I HAVE OIL STUCK IN MY EAR

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Last night I used this earwax removal oil but it stayed in my ear. Thinking that the same strategy for getting water out of the earcanal would work, I tried to drip more of the oil in to flush it out, but that didn't work. Obviously when I tried it with water, it's no go. I have some rubbing alcohol, but no eye dropper (unless you count used contact lense stuff). I'm afraid of getting an infection now.

― Leee (Leee), Friday, 10 January 2003 19:05 (twenty-two years ago)

You could try going to the doctor's and seeing if the nurse at the surgery could syringe out your ear for you.

Or just walk around with your head on one side all day, and see if the oil drains out on its own.

Do you have an ear ache?

― C J (C J), Friday, 10 January 2003 19:19 (twenty-two years ago)

No earache yet. Also no insurance.

― Leee (Leee), Friday, 10 January 2003 19:28 (twenty-two years ago)

(chances are the reason for this is ordinary waxy build-up, which the oil will gradually dislodge, and then disperse of its own accord: is ear syringing free in the US? possibly that's a silly question... )

― mark s (mark s), Friday, 10 January 2003 19:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Let George Bush know about it. He will get it out for you.

― lawrence kansas (lawrence kansas), Friday, 10 January 2003 19:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Just keep putting the heated oil in. It'll shift eventually. I've been told that doctors are reluctant to syringe nowadays - apparently it can damage the eardrum.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Friday, 10 January 2003 20:06 (twenty-two years ago)

AARGH it's even worse now. In addition to more oil, there's rubbing alcohol and soapy bathwater now too.

This whole thing is turning into that segment where Marge tries to get chewing gum out of Lisa's hair.

― Leee, Friday, 10 January 2003 21:42 (twenty-two years ago)

I think the oil has dried now. My left ear is solidly blocked up now, grr. Might make listening to music more interesting, though.

― Leee (Leee), Saturday, 11 January 2003 21:46 (twenty-two years ago)

This is my absolute nightmare. I have an irrational horror or ear wax. I feel for you, Leee. Good luck.

― felicity (felicity), Saturday, 11 January 2003 22:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Is putting oil in your ear really that wise to begin with?

― Sean (Sean), Sunday, 12 January 2003 00:08 (twenty-two years ago)

I was afeared that would be what this thread would be about...

I used to constantly get ear infections until I went to an ear nose and throat specialist (no insurance either, but when you're running a 104 degree fever for three days, you'll go to a doctor even though no, ear-sringing is not free) who told me never, ever, EVER use those ear-wax removal things. Hot water in the shower is the best for getting rid of excess wax, some earwax is *necessary* to protect the eardrum!

The Dr. syringed my ear and did something with a wick... can't remember the exact details.

But the moral of the story is, leave your ears alone!

― kate, Sunday, 12 January 2003 00:16 (twenty-two years ago)

i've always gone for the dilute peroxide. you might consider an ear candle. i have never used one and they seem silly, but maybe they work.

― ron (ron), Sunday, 12 January 2003 03:20 (twenty-two years ago)

mixing peroxide and oil though? i dunno.

it *does* sound just like the gum-in-lisa's-hair episode. this must be really annoying! and having no insurance sucks.

not that i have any ideas.

― JuliaA (j_bdules), Sunday, 12 January 2003 03:36 (twenty-two years ago)

WTF is an ear candle? You get so much wax you stick a bit of string in as a wick and set it on fire? Does this not put your hair at risk? (If you have more than me, anyway.)

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 12 January 2003 12:10 (twenty-two years ago)

Since my dad's medical covers fulltime students, I've managed to enroll in the local community college, so hopefully I'll be going to an ENT Monday.

― Leee (Leee), Sunday, 12 January 2003 23:50 (twenty-two years ago)

ear candles are a hollow candle that are alleged to remove the wax from your ear via some method or another but it is bollocks.

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Monday, 13 January 2003 00:41 (twenty-two years ago)

four years pass...

wonder if Leee got it out.

― That one guy that hit it and quit it, Monday, 24 September 2007 16:57 (eighteen years ago)

Reading the original post, I have this belated fear that the oil just ran out all over his pillow while he was sleeping, and he didn't realize it.

― nabisco, Monday, 24 September 2007 17:23 (eighteen years ago)

I mean, that is what happens with ear-cleaning solutions: you put them in, you go to bed, you wake up with pools of disgusto-gunk on your pillowcase.

(This is why I much, much prefer the squirty-bulb cleaning method.)

― nabisco, Monday, 24 September 2007 17:24 (eighteen years ago)

EAR CANDLES

― jhøshea, Monday, 24 September 2007 17:25 (eighteen years ago)

I don't know why anyone would turn to flame-induced pneumatic systems to take care of their ears when the ancient cleaning method of sloshing water on things works perfectly well

― nabisco, Monday, 24 September 2007 17:32 (eighteen years ago)

Ear candling is really dangerous! You can perforate your eardrum and as someone who has done this (although not by ear candling) three seperate times, I can tell you that hole in the eardrum = not fun.

― ENBB, Monday, 24 September 2007 17:34 (eighteen years ago)

I mean, that is what happens with ear-cleaning solutions: you put them in, you go to bed, you wake up with pools of disgusto-gunk on your pillowcase.

been using that one for years.

― That one guy that hit it and quit it, Monday, 24 September 2007 20:27 (eighteen years ago)

This thread reminded me to put in ear drops and do some flushing. I CAN NOW HEAR YOU READING THIS

― nabisco, Tuesday, 25 September 2007 14:14 (eighteen years ago)

i've never "flushed" my ears or otherwise before!
should i?

― The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall, Tuesday, 25 September 2007 16:26 (eighteen years ago)

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