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Topic: ear wax :-( |
HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 19 Dec 2004 12:04 pm |
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I steam clean my tunnels 4 times a year using my Jiffy Model J-1 counter top steamer. It blows the wax from my left ear right out through my right ear.
 [This message was edited by HowardR on 19 December 2004 at 12:08 PM.] |
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Fred Jack
From:
Bastrop, Texas 78602
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Posted 19 Dec 2004 12:10 pm
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| Rick G.Thank you! I must admit that the candles help.I don't know about wax removal but I gaurantee there ain't a hair left in either ear.I used about six candles in both ears as they kept going out as they got inside the ear.Hey,but,there's no hair.No more bother in that area.I'm going back Monday to get more candles and do the nose.No more nose hair.I guess the blisters will eventually heal.Thanks! Fred |
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Jerry Tillman
From:
Florida
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Posted 19 Dec 2004 12:19 pm
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| The candles seem to work well from what I,m reading for ear, nose,and throat.I wonder if they would help hemroids in anyway. |
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Fred Jack
From:
Bastrop, Texas 78602
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Posted 19 Dec 2004 12:22 pm
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| Now a serious post after the above nonsense...my great grandson was born six months ago and he was/is stone deaf.They fit him with hearing aids right away for a temporary fix.I am telling this because it really amazed me at what they can do.The Drs told the parents of a procedure called a "Coclear implant".They bore a hole through the eardrum and place a kind of transmitter into the brain.After that heals they install a receiver in the ear which picks up the sounds and gives to the transmitter which in turn gives to the brain.He is doing quite well with this.Another greatgrandson was born crosseyed and they did three surgeries and have finally got them straight.I'm sure glad as I never knew if he was looking at me or grandma.Yet a third great granddaughter was born with very poor eyesight and requires hearing aids to hear.I wonder if it is the drugs showing up!Not meant to be a joke!I posted this here because ya'all was talking about ears and I am simply amazed at what they have done with these implants!Anyone else familiar with the Coclear procedure? Fred |
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Fred Jack
From:
Bastrop, Texas 78602
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Posted 19 Dec 2004 12:24 pm
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| Jerry, I bet candles would taste better than Prep-H. Be more chewy too. Fred |
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Gary Walker
From:
Morro Bay, CA
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Posted 19 Dec 2004 12:56 pm
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| Jimbeaux nailed it. I visited my ear, nose and throat doctor Wednesday for a similar problem. His recommendation? Once a month, drop some hydrogen peroxide into each ear. Those over the counter ear wax removal kits contain that as the main ingredient. It starts foaming as it softens the wax and yes, it itches and bothers you a bit but it works |
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Gene Jones
From:
Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)
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Posted 19 Dec 2004 3:30 pm
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| * [This message was edited by Gene Jones on 19 December 2004 at 04:34 PM.] |
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Damir Besic
From:
Nashville,TN.
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Posted 19 Dec 2004 4:27 pm
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I can remember a few gigs when I wished to have had some wax in my ears... 
Db
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"Promat"
~when tone matters~
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John Sims
From:
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
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Posted 19 Dec 2004 5:04 pm
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Damir, I can remember more than "a few"  |
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Chris Lasher
From:
Blacksburg, VA
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Posted 19 Dec 2004 7:17 pm
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Ear candles are not good.
That last link is probably the most informative, as it tries to present both sides equally and objectively.
Howard, you're a nut, and hillarious! Love the pic![This message was edited by Chris Lasher on 19 December 2004 at 07:21 PM.] |
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Darrell Owens
From:
California, USA
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Posted 19 Dec 2004 10:03 pm
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Seems like more than a few musicians have encountered ear wax build up problems. The variety of cures and suggestions was certainly entertaining. I have tried the candles without much noticable improvement, and I think I'll avoid the bobby pins.
One thing seems consistent, It ALWAYS happens just when I have a concert coming up. Is there someting related to ear wax and performance anxiety?
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Darrell Owens
www.darrellowens.com |
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Graham Griffith
From:
Tempe, N.S.W., Australia
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Posted 20 Dec 2004 2:18 am
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I've got my own spin on this!!
I tend to clean my ears regularly with cotton buds ... note that I'm not stupid enough to put them in too far ... but also note that I don't suffer chronic ear wax problems like most of you guys seem to.
Since wax builds regularly I started to observe when it built up ... and I tend to believe that it is created as a protective measure when my hearing is subjected to consistent sound levels above "normal" ambient sound (e.g. when on the bandstand). As I gig regularly each week I've got ample opprtunity to observe. I'm starting to think that maybe (for my own situation) I shouldn't be so scrupulous in keeping my ears "clean" but rather leave a bit to do the job it was probably designed for.
