Do I really have to do microsuction for ear wax buildup?

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AdaandFred@reddit

Cotton buds and water wash outs are not recommended as they can damage your ear drum and using cotton buds will push wax further into your ear. I had mine hoovered out a few years ago at my local BUPA hospital and it was amazing. I barely felt anything, beyond a little tickling and it's not that noisy then suddenly you can hear everything and it's glorious. Use the olive oil drops for a couple of weeks as it'll soften the wax and make it much easier for the professional ear hooverer to remove everything. I went with BUPA because it was the cheapest option but there are other chains that do it too. I'd probably choose a chain over a random person I found online because any idiot can buy a kit on amazon and offer to clean out people's ears.

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LittleSadRufus@reddit

Do you do anything to prevent it happening again?

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AdaandFred@reddit

I was told you should keep oiling your ear regularly as softer wax is much more likely to move out of the ear canal. I have dermatitis in my ear canal though so get a lot of ear wax as all the dead skin cells accumulate and will need them hoovering again before too long.

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LittleSadRufus@reddit

Ah I have dermatitis too. After about 30 years of just cleaning them out with cotton buds and a bit of moisturiser I'm reaching the point where I need something more sustainable. Think it's time to take control and go get a proper assessment from the hearing hospital and then plan on regular ear sucking

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AuthenticCheese@reddit

I bought a cheap ear scraper with a lil camera that links to your phone. Got to be very careful though

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Minipokes@reddit

I know loads of people think it’s tosh, but I used to use hopi ear candles on my ex and they felt like it helped loads - just a thought I’d you want a gentler, at home solution

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LovelyJubbly92@reddit

I’ve had it done twice it really isn’t that bad, all over in minutes. I found that as soon as I started putting drops in my ear it was getting worse.

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taulish_paul@reddit

I've felt that way, I wonder if the olive oil I used also makes the wax swell/move. Still, it needs to be softened to get it out safely.

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LovelyJubbly92@reddit

Yeah they do say you should use olive oil before getting the suction done. I remember using one of them do it yourself kits where you squirt water into your ear, that definitely made it worse 😂

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LittleSadRufus@reddit

Wish I'd read this two days ago. I tried the home kit method and got dizzy and nearly passed out, then went deaf in my left ear for 24 hours. Sounds like I need to go to Boots.

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Bunnora@reddit

Microsuction is the safest and best way to get wax removed. It’s not painful or unpleasant at all - other methods are much worse. Get some Earol (which is just olive oil in a spray bottle) to get the right amount of oil in your ears to help soften the wax and ensure it comes out quickly and easily. I used to have my ears syringed regularly at the Doctors as a child, pre-microsuctioning being a thing, and it caused infections, eczema etc.

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TravelerOfLight@reddit

Your GP could have flushed your ears there and then…

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yoy78@reddit

Drops did work for me but it was daily for 2 weeks

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One-Secretary844@reddit (OP)

Daily once? Did u go for microsuction?

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yoy78@reddit

I was supposed to but the wax was on my ear drum so had to do the drops first and when I went back the drops had done their job and I ended up not needing the suction

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Ultra_Leopard@reddit

Do the drops for at least 2 weeks in the lead up before any ear syringing. If it's not softened enough, it wont come out. The gp surgeries I rotated through when I was a student nurse all did ear syringing by their practice nurses. So double check with the surgery, at the desk. GPs don't always know, esp if locum.

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Equal_Chemistry_3049@reddit

And by doing the drop it means lying on your side for a few minutes massaging your ear with it inside, not popping a few drops in each ear and going on with your day as I learned this yeae

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theowleryonehundred@reddit

Ear syringing is not ear microsuction. They are very different things. You don't need to use olive oil before ear microsuction, your provider will advise you.

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Bifanarama@reddit

IME they generally advise the use of drops before microsuction.

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Trick-Station8742@reddit

GPs no longer offer it. Doing it yourself is fine.

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-Rhymenocerous-@reddit

Ill come do it for free armed with just a hair pin.

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SkipMapudding@reddit

Horrible memory unlocked! My mum used to clean my ears with a hair pin. So painful.

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Frothingdogscock@reddit

I bought a plastic syringe from the pound shop, squirted warm water in my ear while I was in the shower, no problems since.

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fluentindothraki@reddit

There are ear drops called Otosan which really help to dissolve ear wax

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Darrenlovesmovies@reddit

Thanks for the heads up - just ordered some

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fluentindothraki@reddit

They smell rather nice, too!

