Do you get your ears cleaned? PCP or specialist?

[dmpi]

I use one of the Japanese ear cleaning sticks that has a tiny shovel at one end and a feather duster on the other end. It took a bit of practice but once you know how far to go into your ear the thing works quite well. If it hurts and hear a loud noise you've went too far and hit your eardrum. Also I ignore the feather duster end... which is equivalent to the q-tip. YMMV.

 

[NW-Bound]

I have seen the "tiny shovel" thing. People use it to scoop out ear wax. Ugh!

I am sure it's effective, but I have had an infection caused by scratching the ear canal with just a Q-tip to alleviate an itch.

On the other hand, if the Japanese have been using it for eons, they must know how to use the "shovel".

Just $9, and Amazon will send you a kit to turn you into an otolaryngologist. Heh heh heh...

 

[becca]

Never had an ear wax problem till I got older and then every few months I would get to the point I couldn't hear out of one of my ears and have to go to my primary car doc to get them cleaned out.

Following her advice, once a week and put a few drops of hydrogen peroxide in each ear and lay on my side for five minutes. This seems to work for me.

 

[braumeister]

I don’t claim to be an authority but I’ve been cleaning my ear canal with q-tips my entire life. I’m sure if you’re careless enough to jam it in there and hit your ear drum, you’re in for some hurting but I’ve never done that. I’ve also been lucky enough to never have any wax buildup. I can see how trying to dig some wax out with a q-tip could be a problem but I’ve never had to do that. Mostly, I just like getting all the water out of my ears after a shower. And, of course, if there’s an itch, I’m going in there with a q-tip and give it a scratch.

Same here. I understand the warnings are just out of an abundance of caution, but I understand that and I'm always careful not to jab the eardrum.

 

[Montecfo]

Same here. I understand the warnings are just out of an abundance of caution, but I understand that and I'm always careful not to jab the eardrum.

Yes. These warnings are fine but for people that are simply careful, there is no big issue. That is why they sell millions of q-tips. I use them most days. Doctor always comments ears are very clean.

 

[Gumby]

...

PLEASE NEVER USE Q-TIPS IN YOUR EARS! NEVER, EVER, EVER. It says so right on the box. You can't do anything good with a Q-tip. You can only do damage.
...

Everyone knows you're supposed to use a paperclip.

 

[Aerides]

isn't the old rule to never put anything in your ear smaller than your elbow?

And yeah I think most folks of reasonable intelligence can use a qtip to clean the sides of the ear without puncturing their eardrum.

Warnings are for... well like they have to print not to put plastic bags in cribs as toys...

 

[HawkeyeNFO]

Some Chewbacca-looking dude is on TV selling the Wush:
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=the+wush...184104&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_3u4sxobi47_b

 

[disneysteve]

Everyone knows you're supposed to use a paperclip.

I've seen people who used paperclips, hair pins, ball point pens, etc. I've even seen the ink marks when they used a pen.


When I look in someone's ears, I can tell if they use Q-tips regularly, and I always comment. They always wonder how I can tell. Because I can see the damage they cause. The skin lining your ear canal is super delicate. Q-tips are rough and abrasive. The ear canal of a regular user looks scraped up like someone dragged sandpaper over it.



As for rupturing the ear drum, obviously nobody does it on purpose, but still I've seen it many times. Sometimes someone's hand just jerks for a second or their kid or dog runs into the room and startles them or bumps into them or they turn while doing it and hit their elbow on the wall. I've heard all kinds of stories over the past 30 years.


Another common issue is the cotton tip coming off so we end up seeing a lot of people who come in to have that removed.


Q-tips are just one form of job security for us. All the people who refuse to follow the instructions and refuse to believe they are dangerous help keep our clinics busy.

 

[JoeWras]

Q-tips are just one form of job security for us. All the people who refuse to follow the instructions and refuse to believe they are dangerous help keep our clinics busy.

Ouch! I like it when doctors get honest.

One of our doctor friends who worked trauma calls motor cycles "donor cycles".

 

[disneysteve]

Ouch! I like it when doctors get honest.

One of our doctor friends who worked trauma calls motor cycles "donor cycles".

I like that.



Mandolins (the kitchen tool, not the musical instrument) are another job security thing. They are perfectly safe - I use one all the time - but ONLY if you use the safety guard. It's disturbing how many people think they don't need to bother with that. Then they end up in the ER or urgent care getting their fingers stitched back together.


And please everyone, learn how to properly take the pit out of an avocado. That's another common urgent care patient.


So much of what we see and treat is 100% preventable.

 

[Koolau]

Everyone knows you're supposed to use a paperclip.

Very effective though it says right on the box of paper clips: "Never insert into ear."

 

[ERhoosier]

Everyone knows you're supposed to use a paperclip.

