BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!

Subject: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: Blowzabella
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 06:14 PM

This is very indelicate and not at all ladylike but, occasionally, i suffer from a build-up of earwax - wich makes me virtually deaf - well, not really, but I feele as if I have got ear plugs in! I have tried putting drops in and doing all the things you're not supposed to do with cotton wool buds but the only cure is.....getting my ears syringed.

The perverse part is...I like having this done so much, it is almost worth the temporary incapacity to get the relief!!!

After such a personal revelation, someone else must have something to add...please????

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: hesperis
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 06:30 PM

Yeah, that's happened to me a couple of times, fortunately I've never had to have the problem professionally dealt with.

As for personal revelations though, recently I seem to have one really hard and crumbly bit stuck right close to the eardrum. I can't get it out with q-tips because it starts hurting and I hear a crackling sound. So I just left it in... I know it's earwax because I got some of it on the q-tip before it started hurting and I got the q-tip the hell out of there.

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 06:36 PM

Congenital defect. My father had to be syringed regularly and so do I. I increased the problem by wearing those earplugs you shove in, that compacted it. Now I use wax ones and have to be syringed less often.

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: Little Hawk
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 06:40 PM

There is a totally harmless and painless way of getting all that wax out. Ear candling. I've had it done twice, and was amazed how much wax came out! And it's very pleasant too. You just lie there quietly, and let the warm, rising air gently pull out the wax...and so it does, very effectively. It's like meditation. When you're in this area again, Hesperis, I can probably connect you with someone who can do it for you. In fact, I know I can. Once a year is good for most people, I think.

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 06:55 PM

One of us also has to be syringed about every two or three years. It's simple and painless and quite a relief. But, two doctors have given the same advice: never put anything in your ear smaller than your elbow.

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: Little Hawk
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 07:03 PM

Excellent advice. :-) The ear is not a suitable orifice for sexual coition either.

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: Cluin
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 07:05 PM

So no aural sex, folks.

Keep it quiet in there!

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 07:19 PM

Farmer's Remedy:

Take a teaspoon of warmed vegetable oil (NOT HOT), tilt your head to the side so that one ear is facing the ceiling (the ear that is bothersome), drip warm oil into your ear...this melts the wax and it comes out. No more crackles. It's a bit messy but it has worked for me.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: Little Hawk
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 07:21 PM

Olive oil would probably be good that way too.

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 07:24 PM

You're all waxing real eccentric this afternoon!

I have a coworker who is almost deaf. We have to do a lot of compensation to not hurt her feelings as we move through the day and try to make ourselves understood. She is convinced that it is just ear wax, but if so, it has been jammed in there for the entire 8 years that I've known her.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 07:33 PM

Hey Little Hawk,

   I don't know about olive oil...tis an old farmer's wives remedy...written down and handed down with directions for vegetable oil. Soooooooooooo....I don't know why it wouldn't work...but those are the directions my Nana gave me! :)

   Now if you are talkin' about cookin' up some garlic or red peppers or other yummy stuff....olive oil is KEY! ;)

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: Little Hawk
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 07:35 PM

Well, olive oil is very beneficent to both skin and hair, so I figured it would probably be okay. :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 07:36 PM

Our General Practioner (MD) told my ex about using olive oil in his ear a long time ago. I don't know if he still recommends it.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 07:49 PM

The "home remedy" that's been used in my family for about the past hundred years is the household strength hydrogen peroxide. This NOT the stuff you bleach your hair with. It's a common drug store item here, and typically is about 1/2% to 3% strength, depending on where you get it, and is sold as a "topical antiseptic."

If you point the affected ear up, and dribble it full, it's a rather strange sensation, because the bubbles generated as it reacts with the "wax" do sort of tickle, and your whole ear canal gets slightly warm. It sometimes takes a couple of minutes for it to get "working good." When it stops working, which takes a few minutes, put a tissue over the ear and turn over so it drains into the tissue.

One family doctor, many years ago, advised a drop or two of olive oil after, to avoid "dryness." He was the one who had advised one of my relatives to quit bothering him with coming in to flush his "haidbone" and go home and do it himself.

