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Impacted ear wax

Old 27th Oct 2008, 17:01
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What is your preferred effective method for the removal of compacted wax.
Handy if you could answer my previous question though.
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Old 27th Oct 2008, 17:05
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the smallest thing you should put in your ear is your elbow
I'm sorry, but I've been sitting here for hours trying to get my elbow in my ear to to try and relieve that itch, but I just can't quite manage... anyone else had any luck?
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Old 27th Oct 2008, 17:20
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Smile prevention (better than cure ! ) . .. . . . . .

Handy if you could answer my previous question though
See post # 12. Once cleared out, the external auditory meatus can very often be maintained that way by periodic use of drops containing peroxide.

For the discussion to be 100% complete I must concede that a very few folk seem to produce and accrete wax at an excessive rate; perhaps more than preventive drops would easily cope with. For that very small minority most of us would advise an occasional visit to an ENT surgeon who possesses (and can use ! ) a microsuction device - rather like a mini vacuum cleaner ! This is much safer - reasons already given - than an "occasional" high pressure syringing.
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Old 27th Oct 2008, 17:28
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Red face if you don't believe me . . . . . . . !

. . . . . . then just look here :

Tinnitus and ear syringing | What Doctors Don't Tell You

. . . . and here is just one little bit of the article :

It’s performed on around 150,000 people in the US and some 20,000 in the UK every week - and, yet, doctors know that it’s not a safe procedure. It can cause tympanic membrane damage and promote infection, and these major complications occur in one in 1000 procedures. On that basis, nearly 8000 Americans and 1000 Britons suffer ear damage after syringing every year
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Old 27th Oct 2008, 17:53
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My experience (and similar/same from others) was that using it as directed either produced no beneficial results or, in most cases including my own, made the problem worse.
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Old 27th Oct 2008, 17:56
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100% with you on the "prevention is better than cure"

I will try and locate Exterol here in my home base, failing that I will have some brought across.

A point of interest, on a recent visit to a ENT specialist, he syringed my ears using a kind of pulse/squirt device which proved pretty effective.
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Old 27th Oct 2008, 18:52
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Red face Exterol ear drops . . . . . . .

I will try and locate Exterol here in my home base
Lanzarote Airport website says there is a pharmacy in "Public Area" which is open 8am - 10pm. But I'm sure you already know that ! If not kept in stock, and ordering is needed, might be helpful to know that manufacturer is Dermal Laboratories Ltd.

My experience was that using it as directed either produced no beneficial results or, in most cases including my own, made the problem worse
Does this "it" refer to Exterol ? If so, I am very surprised, as well as rather disappointed. How can drops make the problem of compacted wax worse ?
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Old 27th Oct 2008, 20:47
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I was responding to a question and if you read all the thread you will see that I have only referred to Otex.
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Old 27th Oct 2008, 21:09
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Unhappy pardon me, I'm sure . . . . .

Indeed, you were. Sorry to have missed that sub-plot !

But no matter what brand is being referred to, I'm still not sure how any kind of drops can actually worsen compacted wax . . . . . .unlikely to make it even harder ! Happy to reconsider if more information forthcoming.
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Old 27th Oct 2008, 23:31
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Thanks for that.

I will enquire and reply.

El Grifo
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Old 28th Oct 2008, 12:12
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Some interesting replies there, and thank you very much.

Had my ear syringed yesterday after spending 4 days with olive oil, a little pain but still with disappointing hearing. Not much wax as a matter of fact!

Result? Practically zilch!

Hear slightly better but I now have a distinctly 'blocked' ear - the one you wait patiently for the - Pop! - but it doesn't come. Tried pinching my nose and blowing, which gives out terrible screeching, bubbly and air sounds which those near me can also hear. Also, the ear canal is now wet some of the time.

In a moment of a deserved self diagnosis I am leaning towards catarrh, which I have suffered with over the years, or sinusitis. That's the limit of my doctoring skills I'm afraid.

I feel sure though, that if I could create a POP I would be OK.
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Old 28th Oct 2008, 12:23
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I never leave the doctors without actually seeing the dark brown, .22 bullet shaped plug, floating around in the thin soup of waxy water.

The first thing I then hear is the rustle of my hair on my collar.
A little disarming at first.

