Ear wax removal question:
 

My hearing seems somewhat blocked lately. Last time I tryed to remove ear wax was about 2 years ago. It's never easy so I thought you might have some tips on the best way to do it.

I put some ear drops in my ear this morning and then put cotton in my ear to keep it from running out. Then after about 2 hours I tryed flushing it out with water. I'm not sure that it did anything as I haven't put it to any test.
But I doubt that it would be that easy.

The ear drops expired July, 2009 but I kept it in the refrigerator.

A friend of mine got her ear wax removed by her doctor but it cost $150.00
My HMO doctor would probably do it at no cost to me but I'd rather do it myself if I can.

Take your friend"s advice. The doctor has a special machine to do the procedure. I had mine cleaned just before coming to Fl. It's worth every Penney.:crap2:

Thanks!

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.

you need to use it for 4 days twice a day then try to flush it out. takes time to soften the wax up enough. I would spring for newer drops.

Debrox are the drops you want and yes.....twice a day for 4 days before flushing. Good luck!

I would go to a professional. I go to ENT doctor to have it done. As a matter of fact I will be going tomorrow as my left ear is totally filled with wax and I can't hear a thing out of my left ear.

They wiil do it in such a way that it wil be cleaned down to the eardrum.

Some people stick things in their ear, (like q-tips), to clean them out and that could cause a punctured ear drum. I'd rather pay a few bucks than have to go for an operation. IMHO

BTW - $150 is steep. My cost is $45 by a specialists doctor.

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

This all sounds scary............................

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

Q-Tip soaked in Italian dressing in an electric drill. Haven't tried it but heard through a reliable source that it works every time.

I went to the hearing aid store out in the Home Depot parking area opposite the Panda restaurant and the Dr. cleaned my ears with a special machine that they have to remove wax. Painless and completed in 5 minutes. There was no charge for the service but of course I will be back for any hearing aid problems I have in the future based on this super service.:eclipsee_gold_cup:
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Get some new drops...they are not expensive. When you put cotton in your ears, the cotton will absorb the drops. Better to put the drops in and then gently rub the outside of your ear. Just do one ear at a time and lay on your side with that ear up for a few minutes and you wont have to worry about the drops running out.

And why may I ask? It was recommended by a doctor that specialized in ENT. I have been doing it for years with great success. You are letting the solution so all the work and it dissolves the wax with no problems. Nothing enters the ear canal except the solution.

I have had the cleaning done with the vacuum from this same doctor and it took a day or so for the hearing to be back to normal. He told me the home solution after the cleaning.

Matter of fact I just did it yesterday and it always does the trick.

VG

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.

Give my solution a try and you will not have to see the ENT for wax build up again. The alcohol dissolves the wax as the peroxide bubbles and loosens it from the ear canal and ear drum. A tip of the head in the other direction and the fluid drains into the Kleenex and you are done. Like I mentioned you may have to repeat the process 3 or 4 times to get everything but it is painless and works.

VG

I found some newer drops in the refrigerator, never opened, so I tryed it this morning. There was a little fizz, not a lot, but I think it did some good. I'll keep trying for a few more days.

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?

Well, yesterday (friday) the doctor wasn't in so it's too late for this weekend. I'll call the office on monday and see what they say. If my GP can do it, there won't be any charge. If I have to go to a specialist, there will be a $25 copayment. In the mean time I'll see what I can do myself.

I use 70% but if you have a lesser percentage go ahead and give it a try.

I find the cotton ball a lot easier in that I just hold the soaked cotton ball over the ear and squeeze to let the solution into the ear. The cotton never touches the ear. I don't like the eye dropper because I don't know where or when it was used last and for what. The cotton ball goes into the waste basket when done and there is no muss or fuss and no cleanup.

VG

Some months ago I was having a sinus infection etc., so went to Urgent Care. The practioner there said I also had a bunch of wax in one of the ears. Told me to go to the drugstore and get some drops for that and do as directed. He then had me come back and he did an "ear-wash". My hearing was clear and it all felt so refreshing afterwards!

Seeking medical advice on a web site is not recommended.

Hearing issues
 

I have a hearing problem also. Seems to be worse when the wife is speaking to me.:a20:

I'm on my way to the drug store to purchase the alcohol. Thanks so much for the tip. This situation has bothered me for a long time and I was embarrased to ask anyone for help.

Thanks so much! :bigbow:

Went yestesday to have ear wax removed by my doctor. I had lost three ear buds from my hearing aides.

He pulled out the wax and the three hearing buds, Worth every penny. LOL

OP is right as it is very refreshing to be totally clear of ear wax.

I have had ear wax removed by Urgent Care. They used a water irrigation method. I also had ear wax removed by my hearing aid doctor when they were checking my hearing aids for a problem.. He use a suction tube method.

Both worked well.

Z

Husband had same issue year or so ago. Initial visit with specialist was $150 but now that's he's and "established" patient it's $45 for the ear cleaning.

I'm a doctor. Virtual geezers solution and method sounds reasonable. Fresh Debrox or generic equivalent with a blue ear bulb for washing the ear moderately vigorously with warm, not hot or cold, tap water takes care of the majority of issues, and if done every 6-12 months, works for most. If that $10 remedy does not work, a doctor will be necessary.

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.

Good for you. You can't beat that price and done by a doctor is the safest way.

I know how good it is to hear as I just had it done myself by a doctor.

Apparently none of you watch late night TV :) I saw a product advertised last night on the Hallmark Movie Channel for the Wax Vac. It's a vacuum cleaner for ear wax. It sounds like the one your doctor uses, but if you order now you can get another Wax Vac for free, just pay for extra shipping and processing....
Hey! This is true! Watch for it on late night TV. :thumbup:

Ear wax cleaning is something I did almost daily when I worked at South Shore med center near Boston for 2 years. Just used 50/50 solution of warm (not hot) water and hydrogen peroxide. Used a syringe and with a little pressure from the syringe it got the wax out of the vast majority of ears. Quick and relatively painless. Not rocket science.

What????
 

Sorry, I can't hear you...:22yikes:

Thanks, I like the idea of 50/50 water and hydrogen peroxide. I believe I will give that a try next time I need it.

:coolsmiley:

Is that fat free Italian dressing? Let us know how it worked when you try it.

The proper motive should be to get yours ears cleaned, not to save money. Go to urgent care. You can't do it as good yourself.