Quelle disaster!!!

rediguana

Hey everyone.

I bought SILICONE EARPLUGS the other day. Long story short, some got stuck in my ear, I cleverly tried to dig it out with a cotton bud, now I'm partially deaf.

The timing of this obviously sucks. I basically want to know:

(a) Will it ever come out by itself if I do nothing about it?

(b) Is it likely to get infected if I don't rush off to A&E this second?

R.

spurious

Don't stick cotton buds anywhere near your ear.

Go to A&E and get it removed. You may have done more damage rooting with a cotton bud - they should be banned imo.

rediguana

Agh. I haven't time to go to A&E, certainly not today! Agh. How would a doctor get it out anyway? Can't I pick up something in the chemist?

spurious

They may be able to flush it out using a syringe, or perhaps a small tweezers.

In my day, we would be dispatched for that sort of thing and small injuries to a woman down the road who was a trained nurse, but I suppose no-one nowadays will do anything like that.

rediguana

Thanks. I think I'll try ear drops today (maybe they might loosen it) and if it's no good tomorrow, I'll spin down to A&E, which hopefully won't be busy.

Those silicone earplugs should be banned too, if they can't maintain their physical integrity when you're trying to remove them from your ear.

lemon_of_old

I was going to say maybe you could try flushing them out with warm water, but I checked on the net because I've never used them before and they're completely water repellent. Once they get into the ear canal there's nothing you can do save go to a professional about it. I think to save yourself a lot of trouble this Christmas you should go to A&E as soon as possible. I hope it doesn't mess up your holidays too much!

rediguana

I tried to use water. All that happened is that now I have water lodged behind the silicone, so now my balance is as wonky as my hearing.

I hear 'silicone' I think of laptops and fake breasts, both very durable. Maybe the men in the white coats are the only ones who can help me.

I'll hold out til tomorrow though. I've to get driving half way across the country now.

Thanks.

Vorsprung

Your best best in the Eye and Ear A&E off Leeson St. Sounds like you've damaged the ear alright so you probably should head in pronto

rediguana

bigjimthefirst wrote:

Your best best in the Eye and Ear A&E off Leeson St. Sounds like you've damaged the ear alright so you probably should head in pronto

Might try that. I can drive past it on my way home. Cheers.

Faith

You may also be causing irreparable damage to your ear drum by leaving it there, so I'd get it checked immediately.