I haven't discussed this treatment with any "new-fangled" doctors, but it was a pretty standard treatment since 80 to 100 years ago around here. I still use it occasionally. I've never heard of it causing any problems, or of any conditions that prevent it being used, but you'll want to consider your own special requirements if they're unusual.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 08:03 PM

Advice from my practitioner was "Buy one bottle of Earex at an exorbitant price, and use it. Then refill it with virgin olive oil which is twice as good, at a tenth of the cost".

Alternatively, for the seriously afflicted, one half ounce of blasting gelignite and a reliable detonator. Blows your mind! (not available on the NHS).

Grins:
Don T.

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: Teresa
Date: 25 Jan 05 - 08:38 PM

This is a serious problem. I had an impaction which was excruciatingly painful, and well, I couldn't believe the size of the plug that they took out! And, because it had gotten to the impacted point, they had to "pressure-spray" it, nicking my eardrum in the process, because I flinched.

after that episode, my friend and I went out to a shopping center, and we found a folk group playing. I was in heaven, being able to hear out of both ears!

So now I have bought one of those "kits" with the ear syringe and the drops, and I use them every two months or so. Still have build-up, but not to the impaction point!

Teresa

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: Bert
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 12:58 AM

What no phone sex Little Hawk?

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: Rasener
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 01:18 AM

I have just been to the ENT to have suction on my ear - Perfortaed the ear a long time ago. Once you have damaged the ear you should never have it syringed.

The specialist told me to buy drops of the sodium bicarbonate variety because they are the best. The cheapest can be purchaseed from Morrisons in the Uk. Boots is more expensive.
Lie with the affected ear uppermost when putting in drops.Put a few drops into the ear 3 - 4 times a day for 5-7 days. Stay like that for 2-3 minutes to allow the drops to soak into the wax. The wax is softened , and it often breaks up. Flakes or crusts usually fall out bit by bit.

They told me that EArex is not a very good idea as it contains things that damage the lining etc. As for this suction product that is on the market, they definately advised against wasting your money.

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: Bert
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 11:13 AM

And if you HAVE TO use a cotton bud, pull and twist the end first so that it is softer and longer, then you run less risk of damage.

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: Little Hawk
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 11:18 AM

The trouble with phone sex, Bert, is you're never sure who's on the other end of the line. That's the problem with internet sex too, I'd say. Not to mention...sex in a totally dark room...or while wearing a blindfold! Or while so drunk that you can't remember anything about it the next day...

Shane has a lot of stories about that sort of thing, I think.

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: Cluin
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 11:24 AM

I had to have an earflush in the doctor's office once a few years ago. I was doing a lot of swimming back then and, while q-tipping my ear one day, I must have pushed a bit of wax too far down inside. It built up over the summer to where there was a big hunk of it up against my eardrum which was painfull and lessened the hearing quite a bit on the one side. It took several shots before the doc washed out this flattened blackish wax cake and the skin beneath it was quite irritated.

I had tried several home remedies and over-the-counter cleaning products before the doctor's visit. I think they are more for preventative purposes. Never had a recurrence, though I think the wax production (like all annoying bodily nuisances) has increassed with age. I take more care now with the Q-Tip.

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: Bassic
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 11:36 AM

Pardon?

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: frogprince
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 01:13 PM

Just one BAD incident myself. Was working in a stamping plant, so using earplugs full time. Suddenly noticed a mark hearing loss. Got a kit from the drugstore and used it. Promptly lost at least 80% of my hearing in both ears until I got flushed out by a doctor.

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: Little Hawk
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 01:17 PM

May I say it again? EAR CANDLING!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: Amos
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 01:27 PM

LH:

Maybe if you described what you are talking about? I can't imagine any way to use a candle on an ear....

that would be suitable for the Mudcat.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: Bert
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 01:50 PM

Kinda reminds me of a guy I worked with years ago. If he was annoyed with you he'd say "I'll stick my prick in your ear". A saying I'd never heard before or since.

He stopped saying it to me after I told him it would probably fit.

