Temporarily half deaf... Terrified of going to the ENT

[FMiguelez]

So I've collected lots of ear wax for the past years. 10 months ago, we went on a family trip, and after swimming, the wax blocked my right ear almost completely. It got better by itself little by little.

Right now, if I cover my ears with my fingers, the ear gets "stuck" in that position, and little by little it opens up again. Laying with my head on a pillow does the same thing.
I fear my mixing is suffering from this, BUT...

I REALLY don't wanna go to the ENT. I'm terrified about it. Last time I did it, a few years ago, was an extremely unpleasant experience. The ENT showered my ears with a high-pressure water machine, and what I hated was that it felt as if someone was drilling my ears with 150 dB noise. It felt that loud and uncomfortable. I was afraid of permanent hearing damage from the pressure. It felt barbaric! THAT can NOT be good for the ears...

I don't trust doctors here. I'm basically putting my livelihood and my professional career on their hands, but they don't seem to take it too seriously... I've been reading lots of horror stories in the internet about musicians who got their eardrums perforated, damaged hearing, etc., after visiting a freaking otorrino (not Respighi).

HOW do you guys deal with earwax?
What kind of torture are you willing to go through with the ENT?

Are there any MODERN techniques in the First World I should demand?
The water injection seems Medieval to me. And I won't let anyone use twisters or any other apparatus inside my ears!

I clean my ears with regular toilet paper after a shower. I gently put it around my finger #5, and clean inside without pressure or going deep, but now it's not enough. My ears are really blocked now.

What would you guys do?
I'm willing to seek a MODERN ENT with modern techniques... Do you know what they are? What does your otorrino do to you?

[MIDI Life Crisis]

Ear drops and a syringe with warm water and hydrogen peroxide. About half and half but I sometimes use h/p full strength, let it sit there (head tilted) a moment or two then gently flush with warm water. Repeat.

[Rick Cornish]

Hey.......
I have had some persistent problems with ear wax in one ear. The "water torture" you describe is not normal. Last time I had it professionally removed was at the Mayo Clinic and a nurse just rinsed my ear with warm water or saline (can't remember which) over and over from a squeeze bottle until it loosened up and used a simple rubber suction bulb, which got most of it. Then the doctor manually removed stuff that was too stubborn for that.

It sucks, but it happens to a lot of us—those who use cotton swabs to clean their ears, but also some of us who are just getting old ( ).

Good luck!

[bayswater]

Ear drops and a syringe with warm water and hydrogen peroxide. About half and half but I sometimes use h/p full strength, let it sit there (head tilted) a moment or two then gently flush with warm water. Repeat.

That.

I don't have the problem, but several family members do. This is something GPs around here do routinely. A little warm water to soften and loosen things up, and gentle poke with a small hooked tool in a noiseless and painless procedure is what I see most often. It's never fun to have someone in your ears, but the long term alternative is worse.

[HCMarkus]

Ear drops and a syringe with warm water and hydrogen peroxide. About half and half but I sometimes use h/p full strength, let it sit there (head tilted) a moment or two then gently flush with warm water. Repeat.

That.

This.

Hydrogen Peroxide can dry your ear out, but is very effective. Ear drops are often a mixture of Hydrogen Peroxide and Glycerin; the glycerin prevents over drying of the ear. Repeated applications may be required, sometimes over a period of days, but this will work. Gentle flushing out the ear with water after the ear drops or peroxide has loosened up the wax works very well.

[kgdrum]

I occasionally do as the others do..........but since this has been a problem for quite some time I strongly suggest you go to an MD to get your ears cleaned properly immediately.
When I was in music school many years ago I had an ear packed with wax like this,I had to go to the Dr. to get this cleaned.The doctor recommended the ear wash kits as everyone has mentioned and also warned me never to use Qtips like I had been using.



For regular ear hygiene maintenance and cleaning I "irrigate" my ears in the shower daily.
If a wax build up develops,I will use an ear wash system like Murine etc...but if the problem were to evolve to the point an ear canal has been blocked & clogged for weeks or months I suggest you get this fixed correctly and not take a chance with something as precious as your hearing.

fwiw:
Last year my Dr. noticed 1 of my ears was totally blocked and clogged,I hadn't even noticed!!
He sent me to an ENT @ Columbia U,they cleaned it and they were puzzled when I told them after the procedure I heard no difference..............
Old drummers ears,lol.

