Home ear irrigation kits - any experiences?
Discussion
For the past few years I've had a trip to the nurse about 18 months apart to irrigate my ears and clear out the wax which seems to compact when I sleep and make it feel like I'm in a goldfish bowl when I wake up as I can barely hear anything 
. A squirt of Otex 24 hours before the appointment soften them up nicely and only takes the irrigator pump thing a few seconds to swill them out and all golden again.
Just wondering if anyone has tried any of the various irrigation kits for sale on Amazon, Ebay etc and can comment on their success or lack thereof?
(Before the thread inevitably veers off topic as always happens here. I fully understand the delicate nature of the inner ear and the risks involved in attempting this myself without a "trained medical professional" etc.)
. A squirt of Otex 24 hours before the appointment soften them up nicely and only takes the irrigator pump thing a few seconds to swill them out and all golden again.Just wondering if anyone has tried any of the various irrigation kits for sale on Amazon, Ebay etc and can comment on their success or lack thereof?
(Before the thread inevitably veers off topic as always happens here. I fully understand the delicate nature of the inner ear and the risks involved in attempting this myself without a "trained medical professional" etc.)
Have you tried a longer period of otex to see if it falls out? They used to sell it with a bulb included to squirt water up. Worked okay.
But I stopped as it’s very easy to get ear infections from self squirting.
Personally I’ve settled on rolling up those pre moistened toilet paper and having a wiggle. It doesn’t shed or split, and does the job.
It can be addictive. I’m some countries there are places that offer recreational ear fiddling!
I can soften up the wax just fine, it's fishing it out from the inner ear that's the problem. I have one of those balloon squirter things but not had much success with it.
Have tried rolled up bog roll and cotton buds in the past but find they seem to compound the problem and shove the wax into the inner ear canal. I use my little finger when in the shower daily to clean round the outer bits of the ear canal as best I can with some soap and shower head pointed in the general direction but they still get clogged.
Have tried rolled up bog roll and cotton buds in the past but find they seem to compound the problem and shove the wax into the inner ear canal. I use my little finger when in the shower daily to clean round the outer bits of the ear canal as best I can with some soap and shower head pointed in the general direction but they still get clogged.
CoupeKid said:
I thought that getting your ears irrigated had fallen out of favour with medics.
Last year my ears got blocked and I had them micro vacuumed out. The results were awesome.
I hope so. I had my ear syringed a while ago and the nurse just kept ramping the pressure up to dislodge some stubborn wax. When she finally moved it the full pressure hit my ear drum and I have never felt pain like it in my life. I shouted some expletives and the nurse ran out of the room, eventually returning with a doctor to check the damage. Luckily it was nothing permanent, but I had a cracking headache and ringing in my ear for a few days. Since then I stick to cotton buds and warm olive oil.Last year my ears got blocked and I had them micro vacuumed out. The results were awesome.
CoupeKid said:
I thought that getting your ears irrigated had fallen out of favour with medics.
Last year my ears got blocked and I had them micro vacuumed out. The results were awesome.
It hasn't fallen out of favour; it's not longer funded by the NHS so you'd have to go private. Near me it's about £40 a session though I haven't experienced it yet.Last year my ears got blocked and I had them micro vacuumed out. The results were awesome.
Riley Blue said:
CoupeKid said:
I thought that getting your ears irrigated had fallen out of favour with medics.
Last year my ears got blocked and I had them micro vacuumed out. The results were awesome.
It hasn't fallen out of favour; it's not longer funded by the NHS so you'd have to go private. Near me it's about £40 a session though I haven't experienced it yet.Last year my ears got blocked and I had them micro vacuumed out. The results were awesome.
Steveo thanks for the link.
steveo3002 said:
I've tried lots of diff devices and find the simplest is the best!best is the balloon thing from ebay whose only problem is that it could be bigger! take a bowl into the shower, fill the bowl with warm water, squeeze balloon to get air out then stick it in the bowl of water and let it expand back up sucking the water in to it. then practice a couple of times to see how much pressure /direction you're happy with and continue to blast away till the lumps of wax come out. I do this about 3 times a year, takes 2 minutes and its just as effective as the nurse but much more comfortable as you can decide the pressure you're happy with.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203491301390?hash=item2...
Tye Green said:
steveo3002 said:
I've tried lots of diff devices and find the simplest is the best!best is the balloon thing from ebay whose only problem is that it could be bigger! take a bowl into the shower, fill the bowl with warm water, squeeze balloon to get air out then stick it in the bowl of water and let it expand back up sucking the water in to it. then practice a couple of times to see how much pressure /direction you're happy with and continue to blast away till the lumps of wax come out. I do this about 3 times a year, takes 2 minutes and its just as effective as the nurse but much more comfortable as you can decide the pressure you're happy with.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203491301390?hash=item2...
steveo3002 said:
+1 on this one. Soften the wax first, olive oil will do, then use the syringe. Does the trick every time. Cheap too!make sure you use it over the bath so you can see what comes out ...very satisfying flushing out a load of wax
or if you have a helper even better , i do the mrs's ears and find it helps to vary the angle , so one squirt straight in , another pointing forward , next one pointing up and so on , might take a few goes to shift it
or if you have a helper even better , i do the mrs's ears and find it helps to vary the angle , so one squirt straight in , another pointing forward , next one pointing up and so on , might take a few goes to shift it
Had mine done last week by a clinic which uses the suction method, £70 and I wasn't even in there for 10 minutes. Can't even say it feels much different either and was quite unpleasant compared to syringing.
Have had them flushed by the nurse without any problems before, just a shame they don't do it anymore.
Might have a go at syringing them myself next time.
Have had them flushed by the nurse without any problems before, just a shame they don't do it anymore.
Might have a go at syringing them myself next time.
PH4555 said:
Riley Blue said:
CoupeKid said:
I thought that getting your ears irrigated had fallen out of favour with medics.
Last year my ears got blocked and I had them micro vacuumed out. The results were awesome.
It hasn't fallen out of favour; it's not longer funded by the NHS so you'd have to go private. Near me it's about £40 a session though I haven't experienced it yet.Last year my ears got blocked and I had them micro vacuumed out. The results were awesome.
Steveo thanks for the link.
Please don't waste money on a nurse etc. This worked amazing and only cost £5:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Acu-Life-Antibacterial-Ea...
You literally just suck up the water then jet in to your ear.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Acu-Life-Antibacterial-Ea...
You literally just suck up the water then jet in to your ear.
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