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Oster-P@reddit

I use an otoscope that links to my phone camera.

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yoy78@reddit

I have one of these… it’s oddly addictive

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Oster-P@reddit

I don't go crazy with it but it's nice to keep tabs and hook out any big chunks that start forming

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another_awkward_brit@reddit

I've had microsuction. Go with a registered audiologist over someone trained *only* in wax removal and you'll be absolutely grand.

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swanbrin@reddit

Go to specsavers, I did it recently and the guy described it as a “mini Hoover”, sounds worse than it was. I was scared of it hurting but it didn’t at all, felt a bit uncomfortable at times but was sorted really easily. Use olive oil before hand but they have some there that they can use to help too. Made all the difference

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ElectricalPick9813@reddit

I recently had microsuction . I had a LOT of wax - it took two sessions to get it done. But no issues during or after. Nothing to worry about at all.

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anabsentfriend@reddit

Microsuction is amazing, and by far the most effective way to remove earwax. I could hear the bits rattling up the tube. They hardly touched the inside of my ear at all and I don't like things being poked in them.

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Orangesteel@reddit

Oliver oil never worked for me, tried everything and the suction was the only thing that works after three months of hearing issues. Wish I’d found it sooner.

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insertitherenow@reddit

You can, but I just put drops in my ears for a few days and squirt warm water in my ears in the shower with a big syringe. Works a treat.

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ScholarOk4307@reddit

Yeah unfortunately the NHS stopped doing it for free about 10 years ago 👎 I've used specsavers a few times. They are good, but costs about £60 a time. Don't forget to oil your ears up for a week or so before you go. I've recently bought a tool with a camera on which you put in your ears and scoop it out. Might be worth a look once you've had it done.

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Btd030914@reddit

I went and had a few years ago, wasn’t unpleasant or anything. A few hours after doing it, this huge lump of…I don’t know what…came out of my ear. I’d never felt such relief and peace in my life…I’m still chasing that feeling

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Electronic-Stay-2369@reddit

Go for microsuction, Specsavers did it for me.

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Trick-Station8742@reddit

I bought an ear irrigator off Amazon about a year ago. A couple of days before I plan on doing my ears, I use olive oil or oatex to soften the wax. The ear irrigator works every time and I've had zero side effects. I do my ears about once every 2 months with it. Be damned if I'm paying 50-60-70 quid every 2 months to get my ears done.

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PomPomBumblebee@reddit

My husband has gone to a private place when he has had his after one time he had a very long waiting time. Not cheap but done quick and you can even watch the video footage of them doing it! I think my husband had it done at a gp once before and he felt like it wasn't completely clear. I was later referred to the same private clinic for ear issues and I'd say its money well spent. I don't have any experience seeing others such as specsavers and such but all I know is having someone doing it for you was WAY worth it compared to just relying on drops. I had issues with swelling and infection more than blockages so I'm not the best to advise but as someone who has had one done it's definitely worth doing than relying on drops alone.

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OnlymyOP@reddit

Olive Oil is brilliant but if it's old build up something like hopi ear candling works a treat, but get a therapist to do it as it also involves massaging around your ears and sinuses to help shift build up. Specsavers offer ear wax cleaning if I recall, but ear candling is my go to option if I start experiencing similar symptoms after illness.

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bounberry@reddit

Do the microsuction not the water syringe. Water syringe felt way too uncomfortable, they just keep blasting water until the wax is dislodged and that can take ages if stubborn. It created a very uncomfortable feeling of pressure against my ear drum, like it was going to pop. Microsuction on the other hand was a breeze. I’d recommend Specsavers.

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MuddyBoots472@reddit

My elderly mum has a guy visits her at home for £60 a pair

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pelvviber@reddit

Make sure it's done by someone qualified and competent. It's no fun having a tympanic membrane torn up by an over enthusiastic amateur.

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Ok-Response-7854@reddit

All the doctors I know - there are not many of them, but they are there - say that in no case should you clean your ears with cotton swabs, because you can clog earwax further into the ear canal. All the people I know - there are many times more of them than the doctors I know - always clean their ears with cotton swabs. And neither I, nor any of the people I talked to at the school committee, at work, or among relatives, have ever had problems with my ears because of cotton swabs. I can advise you to carefully remove excess sulfur from your ears with a cotton swab. But I warn you that this is only my opinion and doctors do not recommend doing this.