[cuttime]

I hate online medical advice, but what you see here is good info. I only have to add that the wash should be tepid to lukewarm. The idea is to soften the wax without melting it, which can force it to stick further in the ear canal. If the wax is against the eardrum, then the rinse needs to get between them. This can take several days. Be patient and give it some time. Another point is the salinity of the wash. Peroxide and alcohol are great for moisture induced problems such as swimmer's ear, but they are very drying. Another alternative would be to use a buffered saline solution (1 teaspoon per pint of water with a tiny pinch of baking soda.) This will preserve your ph and moisture of the eardrum. Another tip I would use is to make sure the water of the solution has been thoroughly sterilized by boiling. Cool, of course.

[FMiguelez]

Nice! Thank you so much for providing me with a totally viable alternative!

Just so I'm absolutely sure about this hydrogen peroxide... If it is what I think it is, we call it "oxigenated water".
Do you mean this substance? H2O2
Please confirm!

If that's the one, I can find it over-the-counter. It is what some women here use to make themselves "fake blonds"... With atrocious results, I may add... We call them "oxigenated blonds"

My ear wax is already pretty soft. That's why my ears stick if I press them. I'm REALLY looking forward to trying this remedy you guys just gave me. I'll get started tommorow night when I get home.

Thank you guys!

[cuttime]

H2O2 indeed! (If you collect enough earwax you can make a candle! )

[MIDI Life Crisis]

Yes, over the counter hydrogen peroxide (AKA heavy water). And you'll have blond ear hair as well!

Don't be impatient. It may take several applications over a few days and you will hear bubbling in your ear as the H2O2 reacts to organic material. It's also the best thing to clean wounds. It bubbles when it hits blood, as well.

It may look like water, and walk like water, and quack like water, but it ain't water. I would avoid drinking it...

Nice! Thank you so much for providing me with a totally viable alternative!

Just so I'm absolutely sure about this hydrogen peroxide... If it is what I think it is, we call it "oxigenated water".
Do you mean this substance? H2O2
Please confirm!

If that's the one, I can find it over-the-counter. It is what some women here use to make themselves "fake blonds"... With atrocious results, I may add... We call them "oxigenated blonds"

My ear wax is already pretty soft. That's why my ears stick if I press them. I'm REALLY looking forward to trying this remedy you guys just gave me. I'll get started tommorow night when I get home.

Thank you guys!

[bayswater]

Yes, over the counter hydrogen peroxide (AKA heavy water).

Stay away from heavy water, assuming you can find some. It's deuterium oxide, not hydrogen peroxide, and used to control nuclear reactors.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

Yes, over the counter hydrogen peroxide (AKA heavy water).

Stay away from heavy water, assuming you can find some. It's deuterium oxide, not hydrogen peroxide, and used to control nuclear reactors.

But think of how dynamic your hearing will be... I think that's what my father in law (a scientist) use to call it. He was probably joking and i failed chemistry (Went to Hawaii instead of taking the final in the 11th grade... duh!)

[David Polich]

Forget over the counter solutions. Go to an otologist
and get your ears cleaned out.

The water syringes work if your wax buildup is not
severe. Yours IS severe. You need to SEE A DOCTOR.
Dont try fixing it yourself. The syringe cannot reach all the
way to your eardrum, nor can it pull up the
wax which has become embedded in the walls
of your ear canal. It will only “wet down”
that buildup.

I’ve been going to the same doctor in L.A., Dr.
James Andrews, for years. Every six months.
Dr. Andrews uses a probe with a camera
and a vacuum and what looks like a pair of tweezers
at the business end. Its tiny enough to go into
the ear canal without damaging it. I can see what
he’s doing on a TV monitor. I always have enough
wax buildup that my eardrums themselves are
covered over. He pulls the wax away and I can
see my eardrums again. And HEAR MUCH BETTER.
Especially high frequencies.

The procedure is only slightly uncomfortable, mostly
because of the high pitched whine the vacuum
emits.

A specialist will know what they’re doing. There
is nothing to be afraid of.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

Thanks for that, David. Yes, if you have a good dr that is the way to go. A less competent dr could make things a lot work. Good to know your guy’s name. I hope I never need him.

[Shooshie]

A friend told me about an "ear candle." It was the most comical thing I ever heard. No, I never tried it, and I've never even seen one, but my friend's experience was hilarious. I can't tell it like he did, especially not in print, but imagine a rather large man with beard and with a burning candle sticking out of his ear, from which wax was pouring while expletives were pouring out of his mouth, and his beard was left smoldering. Somehow, sayeth the tales of the old wives, this is supposed to suck out the ear wax. I'd be afraid of depositing more.

He was impressed with the profuse and disgusting output of the candle, but said his hearing didn't seem any different afterward. So, I tell you this for comic relief; don't try it at home.

Shooshie