Struggling with Impacted Earwax, Tinnitus, and Hyperacusis: Seeking a Safe Removal Option

[Jon R.]

I have a completely blocked right ear. I can hear my jaw movements and my tinnitus very clearly, and I also suffer from hyperacusis. The audiologist today said there was no gap wide enough for him to insert the curette. I felt some pain as he tried his best, and it terrified me. It felt like I was being jabbed sharply. Unfortunately, I think he may have pushed the blockage closer to my eardrum, as I now hear every jaw movement, which I did not notice before.

I had to sign a waiver because he explained that the manual method carries risks, especially if the blockage is not just a few specks near the entrance.

Now I feel stuck. If the manual method has failed, what is the next safe option? He said he would never perform micro-suction on my ears because of my tinnitus and hyperacusis, but he mentioned that he could try irrigation. I said I was hesitant about that as well, since it also carries risks.

So now I am confused. How should I proceed? If the manual approach fails, is irrigation with that pulsing machine my only remaining option? Do I just have to accept the risk?

 

[Jupiterman]

Read these two postings:

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/posts/717450

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/posts/717556

Irrigation may (if not likely) make you worse.

 

[Jon R.]

Thanks. This is the problem: irrigation might make things worse, but if manual removal fails a second time, I am not sure what to do. I am going to use olive oil drops, but they can sometimes expand the wax, making it even more uncomfortable. I am assuming the wax is pressed up against my eardrum, based on the soreness, pressure, and complete lack of hearing. My tinnitus is just screaming at me.

I am so frustrated that the audiologist made it worse and more impacted. I actually felt better before I went there, and I paid £70 just to have things made worse.

I read your threads. Do you think manual wax removal can still work, even if it failed once? I am going to try a different audiologist for the upcoming second attempt. What happens if they cannot get close enough to the eardrum to remove any wax lodged there? Is there still a safe way to remove it?

 

[Jupiterman]

If you read my posts, you will realize that I am advising this cannot be done in a single session. Olive oil only softens the surface of the earwax it comes into contact with. As a result, that softened wax can then be gently scraped out using a curette attached to an ear camera.

After the initial removal, you apply more olive oil, wait two days for it to take effect, and repeat the process.

You should treat one ear at a time and sleep on the side of the ear being treated. This positioning provides a gravity assist, helping the wax that is impacted against the eardrum to move away from the drum and down the ear canal. This makes subsequent removal attempts with the curette easier.

I do not recommend visiting another audiologist or ENT for this, as the same issue will likely occur again. Instead, I suggest purchasing an ear camera with an attached curette and doing this yourself. If there is as much wax as you describe, it could take up to three weeks to fully clear one ear, doing a removal attempt every other day.

It is worth the effort: the earwax is removed without microsuction, irrigation, or an "expert" attempting to clear everything at once and potentially making things worse.

 

[Jon R.]

I have just ordered the exact otoscope you linked to in that other thread. Is there any particular scoop that comes with it that you would recommend?

Unfortunately, I cannot sleep with my right ear (the blocked one) on the pillow, as I have spinal scoliosis and always need to sleep on my left side, with my left ear on the pillow. I suppose this may be why my left ear is completely clear while my right ear is fully blocked. Before it became completely blocked, it would only clog up when I was lying down and would clear again when I stood up. Now it stays blocked all the time, and it feels very uncomfortable.

I'm really frustrated with myself because I should have had it cleaned earlier. I knew it had been waxy for months, but since I suffer from hyperacusis, part of me was glad to have the wax as protection. But now that it is fully blocked, I regret waiting.

Strangely, after seeing the audiologist yesterday, it seems worse. Every time I eat or talk, I can now hear my jaw inside my ear. Could it be that the wax is pressing against my eardrum? I really hope not. If it has been oiled, is it safe to try gently scooping near the eardrum?

 

[Jupiterman]

I have just ordered the exact otoscope you linked to in that other thread. Is there any particular scoop that comes with it that you would recommend?

The short spoon scoop.

Unfortunately, I cannot sleep with my right ear (the blocked one) on the pillow, as I have spinal scoliosis and always need to sleep on my left side, with my left ear on the pillow.

That will make the earwax removal in your right ear more difficult. Gravity is a great thing that does half the work for you.

If it has been oiled, is it safe to try gently scooping near the eardrum?

Do not scoop anywhere near the eardrum. It is thinner than paper, and it sits about 2.5 centimeters from the entrance of the ear.

You do this at your own risk, and you must be extremely careful.

Only gently scrape out small pieces of earwax that have been softened with oil for at least two days. Focus only on the wax near the outer part of the ear. Do not get impatient or try to dig deep. Think of it like an archaeologist carefully brushing away dirt to uncover a delicate, ancient mosaic.

You must remind yourself to stop and avoid getting carried away. Hard, unoiled wax can feel painful if you try to dislodge it. If it feels too firm, stop and continue applying oil two or three times a day, then try again after another two days.

This process requires patience, a steady hand, and great care. You should not spend more than 10 minutes on any one session. It is better to stop, reapply the oil, and continue at your next attempt two days later.

 

[kingsfan]

I would go to an ENT. I trust a surgeon's hands more.

When I had an impaction removed with a curette, it definitely hurt. I think that is just part of the process. The skin inside the ear is very sensitive.