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Flatcapspaintandglue@reddit

My ears make sulphur?

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Ok-Response-7854@reddit

Yes. The yellow mass in your ears is sulfur.

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-Rhymenocerous-@reddit

No its fuckimg not.you absolutely fucking brainrotted.twit.

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kylehyde84@reddit

If you're worried there's a guy in Leicester who has a youtube channel who looks excellent

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Rinlow05@reddit

Microsuction or water syringe. You need to soften the wax with drops of olive oil for 2-3 weeks before having it done. Neither option hurts. The water syringe option feels like being under water, but you aren't, so feels slightly odd. This option is very fast to do. Microsuction is very noisy, and took longer than water syringe, and my ears rang for 30 mins afterwards, but utterly harmless. It almost tickled. When I had mine done this way, my ear was so full the olive oil hadn't soaked all the way to the bottom of the wax plug, so the guy poured a chemical solution down it that loosened the wax - it fizzed madly and it sounded like I had fireworks going off inside my head. I found it almost funny.

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orange_fudge@reddit

That would have been peroxide, you can buy it in any pharmacy in a little ear drop bottle.

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One-Secretary844@reddit (OP)

Doctor recommended the microsuction! Any places you would recommend?

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Rinlow05@reddit

I must admit I preferred microsuction, as the water jet of the syringe has a very, very small chance of rupturing the ear drum. That is also why you need to soften the wax with oil before hand, so when it's removed, it doesn't take anything vital with it. I can't recommend anywhere specifically as I had it done privately as I am lucky enough to have a private practice offer this service only a 2 min drive away, and he was very good. I have been there 3 times in 10 years.

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knotmidgelet@reddit

My mum had hers done at Specsavers recently - they were fab!

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Agitated_Camera_6198@reddit

I had it done once, back when GP surgeries did it. Still do the olive oil though, it will make it easier for them if the wax isn't rock solid so a few days of olive oil will help immensely.

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One-Secretary844@reddit (OP)

Can olive oil alone do the work? Once daily for 5 days?

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Agitated_Camera_6198@reddit

Probably not if the wax is deep in there. Pretty sure I did it twice a day as well. It was a pain in the arse quite frankly but it was worth it after I had my ear syringed and I could hear again

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QuiteFrankE@reddit

I used Otex Express ear drops and I could hear and feel it working immediately. I didn’t have much hope as I’d used olive oil ear drops for weeks with no success but Otex express broke down the ear wax. What a relief it was.

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HeartyBeast@reddit

The rubber bulb-syringe things you can get at your local chemist worked very well for me. A week of drops to soften and then head over the sink with a bowl of warm water flushing. Ask your chemist

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lavayuki@reddit

Ive had it multiple times and it's fantastic, my build up was so bad that I couldn't hear people and was shouting apparently. After I got it down, everything seemed so loud, and I realised how loud my alexa and tv were set. You do need to use olive oil for at least a week to soften the wax beforehand. They do it at tons of pharmacies, there are also ear wax removal clinics and specsavers that do it. GPs don't refer, it's a private thing. Olive drops alone never worked for me, it probably depends on how much build up there actually is

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Paddy_odoors@reddit

Sodium Bicarbonate ear drops are better imo than olive oil, though it will make you more deaf for a while until you get that pop and everything seems too loud.

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Speedy_NI@reddit

Use olive oil for ay least a week then you can buy ear clearner spray kits on Amazon..I do my own every year...also don't use cold water in it or you will near pass out 🤣

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One-Secretary844@reddit (OP)

I am scared of inserting stuff into my ear 😭 Won't the olive ear drops do the job alone?

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Speedy_NI@reddit

Nope not strong enough, you don't really have to insert it....you hold it close to the entrance an pump the spray while angling it round the ear an the wax will come flying out. https://preview.redd.it/6e8761yiucag1.jpeg?width=1079&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=219d68238fe4f2e384a6a6bc3c1f5082b39762bf

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Nige78@reddit

I had the same issue...drops didn't work, olive oil didn't work. I eventually bit the bullet and went for microsuction and it worked brilliantly. It was a pleasant sensation, not unlike washing your ears in the shower.

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peppermint_aero@reddit

Specsavers do it!

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Snarlvlad@reddit

I think some Boots branches do as well.

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