Ear wax removal

[blessedhomemaker71]

Does anyone know how to do safe compacted ear wax removal at home? My dh and all my kids have had this problem. I tried the over the counter stuff but it isnt working.

[Mother]

I’m guessing you already did an online search and came across the recommendations for oils, peroxide, soda water, and etc.  DH has always had problems with ear wax and has had a doctor remove the wax often.  The suggestion for him was to use ear drops on a regular schedule. At least once a week. He uses Mullein oil.  It helps, when he remembers. He also sprays warm water into his ears when he showers and says he believes that helps.  

[Jeepers]

Ugh, you are singing my song. I just had an appointment with my ENT last week. Long story short I have a perforated ear drum from a vigorous earwax removal by a nurse.

 

I asked the doctor about ear care at home. She said OTC Debrox is the best which is basically peroxide. But I prefer to use straight peroxide. It's stronger. Both she and the ER doctor also recommended baby oil. Peroxide for hard wax and baby oil for soft wax. They both also recommended using peroxide one week and baby oil the next week for maintenance. Warning: Baby oil is very messy. 

 

I use a medicine dropper. I tilt my head and squirt the stuff in until it starts to run out. Then lie down on the opposit side for about 15-20 minutes. Then I stick a cotton ball in the ear and lie on the other side until the stuff runs back out. Then I rinse it out with warm water. 

 

I just use the same medicine dropper or there is a thing that looks like a medicine dropper but sprays out in different directions when you plunge it. Another good tool to flush out the ear, with warm water, is one of those nasal bulbs you use to clear out a baby's nose. It holds a lot more water than a syringe and fits in the ear nicely. I like it the best. 

 

Also, I couldn't find a syringe at my local grocery store pharmacy. I asked the pharmacist where they were. He couldn't find one either. I told him what I needed it for and he just gave me a couple free. 

[Littlesister]

They used to have ear syringes for cleaning out the ears. Wonder if they stopped making those. They looked a bit like the nasal syringe but with a slightly longer point if I remember right. 

[Jeepers]

I THINK you can get them with the Debrox. You can either get just the plain Debrox or the Debrox with the bulb set. 

 

That's probably where I got my bulb come to think about it. 

[blessedhomemaker71]

Thank you! We have the Debrox with the bulb. I need to go buy some more solution. When my teenage son had this problem the last time, we took him to the doctor and they took care of it and told him to use the Debrox often. We didn't do it. Life happens. We forget. So, I think I will buy 2 packages and keep up with care. 

Jeepers, 

Your perforation has been kinda freaked out about going to a doctor for this again. Hopefully and soon, we can get this taken care of at home.

 

[Jeepers]

I hope you can get it taken care of at home! 

 

One word of caution. If you have your ears cleaned by a "professional" and it really hurts, not just uncomfortable, but hurts, STOP them. They don't know what they are doing. That happened to me nearly a year ago and my eardrum is still perforated. They are talking about surgery. If I wasn't moving to another state, I would. But I won't be here for follow ups. 

 

If you guys need it done and it hurts, go to where they will use a suction machine to clean the ears. Probably an ENT. I had it done with a perforated eardrum and it didn't hurt. 

 

I'm not suggesting y'all can't stand a little pain. But if you are to the brink of tears from someone cleaning your ears. Make them stop. Something is wrong. I didn't know it wasn't supposed to hurt like that. And I was in a doctors office. 

 

BTW, I wasn't having any ear trouble. I was just in for a cleaning to get a hearing test. 

[Mt_Rider]

That was such a despicable thing they did to you, Jeepers!  Still makes me furious on your behalf. 

 

MtRider   

[Littlesister]

That was definitely a bad experience. And it could have cost you you're hearing in that ear.  I was hoping it wouldn't come to having surgery.  And still hoping it will just heal up on its own all the way. 

[Jeepers]

They were hopeful it would heal too. It's healed as much as it can by itself. She said it was more of a slit than a hole now. She mentioned it could get bigger which is why they want to do the surgery. She described it as a patch. 

 

They did another hearing test on that ear last week. I saw the results. It was a flat line because the hole prevents any feedback or echo. Whatever it's called. 

 

If I have to have surgery, I'm thinking of suing. I'm not that type, but they can pay for the surgery. So far I'm only out of pocket less than $10.00. That was for an OTC med that my Rx never got in. My pharmacist said it was exactly the same thing as the Rx. Except I had to pay for it.   

[Mt_Rider]

12 hours ago, Jeepers said:

If I have to have surgery, I'm thinking of suing.

 

Absolutely!  Their fault.  No excuse for that type of malpractice. 

 

MtRider