Bad Earwax/blocked Ears

[Smowball]

Teen Smow has always suffered from ear wax and has has his ears syringed several times. His ears are blocked right now and he has been trying his doctors every day for a week to get them syringed but they keep saying no appointments and call back tomorrow. Trouble is he is flying on holiday on 29th April and really doesn’t want to go away like this.. he’s bough drops to use at home and has used the whole course but they haven’t worked either. Any bright ideas?? His hearing is really affected at the moment. TIA.

[tonyav]

Is there any walk in centers anywhere near him, worth a try if there is.

[Smowball]

I don’t know tbh. We have one here and I’ve used it but he’s in a village so I don’t think so....

[sherrardk]

Could a pharmacist help - they’re quite multi-tasking these days (if the adverts are anything to go by).

[Cloverjo]

My son was told by the people at 111 to go to A&E to sort his earwax out. Seemed a bit extreme so he didn’t go, but waited for a regular appointment.
May be worth a try if your lad doesn’t get one soon.

[Mamyalynne]

If it is definitely a build up of wax, check if your local Specsavers branch has an audiologist - many branches do.

It means paying of course.

[Mamyalynne]

https://www.specsavers.co.uk/hearing/ear-health/earwax-removal

[Smowball]

Wow I didn’t know that Mamyalynne!!

[Smowball]

Yes clover /sherrardk I’ve suggested those too x

[Old_Geezer]

Difficult to get the NHS to syringe at all these days.
Maybe open the wallet and go private ?

[TonyV]

Our local GP surgery now charges £10 per ear.

[Smowball]

Oh blimey!

[tonyav]

A pharmacist may be able to fix it, Smow.

A pharmacist can help with earwax build-up
Speak to a pharmacist about earwax build-up. They can give advice and suggest treatments.

They might recommend chemical drops to dissolve the earwax. The earwax should fall out on its own or dissolve after about a week.

Don't use drops if you have a hole in your eardrum (a perforated eardrum).

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/earwax-build-up/

[Caran]

They don't tend to syringe nowadays. OH has his done by vacuum at ENT usually every six weeks.
But his ears are so bad he is deaf again two days later.
His problem is his tube is the width of a pin and the tiniest bit of wax fills it up.
But the good thing is he has an appointment to see about a cochlear implant next month.

[TonyV]

just looked at specsavers £35 per ear I would say oh blimey.

[retrocop]

Warm olive oil inserted in the ear canal with a dropper bottle was an old housewife's remedy.

[Mamyalynne]

True, always use olive oil prior to syringing - I assumed as this is a regular problem he'd have done that.

[TonyV]

Lynne is it then ok to flush ear with warm water?

[Mamyalynne]

I wouldn't, just use the olive oil to loosen the wax and then get them syringed if you can, as said many GP surgeries don't do it or do it and charge.

[10ClarionSt]

I do it myself with one of these (Debrox) that I bought in Walmart in Florida. It cost me $11. You might have to order it online as I don't think it's on sale here. I do the same as Retrocop and use warm olive oil prior to the self-syringe!
https://www.debrox.com/debrox-coupon

[Smowball]

Thanks for all your replies everyone xx