Was the job done properly or did the doctor perhaps hold off a little due to the previously voiced fears


Back to AMEandPPL I think.
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Old 28th Oct 2008, 13:07
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At first the syringe was quite alarming because it pulsed and the water got a little hot and quite fierce. They did it twice. The second time was better because I knew what to expect. But, I have to say that as AME mentions that the tympanic membrane can be damaged I would be sceptical if there is a next time.

However, I will obtain Exterol and use it very sparingly.

True to say that I am a little depressed at the minute but I am sure it will pass.
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Old 28th Oct 2008, 13:16
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A friend of mine picked up a UK and Europe agency for an ear syringe at a Sun&Fun in Florida some years ago. For years he sold very few but it was recently given a good review in a magazine by a ENT specialist. Since then he has been flooded with orders and is well on his way to buying his next aeroplane.

PM me if you want details.
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Old 2nd Nov 2008, 21:31
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I used to take great delight in ear syringing- one of the few times I got to cure a patient- instantly!

As my learned friend suggests, it should be a last resort, persist with softeners, and be patient.

If syringing is to be performed, chill-it's relatively safe, the biggest cause of us getting sued is when we don't screw on the tip properly, resulting in a painful perforated ear drum!-I believe the modern machines are a lot safer.

Otomize isn't a softener, its an steroid/antibiotic, used for treating infection of the outer canal. (otitis externa)-medically, its a contradiction in terms , but it seems to work well.

Avoid ear candles.
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Old 3rd Nov 2008, 00:55
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Very Interesting.

I must try that Exterol (if it is available in Aussie).
And if I can hear my hair rustling on my collar, that would indeed be a bonus, as I am completly bald at present.

Ahh hair today. I will report back on both the ears and the hair.
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Old 10th Nov 2008, 17:23
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A word of caution about the "fizzing" eardrops.
I've had my ears syringed between 2 and 4 times/year for the last 30 years or so, originally with a huge metal syringe that looked like a device for inseminating cows (but which worked very quickly and well) and latterly with the pulsing widget that others have described (which works eventually, providing the was is well softened with olive oil).
A few years ago I decided to try some ear drops that promised to dissolve the wax, but once the heating and fizzing was over I was left deaf and in moderate pain. My GP couldn't see anything wrong but referred me to an ENT specialist who found that the wax had become transparent and was mostly pooled at the bottom of my ear canal and pressing on places that don't like being pressed. He then used a suction device to remove it all - bliss!
The next time I got blocked-up I went back for a good sucking but it was quite expensive; since then I've gone back to being syringed.
I'd prefer to avoid such frequent syringing but would not risk the "fizzing" eardrops again - beware!

OT: several years ago I was in Budapest and suddenly got severe ear pain. The hotel called an ambulance (rather OTT) when I asked where I should go and I was eventually escorted to the local big hospital and marched past all the waiting peasants (literally!) to see the head ENT honcho - complete with mirror fixed to his forehead. Over the next 30 minutes he used a set of wires to remove a huge mount of wax from both ears - slightly worrying at the time, but bliss afterwards.

HFD
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Old 19th Nov 2008, 11:12
  #38 (permalink)  
 
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Where does the wax go?

I've just started a course of Earex drops. I really don't fancy the risk of syringing as my Mum had an eardrum perferated by this years ago. However, with syringing apparently you can see the "plug of wax". What happens to the wax if you use drops and don't syringe? It seems to me that I'll just be left with a load of soft wax in my ear...
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Old 19th Nov 2008, 11:49
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Falls out by gravity - when head on pillow. Usually in tiny bits.

Or washed out by (low pressure) water - when showering, or hair-washing.
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Old 20th Nov 2008, 02:43
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I use baby oil (don't know if it is available in the UK but it smells great). Place a few drops in the ear before bedtime and lay down with that ear facing skyward. Alternate with the other ear for a few nights then use the shower in the morning to direct a gentle stream of warm water in the ear to remove the prize or just let it fall out when it wishes. Repeat every few months but you should not have to use the shower following the initial rout.

I don't recommend syringing. As EB has stated, don't go trophy hunting with anything. Not even your fingers. It just pushes the wax inwards and compacts it. I don't have a problem with noise cancelling ear plugs if they are renewed frequently and inserted properly (I use them often).

Last edited by Tree; 20th Nov 2008 at 03:31.
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