic charges about £70.

This. Works a treat.

Microsuction is recommended now as it is safer than syringing. You will probably need to pay privately - expect to pay around £55.

It is best to use Olive oil / olive oil ear drops for 5-7 days first to soften the wax. Otex brand do olive oil drops but make sure you don't by regular otex which contains sodium bicarbonate. I also recommend is watching the Otex video on you tube about how to put drops in for best effect.

I have a problem with wax in one ear & I syringe it myself. I use a 10ml syringe and warmish water with some liquid soap in the sink. A few squirts usually dislodges the wax, if it doesn't come out I leave it for a few days and try again.

Has worked for me for the past 20 years with no ill effect, though can feel a bit dizzy afterwards.

Use olive oil or otex for a few days to soften. Have you got a calpol syringe? Full with warm water, insert into ear, blast into ear. Repeat. After a few blasts, if you're lucky, an absolutely enormous quantity of brown nastiness will emerge.

Otex do a set which includes a little orange ball thingy. Its been amazing for me for years. Every so often i will give my ears a good clearout. Maybe 6-12mths or so. Its amazing what comes out and how good it makes me feel.

Work collegue came in to work once complaining his ears were blocked solid and he couldnt get a doctors appt. He had tried the drops etc but no difference. The drops soften the wax, it doesnt get rid of it. Anyhow i suggested the optex kit and he went looking for it. Next morning he came in with a smile on his face. Told me it took him about 5 mins of squirting water into his ears and it was sorted.

don't put anything in your ear and see an esr clear clinic. often opticians with audiology offer microsuction.
they also take a look and referon if that's indicated.

Thanks so much everyone for all of your tips and advice, I feel much more hopeful that I can sort this out myself instead of waiting 2 weeks for a GP appointment. I started using the oil last night and I already feel that the sea shell noise is a bit quieter, so I'll keep going with that for a few days before trying a syringe method. So glad I posted now, it's not painful but it is uncomfortable.

Just buy some olive oil ear drops otex didnt work for me those work everytime.

I do my DH’s ears with a bulb syringe every few months, after he’s put olive oil in for a few days first. Just be aware that you might find the tinnitus gets worse while you’re using the oil, and you might go a bit deaf too, but it’s definitely worth the pay off when big lumps of old wax come out.
Use warm water, and it can take several squirts to dislodge it. Don’t squirt too hard.