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Ears

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Northerner

Northerner

Admin (Retired)
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
I've been waking up practically deaf for some reason lately, seem to have a build up of earwax (ew, I know!). Just realised that it's about 15 years since I last had this problem as the Otex ear drops I have found have an expiry date of 2003 and would have been bought a couple of years before then, presumably 😱 Hoping they are OK to use still! 😱
 
I doubt there's any still 'active' ingredients in the Otex after so long Northerner ! But it may still soften the wax. Think I'd use olive oil then get them syringed! 🙂
 
Not nice. I had some ear problems a while ago. Having read an NHS site for advice I used olive oil and it worked brilliantly. Good luck with sorting out your ears.
 
Thanks, will see how it goes then make an appointment with the nurse if no good 🙂
 
You can get olive oil ear drops too. I've only ever had them on prescription but I think you can get them OTC at most chemists. Hope it settles soon. At my doctors you can't just ring the nurse for your ears syringing. You have to see the GP first who goes OK you have wax, see the nurse. The nurse looks in my ears anyway before syringing so to me it feels like a wasted GP appointment!
 
Rosiecarmel said:
You can get olive oil ear drops too. I've only ever had them on prescription but I think you can get them OTC at most chemists. Hope it settles soon. At my doctors you can't just ring the nurse for your ears syringing. You have to see the GP first who goes OK you have wax, see the nurse. The nurse looks in my ears anyway before syringing so to me it feels like a wasted GP appointment!
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That is a waste! At my surgery they encourage you to see the nurse for a range of minor ailments, so you aren't taking GP appointments! 🙄 I won't get to see the nurse straight away, but quicker than a GP 🙂
 
One of the most disgusting and satisfying things I ever did was give my ear a good blast with one of those home ear squirter syringes after trying to use olive oil when one of my ears seemed to get a bit 'gluey'.

You would not BELIEVE what came out, I was practically looking for a jar to keep it in so I could preserve it for posterity. :D
 
Too much information Deus!!
Hope you get things sorted Nrtherner
 
I have a home squirter too. Bit tricky to use by yourself. They work but you get very wet in the process.:D
 
Olive oil is definitely the way to go. Forget Otex!! 🙂

Also, be proative with it before going to see the nurse, then when you arrive, the syringing can happen there and then rather than having to wait a week for the wax to soften.
 
Appointment with nursie booked for April 4th - have had to switch telly up to 35, normally 16 tops! 😱 Bought a large bottle of olive oil as decided it was much cheaper than Otex and everyone seems to recommend it. 13 year old Otex not totally wasted though, I am cleaning it out and reusing the dropper! 🙂
 
Northerner said:
Appointment with nursie booked for April 4th - have had to switch telly up to 35, normally 16 tops! 😱 Bought a large bottle of olive oil as decided it was much cheaper than Otex and everyone seems to recommend it. 13 year old Otex not totally wasted though, I am cleaning it out and reusing the dropper! 🙂
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Excellent re-use of a product, LOL

Years ago I remember our surgery nurse saying to me that she usually found ear syringing one of her more satisfying day to day tasks - especially when it all comes out in nice big lumps! - just as she was squirting the warm water into one of mine .....

I seem to get very 'sticky' earoles fairly regularly, sort of almost liquid wax (and I don't mean when I've washed my hair or anything like that) - just if I feel a bit bunged up and maybe blow my nose and it feels like my ear canal is sort of sticking to itself the other side? - so I stick my index finger in it and waggle, and it will be all sloppy, and only then feels like there IS water down it ?? - well I grab a bit of cotton wool and screw that in a bit, and keep doing it till the worst is gone.

But why? how?
 
Northerner said:
Appointment with nursie booked for April 4th - have had to switch telly up to 35, normally 16 tops! 😱 Bought a large bottle of olive oil as decided it was much cheaper than Otex and everyone seems to recommend it. 13 year old Otex not totally wasted though, I am cleaning it out and reusing the dropper! 🙂
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I'm glad I don't live next door:D and that you're reining in your spendthrift habits😛!
 
Very thrifty Northerner!
Having hearing probs I always have sub titles on tv. Otherwise I just miss too much. Bet my neighbours are happier too!
Least not too long to wait to get them de-waxed! 🙂
 
Lindarose said:
Very thrifty Northerner!
Having hearing probs I always have sub titles on tv. Otherwise I just miss too much. Bet my neighbours are happier too!
Least not too long to wait to get them de-waxed! 🙂
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I often need subtitles too, especially for any US dramas where they seem to mumble so much half the time! 😱 I'd probably need to turn the telly up much higher to drown out my neighbours, they are a noisy bunch!

I'm looking forward to getting them done, I remember what a huge difference it made last time I had them done - think I've only had them done twice in my life!
 
Remember to warm the olive oil slightly. I normally use Otex as well but have used olive oil on occasions and was told to warm it. I put a bit in the microwave for a few seconds. Not too long or you'll burn your ears. 😱

I've had mine syringed a number of times - a strange but not unpleasant sensation. Jet washing for the ear canal. :D
 
Matt Cycle said:
Remember to warm the olive oil slightly. I normally use Otex as well but have used olive oil on occasions and was told to warm it. I put a bit in the microwave for a few seconds. Not too long or you'll burn your ears. 😱

I've had mine syringed a number of times - a strange but not unpleasant sensation. Jet washing for the ear canal. :D
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Thanks for the tip 🙂 Will half a pint per ear be enough? I think it hurt a bit last time I had it done, possibly hadn't softened the wax sufficiently. 😱
 
my granny used to use warm olive oil for earache
 
Northerner said:
Thanks for the tip 🙂 Will half a pint per ear be enough? I think it hurt a bit last time I had it done, possibly hadn't softened the wax sufficiently. 😱
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Half a pint.....per ear? 😱😱😱 You must be joking, it's at least a pint an ear!! 😉😉:D:D

Our surgery won't do it unless the wax has softened enough as the syringing can then damage the ear drum. I once had an appointment after putting the drops/oil in for a while and the nurse had a look and refused to do it and I then had to carry on with the drops/oil and return in a week. 🙄
 
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