ROFLMAO

 

[Teacher Terry]

When I turned 55 I started to make excessive ear wax. I have tried debrox and peroxide with no success. It used to take 12-18 months for both ears to get blocked and now it’s 6 months. My family doctor won’t do it so I use urgent care.

 

[Koolau]

ROFLMAO

Stayed at my uncle's place for a few days when I was 5 and little sis was being born. He used a paper clip to clean my ears. My parents never cleaned my ears so I was pretty intimidated by the whole thing. Funny how kids recall such things.

 

[JoeWras]

Stayed at my uncle's place for a few days when I was 5 and little sis was being born. He used a paper clip to clean my ears. My parents never cleaned my ears so I was pretty intimidated by the whole thing. Funny how kids recall such things.

Whew! There are worse uncle stories.

If you ever want to induce vomiting, don't use the syrup. Just google "ear wax" and choose the images options. Holy cow. I saw stuff like that when my PCP did it for the first time. Surprising!

 

[John Galt III]

Hi all: I've always gone to my primary care office for ear cleanings. After that doc retired and I found a new one, I discovered this one doesn't do ear cleaning care at their office. They suggested I contact a specialist to have that done.

Is this no longer a routine thing done in a primary care office? I'm guessing I'll search for an ears/nose/throat doc, but since I haven't met my high deductible, the cost just shot up big time to see a specialist for this. Seems like overkill.

Was just curious if anyone here still goes to their primary care team for this?

Seems like nobody wants to do ear cleanings. My mom was at hear audiologist, and the aud looked in her ear and saw some wax, but said Mom would have to go to a pcp to get the wax out! Fast forward to yesterday. Mom was at her pcp and he looked in her ear, saw lots of wax, and said the nurse who did the ear wax cleaning was on vacation, and he would not do it himself. Bizzaro World.

 

[Koolau]

Seems like nobody wants to do ear cleanings. My mom was at hear audiologist, and the aud looked in her ear and saw some wax, but said Mom would have to go to a pcp to get the wax out! Fast forward to yesterday. Mom was at her pcp and he looked in her ear, saw lots of wax, and said the nurse who did the ear wax cleaning was on vacation, and he would not do it himself. Bizzaro World.

Heh, heh, I thought the punchline was gonna be: "You'll have to see your audiologist!"

 

[JoeWras]

Nobody wants to be on the hook for puncturing an eardrum

Legal system...

 

[FindingForward]

Heh, heh, I thought the punchline was gonna be: "You'll have to see your audiologist!"

Right? It is a bizzaro world though. Thanks all for the responses. Since posting, I checked on mayo, Web MD and clevelend clinic sites and they all advise it's best not to DIY it - go to your primary care or audiologist - none of whom appear interested in doing it.

Takeaway: need brain surgery or a new heart dropped into your chest? No problem. Ear wax: nope - no one wants the liability of cleaning your ears lol.

But I'll start with debrox and see if I have any luck. Thanks again all - especially to the docs and other healthcare folks that responded!

 

[KarenF]

I get wax build-up in my right ear only. My PCP usually removes it periodically, but last time they blasted my ear for a while and nothing came out, so they referred me to an ENT. I have used a bottle of Debrox and the little bulb thing and I can't get it out either.

 

[Dawg52]

I get wax build-up in my right ear only. My PCP usually removes it periodically, but last time they blasted my ear for a while and nothing came out, so they referred me to an ENT. I have used a bottle of Debrox and the little bulb thing and I can't get it out either.

I had a NP clean mine a few days ago as I didn't have much luck using Debrox. She saw a little fluid in my right ear and prescribed ear drop antibiotics. Has helped but still has some soreness in and around the ear. May end up having to go to an ENT.

 

[meleana]

It’s funny I just went to urgent care two weeks ago when I couldn’t stand my clogged ear anymore. They flushed it and gave me a script for an ear wax remover.

Only had this happen once before and it was years ago. Next time if it happens again I’m going to get a kit to use at home.

 

[Tessie]

Honestly, I have never heard of this. I’ve heard of people having wax buildup and going to an ENT to have it flushed, but I’ve never heard of someone getting their ears cleaned routinely by their pcp.

 

[slsdog]

Be careful

Went to mine and think they punctured my eardrum. Had PA squirt hydrogen peroxide solution in ( hurt ). Then doctor was picking around with curette to get wax out and caused my ear to bleed. It hurt. Think he punctured my eardrum because I can't hear hardly at all now! Be careful who you have do this. Wish I didn't let them. Should have gone to Otolaryngologist/ENT specialist who has done this a lot. Hope my hearing gets better. Some doctors are only good for certain things. A lot of them are good for nothing! Have only had a couple in my lifetime that have been really good and they retired.