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: open mike
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 02:17 PM

a word of warning from my vcousin who is an ear nose and throat doctor:
he has seen ears damaged by wax dripping down and hurting the ear drum.
BUT i have heard of positive results, too.
the ear candles are long --one foot or so--conical hollow tubes which
are inserted in the ear, often with a paper plate with hole cut out
under them to catch ash and ear stuff. i have seen a plate with big
globs of stuff that came out of an ear..yuck! here are some sites..
http://www.crystalinks.com/earconing.html
http://colonhealth.net/ear_candling/candle.htm#
another warning from a doctor...who has treated ear candle injuries:
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_098.html
http://skepdic.com/coning.html
one ear candle site (skeptical) refers you to this site: http://buttcandle.com/

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: Helen
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 03:26 PM

First, regarding the thread drift: I remember a cryptic crossword clue I saw in a book of trivia.

Clue: Hearing's stuffed
Answer: Prick up your ears

Now, back to the conversation. ;->

Little Hawk,

I have been using ear candling for about a year or so because I have had blocked ears & sinuses since getting a hypo-thyroid condition. The ear candling - which I resisted for a long time and then tried in desperation - seems to be the only thing that makes a difference. It seems to relieve the pressure for a while from the build up of other gunk as well as earwax, or it just equalises the pressure perhaps between my ear and my sinus cavities. I'm not quite sure.

I think - without any proof because I haven't actually used an ear-cone, only an ear candle - that the shape of an ear-cone would be more likely to drip hot wax into the ear. The ear candle would have a more marked chimney effect, I think. (For clarity: an ear-cone is shaped like a cone not a cylinder.)

I agree about the meditative feeling. I can't explain that at all.

I was surfing the 'Net about ear candling a few weeks ago though and a sceptic showed an experiment he did using an ear candle stuck into the opening of a glass vial. He got what looked like ear wax after the candle had burned. I tried a similar experiment and got the same result. I haven't tested it (don't know how) to see whether any of it was ear wax or all of it was candle wax.

I still think the ear candling it useful for equalising the pressure and maybe it does suck out some of the ear wax, but unfortunately I have to look for a different explanation than the one I believed before. I still think the gentle chimney effect of a hollow candle is a clever solution to the problem. Originally I think that cones of paper were used. Is this correct? Would that solve the problems associated with candle wax?

I am in a dilemma about them now. Sorry to rain on your parade. Then again, my parade has been rained on too.

Helen

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: gnu
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 03:53 PM

Sorry if this is negative but it seems to me that I saw a Market Place (CBC Television consumer type program) episode that had some trepidations about ear candling. Tried to get some info but the CBC website is experiencing "technical difficulties". The main site is www.cbc.ca

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: Little Hawk
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 05:03 PM

That's really intriguing, Helen. I would be interested to try the experiment of using an ear candle on a glass vial and see what happens. I had it done on myself, and found it to be good, and the person who did it for me was a totally sincere and trustworthy individual whom I have known for many years. I don't know if it is a valid treatment method or not for absolute certain, but I can assure you that she is not consciously trying to cheat anyone. She simply wouldn't, period. She's not like that.

The professional medical and pharmaceutical community is, in my experience, always against any treatment method they didn't think of themselves. Accordingly, they are against ear candling. They're protecting their professional turf. There's money at stake. They have a natural desire to discredit whatever they do not themselves control or profit from in the field of health.

It's a similar attitude to that which powerful churches have historically held against spiritual ideas or practices outside of their own dogma.

In any case, I will see if we can set up an ear candling experiment with a glass vial, like you describe. I think it would have to be an open glass tube, though. The ear canal is not a sealed channel, with an opening only at one end...it goes through to the nasal area as far as I know, so the air is not trapped in there, but can pass completely through, if the passage is not blocked with foreign material (as can happen with an ear infection, etc.). I don't think the ear candling would work unless the air could pass through from the nostril passages and then out the ear, like through a chimney. That's how it works. You cannot have a working chimney with no draft vent open at the lower end.

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: Cluin
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 05:09 PM

And remember, never stick anything smaller than your elbow in your ear.

