Ear Problem

[Reinhart]

Well, it's Saturday and I can't go to a doctor and I'm on the verge of losing my composure. (freaking out.) And I have a question.

A number of days ago I was having wax build-up in my left ear, my mother told me it would be a real great idea to clean it out with a Q-Tip, which I later found is idiotic. Well, I think I got wax blockage on my eardrum because my ear became 'plugged', a little suction and the plug let up a little, enough for me to hear somewhat OK. Well, two days passed and nothing changed, so, I listened to my mother again (Which I won't do again.) and used water AND suction and now I think I've also trapped water in there which I know to be a very great way to get an ear infection... so, does anyone who actually knows what they're talking about know what I should do? Or, should I just hold off and try to get my uninsured (This would be my reasoning for not going in the first place.) butt to a doctor on Monday? Oh and calling me an idiot won't help, other people have already tried. I would appreciate any help. Thank you.

 

[Yair Hunter]

i heard it might get the water out to jump while the head is tilted on the ear's side. don't remember how successful it was when i tried... and a friend of mine got wax on her eardrum, and was given eardrops to fix it, so i guess it's not something that quickly solves itself. not always anyway.

 

[Reinhart]

This is like total blockage, I can hear myself talk (vaugely) in that ear and chew but nothing external gets in. I tried the leftwise head banging... nothing and I slept on my left side, thats why I'm worried, nothing I've tried has fixed it and I'm afraid to play with it more. So I'm thinking a doctor is the best course of action but I wanted to make sure I couldn't fix it myself because I'm a poor bastard with no insurance ^_^ But thank you.

 

[Archonsod]

Get ye to a doctor.

Probably require an ear syringing.

 

[Pharaoh Llandy]

Light a match and stick it in your ear. It will melt the wax and then the water trapped in there will quench the fire before it burns you.

[Note: I'm kidding. Ask Mr. Doctor.]

 

[Kissaki]

I had the exact same thing a couple years back. It happened after cleaning my ear with a Q-tip, and accidentally went a bit too far. I guess it caused a scratch that got infected, because after that I had total blockage, and profuse wax build-up. Or puss, more like it. Smelly, too. I figured, "meh, I'll give it a day or two, it'll go away." Well, days came and went. But I remained optimistic: "It's nothing that won't go away after a week or so." Eventually, though, I had to face the obvious, that I did indeed have an infection there. This was after 3-5 months. (Yes, I can be a bit slow on the uptake.) But as the situation had been rather stable, and in fact gotten slightly better in periods, I figured my immune system would take care of it. It eventually did -- but then a full year had passed, and my hearing on my left ear has been reduced ever since. My left ear used to be the one with the best hearing, but now it's my right.

If I didn't have to be such a Mr. Natural Man I could've just gotten a diagnosis, gotten some ear drops and fixed the sucker right up. But nooooo. I'm the sort of guy who hates going to the doctor -- mostly because I fear bad news. And I'm a procrastinator.

Take a warning from me, and go see your doctor! Or like me, you'll be doomed! doomed! doomed!

 

[Hræfn]

Dude. Doctor. Now.

 

[Johnathan Andrews]

This is like total blockage, I can hear myself talk (vaugely) in that ear and chew but nothing external gets in. I tried the leftwise head banging... nothing and I slept on my left side, thats why I'm worried, nothing I've tried has fixed it and I'm afraid to play with it more. So I'm thinking a doctor is the best course of action but I wanted to make sure I couldn't fix it myself because I'm a poor bastard with no insurance ^_^ But thank you.

Go to the doctor ASAP.  I don't believe in going into debt if you can avoid it, but if it comes between hearing and debt, go for hearing.

If you need to wait until tommorow to go to the doctor, take a VERY, very hot shower (to the point it is painful) for about 10 minutes. (try not to get more water in your ear though).  Get a warm wet rag and a plastic bag.  Lay your head sideways, with the bad ear underneith your head and on top of the warm wet rag.  Use the plasic bag to keep the floor/couch/bed dry, and keep your head there for 10 minutes at least... might want to watch a show so you're sure to keep your head still (the wax will be softened greatly, and hopefully some at least will drain).

Alternatively, go to your local pharmacy and purchase some wax-disolving drops (they should be at most major pharmacies and are available OTC of most places.  I still would suggest going to the doctor over these steps though.

 

[Gasolineh]

bah water wont do a thing there is a kind of acid which makes the ear wax turn to liquid which you suck ut.

 

[Jaghatai Khan]

Listen. A similar thing happened to me and if you do not want to lose permanent hearing,go for a doctor.

He should give you some medicine to get rid of this,or get operated,I forgot which.

 

[Sir Saladin]

Just drink some brandy or whiskey and go to the loudest concert you can find, that will kick your waxy ears into shape. Doctors are evil and greedy.

 

[Sucker Punch]

Listen. A similar thing happened to me and if you do not want to lose permanent hearing,go for a doctor.

He should give you some medicine to get rid of this,or get operated,I forgot which.

You forgot whether you got medicine or surgery?

 

[Voutare]

Doctor FTW

No, hes scaring reinhart

 

[guspav]

ok here are 2 solutions

1.- you take a shower and let warm water enter your ear for a while the go lay down with your plugged ear facing the pillow (and a towel preferably) wait until the water comes out and the plug should be gone if not try no. 2

2.- mix tap water with a 10% H2O2 (that is 9 parts water 1 part H2O2) warm it a bit on the microwave, it should be warm, NOT hot, you don't want to burn your middle/inner ear, then using a syringe have someone squirt with low preassure a little of our mixture into your ear (preferably  filling your whole ear while laying and your plugged ear facing upwards) turn and lay down again with your plugged ear facing downwards.. repeat until it's unplugged. The H2O2 will help break that plug because of the bubbling, I have tried it and works perfectly and many othorhynolaryngologists use this method
hope that helps

I'll send you my vet bill later j/k 

 

[Reinhart]

Thank you guys. I tried the peroxide idea, a doctor suggested it to me too... it doesn't seem to be working though. I figure it'll be OK, I'll just bite the bullet and visit a doctor on Monday but I'll keep trying the peroxide method until then.

 

[Janus]

When I had a bad ear infection a few years ago and had to go to the doctor (it felt like fireants were constantly chewing into my head and I was unable to sleep or concentrate on anything, it was so bad), to clean my ear out they used a strong jet of warm water on two occasions (was strong enough to be uncomfortable and close to painful to my eardrum) for something between 1-2 minutes to clear out all blockage. Worked like a charm, and the antibiotics they gave cleared it up pretty quickly.

If I were you I'd probably try warm water in an ear syringe (the bulb looking thing) many times, along with guspav's hydrogen peroxide solution. Just be careful with how hard you jet water in your ear.
As you said, if it's not at least mostly cleared up by Monday, you should definitely go see a doctor.

 

[Stonewall382]

Ya got some tooth-cleaning thing that jets water atcher teeth?  Cram that in yer ear and have at 'er!  It's honestly what I (well, my mom ) did--sucked, but worked.

 

[Jaghatai Khan]

Listen. A similar thing happened to me and if you do not want to lose permanent hearing,go for a doctor.

He should give you some medicine to get rid of this,or get operated,I forgot which.

You forgot whether you got medicine or surgery?

Nah,he gave me a medicine and I forgot if it would include additional surgery if unattended.

Just my disorganized grammar system.