[hairywalt]

Under $100

- an ear bulb syringe

I get blocked ears due to wax and it's really negatively impactful to conversation etc. Plus they would block when flying/swimming which ruined a few holidays. I used to go to my local (UK) GP which was very inconvenient due to appointment timings etc.

Then somebody recommended buying a bulb syringe for self-treatment. Mine cost about £4 and has been totally game changing.

I can sort myself out whenever and wherever I want. If you suffer the same, get yourself one immediately!

[Retr0id]

This is adjacent to what I was going to comment, which is a camera for looking inside my own ears. My ears frequently got blocked and/or itchy, and I was almost addicted to sticking qtips in to try to relieve things. There are good reasons they say not to do that! I always felt like there was wax I wasn't quite able to reach, and in trying to do so I only made things worse, often causing inflammation.

The camera cost about £10 and came with a few plastic "scraper" tools (feel kinda gross to say it, heh). It allowed me to remove the wax, and importantly, visually confirm the results. Thinking about it now, it's been over a year since I last had to use it, so I think my ears might've reached a new "equilibrium" point (they are supposed to be self-cleaning, after all).

There is, presumably, a risk of damaging your ears any time you stick something in there, so I was just very careful to not do that.

[oulipo]

Just try the water pistol, it's life changing https://www.amazon.com/BOCOOLIFE-Electric-Earwax-Removal-Irr...

[Scoundreller]

In my area, they’re all labelled as “nasal syringes” because you’re not supposed to irrigate your ears randomly.

The words of my pharmacist: “I don’t recommend you use this for your ears. I do it myself, but officially I don’t recommend it”

Kinda how Q-Tips boxes mention all kinds of uses except jamming them into your ears for hygiene and pleasure.

[hairywalt]

Here's a UK study that concludes:

"Advising patients with ears blocked by wax to try bulb syringing before irrigation is effective and acceptable, and could significantly reduce the use of NHS resources."

So I feel they are a safe method of self treatment.

[hairywalt]

Forgot to add the link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2148238/

[jnwatson]

I struggled for a long time with ear wax problems before I found the solution.

I was a <$10 plastic ear curette from Ototek. I just use it after I shower and everything is great.

[oulipo]

Try this: https://www.amazon.com/BOCOOLIFE-Electric-Earwax-Removal-Irr...

[askvictor]

A related trick is to put a few drops of (olive, or other cooking) oil in your ear canal. Let it sit for 5 minutes. Repeat on the other side, and do this for 3 days in a row. This softens up the hard wax in there. Then flush out with a syringe if you want. Obviously don't do either if you have a perforated ear drum.

[hairywalt]

Yep, a few days of olive oil is generally recommended by GPs... I used to do this but now I self treat I don't really bother. But I guess it I'd have even more success if I did.

[jnwatson]

Ear wax can vary a lot from hard to sticky depending on your genetic makeup.

For the folks with extra sticky wax, softeners don't help.

[stavros]

Over here we have these peroxide things you can get at the pharmacy. You pour three drops in your ear, it foams up and all the wax goes away. Do you not have those?

[randcraw]

Can't you do the same thing by pouring half a capful of H2O2 into your ear while lying on your side? After it stops fizzing (about 10 minutes) you sit up and catch the effluent with a tissue. And no need to add oil or carefully shoot a stream of water at your eardrum.

[hairywalt]

Those never did much for me I'm afraid

[m4tthumphrey]

Hey, I have just started to develop this problem and have been putting off going to the clinic. Can you link to the one you have please?

[crazcarl]

Check out the ones that have a spray bottle attached rather than just a bulb as it allows for way more water before needing to refill. I think it was popularized under the name "Elephant Ear Wax Removal Kit" but there are knockoffs now as well that are the same thing.

[hairywalt]

Mine is very similar to this one: https://www.simplymedsonline.co.uk/cold-and-flu/portia-ear-s...

Unlike a trip to the doctor, when two to three flushes sorts it out, at home it is a case of maybe 10-20 repetitions depending how bad. But each one is really quick and I find there is no pain as the pressure is very low, unlike the doctor which did quite often hurt.

[dgunay]

If self-treatment doesn't work out for you (I've suffered a few particularly stubborn cases over the years), I highly recommend going to an urgent care clinic. They have always been able to clear my ears out in less than 20 minutes, and it's very cheap with insurance.