Getting ear unplugged

I've been to the doctor twice this week and have an appt next week to see an ear, nose and throat specialist.

There's an incredible amount of wax build-up in my left ear and, despite numerous flushings and "digging around" in there, my doctor is unable to get it all out. It doesn't hurt, but it is frustrating....I can't hear out of that ear. It's completely clogged and it's annoying. I'm using an antibiotic ear drop to try to soften the wax, but well, it's clogged. Really clogged. I guess the ENT specialist has a suction apparatus that will get the rest of the wax out.

What else can I do? The doctor thinks it's from me using the earbuds to my iPod for the last several years. I try to keep my ears clean, but well, you're not supposed to put anything smaller than your elbow inside your ear! That means no cotton swabs or anything like that deep inside. I use a washcloth wrapped around my little finger to try to clean inside my ears.

If I lie on my right side at night, I really can hear very little. It's just frustrating. I keep trying to yawn and move my jaw around, hoping to get the ear to "pop" but nothing. Any advice?

Sorry for being so graphic.

Sounds like you've probably tried everything, but here are a couple suggestions I have. I've never had a problem with wax buildup, but this is what I've used in the past:

1. Hydrogen peroxide. Saturate a cotton ball with it, lie on your side, and squeeze the cotton ball to drip it in your ear. It will fizz and tickle, but might help.

2. Put a washcloth under really, really hot water and hold it to your ear.

Pam.... I have that problem often as well. I have to sleep with ear plugs because of someone's LOUD snoring and then my ears to get wax balls. I have used Debrox from the pharmacy but that never worked. I had to go to an ENT specialist too. They have those little tiny tools and you will be hearing better than ever once you leave. I can vouge for that one. :nod: I wouldn't try anything else at this point - you don't want to damage your ear drum by constantly trying something new to get out the plug. Other than what Mystik suggested - I wouldn't do too much before the ENT appt. Trying to soften the plug won't hurt anything though. Good luck, hun!!!!!!!!! I hope you can hear very soon.

If you let a few drops of olive oil sit in your ear for about 15 minutes, it will really soften up the wax and it's easier for the doctors to remove - my husband's doctor asks him to do this before coming in to get the wax cleaned out. To help prevent the buildup, when you are in the shower always let the hot water go in and out of your ears - just put your ear right up there under the shower head - works great if you do it every day.

This has always been a problem in my birth family, but Hashimoto's Thyroiditis runs in my family, and my husband's mother has it, he probably does too. I have Hashimoto's but somehow managed to dodge this symptom of the disease, knock on wood. You might want to ask to be tested for the anit-bodies on your next checkup since ear wax buildup is a BIG symptom of Hashimoto's. (Treatment is easy but very important with Hashimoto's.)

Hope your hearing is all back very soon!

Yes, warm olive oil to help melt the wax.

Hydrogen Peroxide works great too!

I had a problem with plugged ears at one time, but once the doctor managed to get them unplugged, I started to syringe my own ears at home with an ear syringe kit.  But I don't recommend using one if you have a bunch of wax against your ear drum.

When cleaning your ears, in an adult it's important to pull the ear lobe back and up in order to straighten out the ear canal to that when you flush, it runs out.  And never flush directly towards the ear drum! Always aim towards the side of the ear canal.