Ear blockages

Okay, not sure if this is a medical issue, as such, so I presume its okay for me to post this here? Apologies if it's not the case.

Anyways, my ears have been fairly blocked for a while now. I don't want to use cotton buds as I know that these can only worsen the problem by pushing the wax further into the ear drum. I have used the sprays (Audiclean, I think?) and have found these not to be very successful. I know theres always getting my ears syrengined by a doctor, but I don't really want to do that until the problem worsens.

Does anyone know of any other ways of unblocking ears? I have heard of using smoking waxpaper (or something..) but this supposedly doesn't work whatsoever.

6th

Ear Candling ftw

http://www.arden.net/earcandle/

I've known a few people who have tried it and said it was great.

Lorri_L

I have heard about ear candles, you can supposedly get them in health stores. You need to lie on your side and let the candle burn down in one ear. I have never used them but I have heard that they are brilliant for clearing ears.

I might check out ear candles. I'll pop into the evergreen health foodstore in Galway today and check out if they have anything.

spurious

Just get them syringed - simplest thing in the world.
Don't put cotton buds near the inside of your ears.

Check you're drinking enough water. If you're not, it can cause the wax to dry out and harden.

biko

Ha, cool
BABM I'll see you in Evergreen.

Gordon

Get a doctor to syringe your ears. It involves water being scooshed into your ear and the offending stuff will come out. I've had that done a couple of times and it felt great afterwards. I had a really bad ear problem and could hardly hear out of one ear. A quick syringe and it was all better.

BoozyBabe

My mam used to warm up oil (like cod liver oil or something) on a spoon & then we'd lie with the problem ear facing up & she'd pour the oil in. The heat would melt / soften the wax & then could be removed, or something.

Can't remember how successful it was, but I can remember her doing it often enough, so she must've thought it worked

Thomas_S_Hunterson

does the ear candling not burn when the flame reaches the ear?

Strokesfan

Warm olive oil - not so hot that it would burn you but quite warm - pour into ear - then after it's had a chance to reach the wax - sleep with that side on a towel and it might drain anythin blocking your ear - messy but effective I've heard.
I know that the best advice is never to put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear! and this is sick but my mom uses girls hairslides - you know those skinny brown ones - they come on sheets of cardboard - it can unclog your ear! I know everyone is gonna say Don't do that! and it is unwise but it's just a suggestion, you'd have to be very very gently and cautious.

Black Swan

Recommend that you bring with up the next time you see your GP.

Meh

Ear candling is a hoax.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ear_candling
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_098.html

Odysseus

Go to your gp, use ovile oil for a couple of day before hand, ask him to syringe them. It disgusting to see what comes out, but the results are amazing.

Jamey

Syringed ftw. I got it done a few times, and the feeling afterwards is just brilliant, to be able to hear properly again. The last few times they unblocked for me, it was just by picking at them or if a lot of strong air goes into them. I know it sounds ridiculous but i always try running really fast on a windy day and they always seem to unblock.

Supercell

Candling is tree hugging BS, doesnt work.

My local doc has an electric water thingy that literly blasts my ears clean, sound is huge but it does clean them.

Dudess

OP, don't put a thing in your ears until you get them checked out for infection. That's what could be causing the blocked sensation - not just a build-up of wax. I got my ear syringed a few years ago. Turned out there was a severe infection and the syringing just made it worse. Was on a mountain of medication for weeks and was in absolute agony.
If there's no infection, MAKE SURE you put in drops/warm olive oil for few days before getting the ears syringed. Otherwise the wax will be too hard.

LegacyUser

OP...I had the very same problem...at night was the worst.

Do you work around alot of dust??...because this can make the problem worse. I got my ears cleaned and then used the cheap Boots version of Audiclean every second day. Ears have been perfect since.

My workplace is relatively dustfree, though my home is not. That may be what causes it yesterday.

During work yesterday, I got the sensation in my right ear that we were going up in a plane.. everything seemed hushed somewhat.

So, syringing seems to be the best option available to me I guess. What exactly does it entail, or is this moving into a medical-issue zone?

Gordon

The doctor will somehow get a jet of water to be directed into your ear canal. It can be potentially dangerous to do it yourself as it can rupture your eardrum if you angle it wrong. However a doctor knows how to do it obviously.

Next stop - the Doc!

blorg

Syringing is quick easy and painless (presuming you don't have an infection); absolutely nothing to worry about. As Gordon says, it's just a jet of water. When I last had it done you simply wouldn't believe the size of some of the stuff that came out (around the size of a bullet.) Could hear perfectly again after.

Of course as Gordon says don't try it at home, get your doctor to do it.

Tori

Jamey wrote:

Syringed ftw. I got it done a few times, and the feeling afterwards is just brilliant, to be able to hear properly again. The last few times they unblocked for me, it was just by picking at them or if a lot of strong air goes into them. I know it sounds ridiculous but i always try running really fast on a windy day and they always seem to unblock.

Lol....... so funny, but hey, I'm going to try that the next time to see if it works!

Salmon

Theres a simple solution to your problem!

Get your self down to yer local chemist and buy some cerumol. You lie on yer side and put the stuff into yer ear. Stay lying down for about 15mins then do the other ear. Repeat this three times a day for about 3 days and yer ears will be clean as a whistle!!! I need to do this twice a year, its a bit of a pain in the ass but its great when yer back to 100% hearing again. It can be really uncomfortable not being able to hear people in a crowded room.

Just do it!!

Salmon

Tori just read yer last post there!!!! Running really fast on a windy day!!!! Never heard of that approach, was it recommended by yer doc???