Originally Posted by 784caroline (Post 573098)

Scary is not being able to hear. I go to an ENT every 6-8 months and get the ears cleaned. They use the vacuum method and the initial noise (sound) of the vacuum may bother some but its actually painless and quick. ONe thing that I do to prep the removal of wax is I do use ear drops a day before I see the ENT. Ear drops by itself does not clean out my problem.

Originally Posted by graciegirl (Post 572755)

The active ingredient which if not peroxide is something like it loses it's punch after awhile. New drops work better.

If it doesn't foam or fizz a little it is probably past it's prime.

Kinda like beer.

Originally Posted by Virtual Geezer (Post 572823)

There is ABSOLUTY NO reason to go out and buy expensive ear wax removal products as you are wasting your money.

Here is a technique that was recommended to me many many years ago by a ENT doctor that I went to because of wax build up. Get some 70% rubbing alcohol and a bottle of hydrogen peroxide. Mix a batch of 50% alcohol and 50% peroxide. Get a cotton ball and one Kleenex. Soak the cotton ball until it absorbs the mix, take it along with the Kleenex and head to the bed room. Lay on the bed and squeeze the cotton ball over your ear to allow the solution to flow into the ear. Don't over do it here with a lot of the solution. You will hear the solution bubbling in your ear. Wait a minute or two (maybe longer) and then put the Kleenex over the ear and sit up. Dob the ear to remove the solution. DO NOT put anything like a Q-tip or anything else into the ear canal. The dissolved ear wax will be absorbed by the Kleenex.

Now you may have to repeat this over again a few times depending on how bad the build up is. Also you may have to pull on the ear lobe while the solution is in the ear the get it to flow to the ear drum, and again this depends on the build up.

Never use one of the ear wax products that uses a rubber ball type of method to flush the ear canal. The doctor told me that all that does is pack the wax against the ear drum and does not correct the problem.

There was just a video regarding ear wax on WSJ. Here is a link and I hope it works.

The Good, the Bad and the Eww of Earwax Removal - WSJ.com

Trust me I have been using the 50/50 mix for over 20 years and it does work. I now have a bottle of the solution on hand for use whenever I need it. I also take a small bottle along when ever I travel as I find some bed pillows seen to be more prone to causing the normal ear wax build up to pack against the ear drum.

VG

Originally Posted by jimbo2012 (Post 572857)

Why wouldn't your insurance just pay the doc visit?

Originally Posted by Villages PL (Post 573190)

I have the hydrogen peroxide so all I need is the 70% rubbing alcohol. But I would prefer to use an eye droper thingy rather than a cotton ball. I suppose I could buy one? Or maybe use an empty ear-drops container?

Originally Posted by Virtual Geezer (Post 572823)

There is ABSOLUTY NO reason to go out and buy expensive ear wax removal products as you are wasting your money.

Here is a technique that was recommended to me many many years ago by a ENT doctor that I went to because of wax build up. Get some 70% rubbing alcohol and a bottle of hydrogen peroxide. Mix a batch of 50% alcohol and 50% peroxide. Get a cotton ball and one Kleenex. Soak the cotton ball until it absorbs the mix, take it along with the Kleenex and head to the bed room. Lay on the bed and squeeze the cotton ball over your ear to allow the solution to flow into the ear. Don't over do it here with a lot of the solution. You will hear the solution bubbling in your ear. Wait a minute or two (maybe longer) and then put the Kleenex over the ear and sit up. Dob the ear to remove the solution. DO NOT put anything like a Q-tip or anything else into the ear canal. The dissolved ear wax will be absorbed by the Kleenex.

Now you may have to repeat this over again a few times depending on how bad the build up is. Also you may have to pull on the ear lobe while the solution is in the ear the get it to flow to the ear drum, and again this depends on the build up.

Never use one of the ear wax products that uses a rubber ball type of method to flush the ear canal. The doctor told me that all that does is pack the wax against the ear drum and does not correct the problem.

There was just a video regarding ear wax on WSJ. Here is a link and I hope it works.

The Good, the Bad and the Eww of Earwax Removal - WSJ.com

Trust me I have been using the 50/50 mix for over 20 years and it does work. I now have a bottle of the solution on hand for use whenever I need it. I also take a small bottle along when ever I travel as I find some bed pillows seen to be more prone to causing the normal ear wax build up to pack against the ear drum.

VG

Originally Posted by Villages PL (Post 574608)

Many thanks to everyone who offered advice. In the future I may give the do-it-yourself method another try. This time, because my attempts made it worse, I decided to go to my (GP) doctor. I called for an appointment monday morning and just got back from having it done.

My GP did it in his office so there was no charge to me. And there was no "machine". It was a plastic spray bottle with a 10" tube coming out the nozzle. At the end of the tube there's a special fitting to keep the tube from going too far into the ear. I believe it contained only warm water because he kept adding more at the sink. Then he used metal tweezers several times to pull out big globs of wax. Not exactly high tech but very effective.

So now I have normal hearing; It's great to be able to hear again.