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: Little Hawk
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 05:12 PM

How about your ass? (sorry, just HAD to say it...) :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: Cluin
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 05:16 PM

If you're that self-involved, go for it.    ;)

Let us know what words of wisdom you hear.

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: GUEST,Andrea
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 10:45 PM

Hi:

I think that I just pushed the earwax way in with a q-tip. I know, I know I shouldn't have.I heard this "pssh" sound and then that was the end of the earwax.

Any ideas on what to do now?

Thanks.

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: Peace
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 10:47 PM

Get it out and tackle the lino.

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: Teresa
Date: 26 Jan 05 - 10:47 PM

Well, if you can still hear and there's no pain, consider yourself lucky! :)

Teresa

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: Helen
Date: 27 Jan 05 - 01:56 AM

Yes, my thinking exactly, Little Hawk, but when I tried it with a plastic soda bottle and put a small hole in the side of the bottle the inside of the bottle ended up covered in a fine layer of candle wax. Scary. There was also no brown wax left in the candle.

When I used a small rolled tube of cardboard sealed onto the end of the candle and sealed at the bottom (with duct tape of course!) then I ended up with hardly anything in the tube and the usual brown wax in the candle end.

I could try it again with the rolled tube and just put a small hole in the tube and see what happens.

I can afford to make the experiments because I make my own ear candles so they are a lot cheaper than the store bought ones.

Helen

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: Gurney
Date: 27 Jan 05 - 04:56 AM

Had earwax for many years after a stint in the pit screens-where they riddle the coal to sort it- VERY noisy and no protection supplied.

Thereafter needed the olive oil to soften and syringing by the nurse to remove. Wax is often the ear's way of protecting itself.

Nowadays I make a point of getting water in my ears when showering and removing it with a cotton-bud/Q-Tip. Haven't had a wax buildup for 30 years, and haven't hurt my ears either. I rotate the bud, not poke it.

My wife is convinced that wax is connected with sinus problems, and both are connected with migrane.

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Jan 05 - 06:18 AM

Ear Candling - the medical view

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: Little Hawk
Date: 27 Jan 05 - 12:40 PM

Hmm. Interesting. By the sound of that, ear candling may even be as dangerous as conventional medical procedures are! :-)

Well, I have an elegant solution to this conundrum. Do what I do. I take hot baths, rather than showers. While in the bath, I lie back for some time and relax, with most of my head under the water, but my face sticking out so I can breathe. By this means, a good deal of warm water gets into the ears, and it melts and clears most of the wax out of the ears very effectively. This happens several times a week.

Accordingly, I do not suffer from notable wax buildup or hearing loss and have never had any pressing need for either ear candling or conventional medical treatments of any kind to remove ear wax.

It's dead simple, it costs nothing, you can do it yourself, and it works. Problem solved!

(On the occasion when I did have ear candling done, I did it out of curiosity, not because I was experiencing any hearing problems or other related problems with the inner ear.)

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: Helen
Date: 27 Jan 05 - 04:20 PM

In one of the articles I read someone said that their mother used to blow cigarette smoke into their ears when they had an ear infection and it seemed to work. Another interesting although unproved theory but it may explain why my ears feel better after I have done it.

I like the warm water treatment idea a lot, Little Hawk, because it has everything I want:   "It's dead simple, it costs nothing, you can do it yourself, and it works. Problem solved!" Except for the sinus/clogged ear problem of course.

I also discovered in my info-surfing another technique which helps me to breathe more easily and helps to unblock my ears. It is called Buteyko breathing and I could have gone to a $300 half day seminar on it, but I chose to just look it up on the 'Net. (Beats me how they could charge $300 for teaching a very simple technique!)

It involves a simple method of holding your breath so that your ears pop. The main caution is to breathe out completely first and not to push or force the pressure but simply to hold your nose with your mouth shut until you feel a gentle relief of pressure ( a kind of gentle pop) in your ears. Repeat a few times until the pressure is equalised.

Sorry, that isn't to do with ear wax but it is related to ears so it is only half a thread creep.

