Explanation for Excessive Earwax?
June 18, 2010 3:30 PM Subscribe
Excessive earwax in one ear, following mysterious pain days previous.
You are not my doctor. All disclaimers apply, etc.
I just stuck my finger in my right ear (as you do) and it came out with a thick, goopy, dark blob of earwax stuck to it. Much darker and goopier (for lack of a better word) than usual. Upon further investigation, there was actually a significant amount of it, perhaps three end-of-the-index-fingers, to use a familiar unit of measurement, which is also significantly more than usual. It actually looked like it might have been made that dark by blood, but I'm pretty certain I ruled that out.
While engaged in this, I remembered that as I'd been trying to sleep a few days ago, I'd felt an odd pain just under my right ear when I tried to sleep on it or otherwise apply broad pressure to my general ear-area. I couldn't tell where the pain is coming from, but my immediate feeling was that it was ear-related.
So I'm assuming these two events are related. Some kind of trauma, leading to an excess of earwax produced. I don't remember any related event that could have caused the pain in my ear, and I can think of no reason for such a sudden, excessive expulsion of wax. I don't usually have earwax issues; I regularly clean the outside of my ear, and avoid pushing wax in, as recommended widely; I haven't been subject to any kind of excessively loud noise recently.
Googling has proved unhelpful, and unless anyone offers a sufficiently pervasive and pedestrian cause, I'll be making a "just in case" call to my doctor tomorrow, and monitoring any further build up tonight. Just curious about possible explanations in the mean time.
You are not my doctor. All disclaimers apply, etc.
I just stuck my finger in my right ear (as you do) and it came out with a thick, goopy, dark blob of earwax stuck to it. Much darker and goopier (for lack of a better word) than usual. Upon further investigation, there was actually a significant amount of it, perhaps three end-of-the-index-fingers, to use a familiar unit of measurement, which is also significantly more than usual. It actually looked like it might have been made that dark by blood, but I'm pretty certain I ruled that out.
While engaged in this, I remembered that as I'd been trying to sleep a few days ago, I'd felt an odd pain just under my right ear when I tried to sleep on it or otherwise apply broad pressure to my general ear-area. I couldn't tell where the pain is coming from, but my immediate feeling was that it was ear-related.
So I'm assuming these two events are related. Some kind of trauma, leading to an excess of earwax produced. I don't remember any related event that could have caused the pain in my ear, and I can think of no reason for such a sudden, excessive expulsion of wax. I don't usually have earwax issues; I regularly clean the outside of my ear, and avoid pushing wax in, as recommended widely; I haven't been subject to any kind of excessively loud noise recently.
Googling has proved unhelpful, and unless anyone offers a sufficiently pervasive and pedestrian cause, I'll be making a "just in case" call to my doctor tomorrow, and monitoring any further build up tonight. Just curious about possible explanations in the mean time.
To state the obvious, your ears are connected to your sinuses.
For me, excessive amounts of goopy wax are often related to allergies, colds, or other symptoms of inflamed, irritated sinuses. If it's one ear and not both, it's a sign of a possible or impending infection. Sometimes this can come with pain too.
*shrug* maybe not what's going on with you, but it also might be. I thought I'd share the anecdote to see if it resonates.
Good luck with it.
posted by nadise at 6:45 PM on June 18, 2010
For me, excessive amounts of goopy wax are often related to allergies, colds, or other symptoms of inflamed, irritated sinuses. If it's one ear and not both, it's a sign of a possible or impending infection. Sometimes this can come with pain too.
*shrug* maybe not what's going on with you, but it also might be. I thought I'd share the anecdote to see if it resonates.
Good luck with it.
posted by nadise at 6:45 PM on June 18, 2010
i did this one night, although i immediately felt something block my ear drum. after a few days it hurt and i still couldn't hear out of that ear, so i ended up going to the dr - you can also go to a minute clinic - to get your ears irrigated. let me tell you, the ear can hold A LOT of ear wax.
posted by mlo at 7:56 PM on June 18, 2010
posted by mlo at 7:56 PM on June 18, 2010
really long phone conversation on that side? I always phone with my left ear, and damn does that sucker fill up quick. I'm also a left-side sleeper, for the most part.
I use auro wax softener and then irrigate my own ears with a bulb syringe and warm water. helps a lot, especially during allergy/cold seasons.
it's hard to do on your own without having had it done to you, though, so you know when the stream of water is hitting right. you'll see ;-)
posted by toodleydoodley at 9:45 PM on June 18, 2010
I use auro wax softener and then irrigate my own ears with a bulb syringe and warm water. helps a lot, especially during allergy/cold seasons.
it's hard to do on your own without having had it done to you, though, so you know when the stream of water is hitting right. you'll see ;-)
posted by toodleydoodley at 9:45 PM on June 18, 2010
Go to your local drugstore and buy some carbamide peroxide drops (auro, debrox, etc.) to soften the wax. If that doesn't work, get it done by a professional.
posted by PueExMachina at 12:06 AM on June 19, 2010
posted by PueExMachina at 12:06 AM on June 19, 2010
If some wax has hardened inside your ear, it could cause pain when slept on.
posted by beerbajay at 12:56 AM on June 19, 2010
posted by beerbajay at 12:56 AM on June 19, 2010
Your local pharmacist will tell you what's locally available for dealing with excessive earwax. Whatever it is will be an oily emulsion to soften the wax, combined with some kind of mild antiseptic to kill things that grow in it, and it will work.
posted by flabdablet at 2:37 AM on June 19, 2010
posted by flabdablet at 2:37 AM on June 19, 2010
I was having my ears cleaned once, and an RN told me that if I add a single drop of Olive Oil to each ear, once a week, I will never, ever have earwax problems again.
It sounded neat, even though I haven't tried it.
posted by Thistledown at 7:36 AM on June 19, 2010
It sounded neat, even though I haven't tried it.
posted by Thistledown at 7:36 AM on June 19, 2010
Seconding having it irrigated at the doctor. Sometimes the wax itself can cause pain (by putting pressure on the inside of the ear). Besides, having 'em flushed out is kind of fun.
Only time I have ever heard a doctor go "eww"!
posted by vorfeed at 11:44 PM on June 19, 2010 [3 favorites]
Only time I have ever heard a doctor go "eww"!
posted by vorfeed at 11:44 PM on June 19, 2010 [3 favorites]
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posted by frwagon at 3:55 PM on June 18, 2010