Best way of sorting a blocked ear

[elliejjtiny]

Ds2 has always produced copious amounts of ear wax but doesn't usually let me anywhere near it. However now his ears are totally blocked and he is getting desperate. I tried my usual otex and bulb syringe method and that produced swamp water and a few bigger bits. My rubbish ear hoover thing with a scoop on the end produced a big lump from both ears but my ear torch shows the entrance to both ears are clear but there is more wax further in and he is still struggling to hear. Any ideas? We can't afford professional microsuction and I'm reluctant to buy any expensive equipment unless it actually works as I already have an ear hoover that is good for scooping but doesn't seem to be capable of actual suction.

I thought I would try getting him to lie on his side for half an hour with the otex and see if I can get better results with it in for longer.

Does your gp surgery not do ear irrigation? I would ask if they do. Or they can refer for microsuction. Use olive oil daily until it’s sorted.

You need to use olive oil at least twice a week, all the time to help prevent ear wax build up like this.

Go to your GP as I would be reluctant to try and remove yourself. I had a blocked ear recently and they sent me to have it done through nhs.

Good luck trying your GP, ours doesn’t do it any more

i had to go and pay private it was £50

NHS don’t do this and otex makes it worse. You’re going to have to pay to get it done sorry. Have learned this the hard way! My son and I have to go every 1-2 years whereas my partner and daughter never need to - some people are just v prone to it unfortunately…

I have used a spray from boots that breaks it down a bit, I don’t know if it’s too far gone or if this might work? You can get ear syringing at spec savers, not sure of the cost though.

www.boots.com/cl-ear-express-ear-spray-45ml-10350148?traffic=paid.shopping&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19965642474&gbraid=0AAAAA-AdmwSJEFgtPHv46hVJd3I-1EKvl&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIl_Wo8pj0kQMVi5ZQBh1e1AITEAQYAyABEgI0NfD_BwE

Thank you. GP won't do anything unfortunately. Younger ds wears hearing aids and he gets microsuctioned by the ent department every 18 months or so, but that's only because they need to see his ear drum, they wouldn't do it otherwise. He needs it doing every 3 months really.

Try olive oil drops twice a week - put them in when he's comfortably lying on the other side, so that they have time run into the ear. On the other nights, get him to sleep with his ear on a hot water bottle.

Keep repeating for 4 or 5 weeks, giving the oil and warmth time to work, and for the ears to heal internally. Even the bulb syringes can be bruising. See if you can give nature a hand.

Agree with this. Use plenty of warm olive oil every day and have your son lie still for about 20 mins. Applying a heat pad will accelerate. Also encourage hot baths, with ears in the hot water for a period of time on a daily basis.

I know it sounds a bit extreme, but could you save up and get your own proper ear irrigation kit, and learn to do it yourself? In the long run it would save a lot of money and hassle.
I've considered getting one off Amazon myself as I have tiny ear canals and often have to get mine syringed, but it's both costly and inconvenient.
I don't believe it can be that difficult to do it - although I've no idea how safe or effective they are. You can get them from about £30 ish upwards.

How old is he ? Surely if under 18 they would do it through the NHS , have you asked the gp to refer you to an ear clinic in hospital .

My Dh got his done recently in specsavers. It was €65. Worth every cent! He was in bits with it and couldn’t hear a thing. They did a better job than the nurse at his gp clinic.

DS needs his doing now and then - he's under 18 so Specsavers won't touch him, the GP wouldn't refer him anywhere (just kept recommending ear drops), we have to book him in privately at £80 a time. The amount of crap that comes out through proper irrigation and microsuction is fascinating/horrifying though.

Same here.

They certainly don’t do it for adults, I don’t know about kids.

Just had mine done -microsuction at Specsavers for £60. What a relief! I had been using olive oil for about 3 weeks to no avail and my head felt fuzzy and one morning I woke up quite dizzy. I wish I'd gone sooner. If olive oil/otex won't shift it then suction is the only solution.

Superdrug do a good ear spray which breaks wax up a bit - definitely worth trying. Sounds as if you might inadvertently pushed the wax in further and agree that ultimately you may have to get it microsuctioned.

Specsavers won’t touch it if you have used toes or anything other than olive oil