Helen

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: Little Hawk
Date: 27 Jan 05 - 04:32 PM

That's neat, Helen. I don't seem to get blocked sinuses, but I'll keep it in mind if I do. Now...I'm trying to figure out how you would blow cigarette smoke into your own ears... (just kidding) It probably works because it's warm. Warmth is helpful.

I'm gonna go have a hot bath right now. Ummmmmm.

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: goodbar
Date: 27 Jan 05 - 11:05 PM

dry your ears with a hair dryer after you shower.

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: Little Hawk
Date: 27 Jan 05 - 11:27 PM

Hey! Another neat idea. I like it. Combine hot bath with hair dryer and get double the effect.

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: goodbar
Date: 28 Jan 05 - 12:01 AM

and put a little dab of rubbing alcohol in afterwards if you're really feeling dangerous.

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: Shanghaiceltic
Date: 28 Jan 05 - 12:08 AM

I have had to have my ears syringed before due to a wax build up. I still have problem ears. Here in China a visit to a hairdresser gets you a shampoo, haircut, neck and shoulder massge and an earcleaning too.

A wee lass sits next you and instead of whispering sweet nothings she goes to work with a cotton bud.

You can also buy little ear scoops which (though I have no experience) resemble small coke spoons for doing your own ears.

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: Teresa
Date: 28 Jan 05 - 12:27 AM

The only thing about a hair drier is the decibal range. I'm afraid I'd go deaf using it in my ears, but then I wouldn't have to worry about the wax anymore. :> :-P

Teresa

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: Helen
Date: 28 Jan 05 - 06:25 AM

Shanghaiceltic,

Isn't that what bobby pins are for? ("small coke spoons for doing your own ears")

Helen

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: GUEST,Joe_F
Date: 28 Jan 05 - 10:19 AM

I was advised by my doctor to use ear drops such as drugstores (US) sell over the counter. I bought the Brooks house brand (carbamide peroxide 6.5%) & found it worked fine. One ear got plugged again after a couple of weeks & needed a repeat, but since then both have passed my usual test: Rub your thumb & forefinger gently together next to the ear. If your ear is plugged, you won't hear it.

--- Joe Fineman    [e-mail]

||: Sparsely sage, those wary in time! :||

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: goodbar
Date: 28 Jan 05 - 07:49 PM

http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/47/52.cfm

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: dianavan
Date: 29 Jan 05 - 04:19 AM

Once I had a fever so high it melted the wax in my ears. I woke up in the morning and there was earwax on my pillow and across my cheek and down my neck. I didn't even know I had a problem with wax but it was sure good to hear again. Sometimes fevers are a good thing.

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: Little Hawk
Date: 29 Jan 05 - 12:00 PM

Yup. Fevers are one way the body fights an invader.

Subject: RE: BS: Occasional deafness - earwax!
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 29 Jan 05 - 03:59 PM

The small copped "ear cleaner thingys," at least the ones I've seen, are actually not intended for use on or in the ears. The "official" nomenclature is "comedo extractor," and the intended use is to remove small skin blemishes (blackheads &/or whiteheads in vernacular). The smooth backside is supposedly pressed down, with the small hole over the affected pore, and (they say, in theory) will "gently extrude" the plug from the pore.

I've seen physicians whip one out for the intended use, seldom with much success. The "modern variant" has a single wire loop, fairly heavy wire, in place of the formed cup with hole, and is a handy tool for smoothing your clay scultures.

Both usages (pimples and earwax) are strongly denigrated for personal use on one's self, by most practicioners.

But who listens to them ?????

Once upon a time, many "tweezers" came with one on the "head" end although I haven't seen one of this kind for sale for about 60 years. The typical now is a two-headed bar, with slightly different sized "cups" on each end. If you can find one with just the right edge to it, they can make a fairly efficient utility tool for some manicure work, along with the pimple duty and the ear shovel bit. Occasionally one might help at getting small splinters out of the skin. Many old time barbers kept one for "opening up" impacted hair follicles where the hair grew just under the skin - a much more common problem when everyone in town used the same razor.

John