Graham |
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John Daugherty
From:
Rolla, Missouri, USA
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Posted 20 Dec 2004 5:35 am
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| I have found nothing better than what doctors use: warm water and a syringe. |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 20 Dec 2004 7:33 am
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I think you guys have an aural fixation....   |
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Jan Dunn
From:
Union, NJ USA
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Posted 20 Dec 2004 7:35 am
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At the risk of sounding pretencious, I can tell you a bit about earwax as I've been an audiologist for over 30 years with a Ph.D. in Hearing Science (but I play PSG just slightly better than Ray Charles could see). Cerumen (the fancy name for earwax) is necessary to lubricate the skin of the external ear canal (the thing you SHOULDN'T stick a bobby pin in), and believe it or not, as a deterent to insects flying in your ear (most flying insects are repelled by its odor). It becomes a problem when it is over produced because of dryness in the ear or when it gets compacted. Things like earplugs and Q-tips will move the wax closer to the eardrim (tympanic membrane) and tend to pack it down whereupon it starts to harden (it becomes impacted). That's when the problems begin.
You've first got to soften it and the more common product for softening cerumen is mineral oil. It generally take a week to 10 days of daily application of mineral oil to soften a hard plug of cerumen to the point it can be suctioned out or manully removed with a curette (a little metal probe). You want to watch what you pour in your ear as if it gets past the plug, its going to go to the eardrum. If there's a rupture (a tear) it can go through the eardrum and get into the middle ear. Not a good thing. Mineral oil is pretty safe and non-reactive. I do this everyday so I feel I know of what I speak. Ear candles, by the way, work on the principle that as this funnel shaped item
smolders, it supposed to create a vacuum and lift the wax out. It doesn't really create much of a vacuum (if it did, you'd run the risk of busting an eardrum--a very painful experience) and won't work for one of those impacted, hard plugs.
Now ask me why a head cold clogs up your ears.
Hope I haven't bored you too much. |
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Michael Brebes
From:
Northridge CA
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Posted 20 Dec 2004 9:00 am
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| I have one ear that gets impacted regularly. I use the drops that soften the wax. Yes, you can hear it bubbling. Usually leave it bubbling for 15-20 minutes, then use one of the bulbs that come with some of the drops to gently flush my ear with warm water, since the shower doesn't seem to get it out. I'll do it a few times until the old dark wax flushes out with the water. |
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Ray Minich
From:
Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra
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Posted 20 Dec 2004 10:17 am
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| I've heard about the ear candle method, my brother has used it successfully. Old saying in my family... "put nothin' in yer ear smaller than yer elbow". Be careful with them bobby pins & q-tips. |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 20 Dec 2004 10:19 am
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Again, it never ceases to amaze me, the information that is available on this forum, with regard to almost anything.
Thank you Jan for your expertise and valuable info. I did find many things in your post that I could use for humor, but other threads call to me and I've done enough here.
I wouldn't want folks to think that I'm a pain in the er,ear..... |
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mickd
From:
london,england
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Posted 20 Dec 2004 12:11 pm
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I went back to the doc for my 2nd syringing session today. She really let rip with the water and declared it clear. Trouble is, it seems my right ear has a bent passage (or whatever the right term is) so the water takes ages to leave. As I type theres some still in there - 11 hours after the event.
I'm hoping it will just seep away & then everything will be ok again.. fingers crossed |
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 20 Dec 2004 2:51 pm
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| Mick, cock your head to the right, pull your earlobe out as far as you can and jump up and down on one foot. Sounds goofy, but it works. |
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mickd
From:
london,england
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Posted 20 Dec 2004 3:23 pm
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Rick
pity I didnt have the Webcam on 
I heard something happening but then I fell over 
Mick |
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mickd
From:
london,england
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Posted 21 Dec 2004 2:30 pm
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well, in the middle of the night I woke up to find water coming out of my ear, and now I think I;m almost back to normal.
Thanks for all the advice & encouragement |
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Rick Alexander
From:
Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 21 Dec 2004 4:45 pm
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| I love a story with a happy ending! |
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Jim Hinton
From:
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
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Posted 24 Dec 2004 8:19 am
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I have learned a lot reading this thread, and now I'm kinda worried ...
I have had allergies and problems with my ears since I was a "tadpole".
I have never had my ears cleaned by one of those water gadgets, so I went to the local Walgreen's drugstore and bought a kit.
I have been trying dilligently to get something to come out of my ears, but nothing does.
So, I gotta do this for a week to 10 days for it to really work?
I'm 52 years old, and know that something's gotta be in there. I'm sure it's not crowded out by my "excessively large brain"!
Do I keep trying, or just go see an ENT specialist? |
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Jon Light (deceased)
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 24 Dec 2004 8:34 am
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I think your issue begins with the "tadpole" thing. It's about time you lost the tail and got onto dry land, don't you think? Oughta do the trick. ......sorry......
I also have chronically "stuffed" ears--a feeling like I'm at altitude and need to pop (equalize) my ears with a good yawn but usually they just don't want to pop. When they do I marvel at how loud the world really is and I wonder if I've been talking way too loud for the last 3 weeks.
But I also have wax. With all this great info, time to do something about it, I guess.
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