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OT: Decade[s] of Tinnitus and Ear Wax


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I was tempted to title this:

" whats better, ear wax or tinnitus ?"

 

But some don't care for parrot-y stuff.

 

Anyway, I believed I had tinnitus for +10 yrs.

 

I also became completely deaf in the right ear, esp over the past 2 months.

 

So I was convinced it was hearing aid time. Common stuff for some folks

mid to late '60's.

 

Anyway, after bouncing around different departments for 2 months with my health care,

it was finally determined I had ear wax build up.

 

After major bitching, I finally got an appointment for an ear wash- this morning.

 

With strenuous effort involving nuclear weaponry, the ear wax was irrigated/melted/removed.

 

Lo and Behold, my right ear hearing returned , about 75% of normal.

 

And my tinnitus seems slight, nowhere near as severe as before.

 

Hopefully, some can also benefit from the crooked road I was on for a decade.

Why fit in, when you were born to stand out ?

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Definitely worth checking out.

 

I wasn't so lucky, I was hoping the loss of some high end from my left ear was ear wax. Nope :) On the good side, the doc said it wasn't bad for my age (50) so I didn't fret about it.

I do regret many, many band practices that were godawful loud. I still gig due to IEMs but I'm not willing to sit in a room with a caveman drummer and the rest of us turned up to be heard over him anymore.

 

I do have to remember it when I do any mixing as I tend to boost anything on the left too much in high end if not careful (I mostly have to use headphones).

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I do have to remember it when I do any mixing as I tend to boost anything on the left too much in high end if not careful (I mostly have to use headphones).

 

I had my audiologist run a test with my hearing aids in and print out the curve for me. It's been very helpful for mixing.

 

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I suffered from tinnitus every day. Thought it was due to loud music. When I retired I noticed that my allergies got much better and I was taking a fraction of the allergy medicine. Getting away from perfumes and those awful scent diffusers in the office really helped. Then I noticed that my tinnitus also improved. I would say 80 percent improvement. I'm guessing mine is allergy based and nothing or very little to do with years of loud music.

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I've visited a clinic on two separate occasions to get ear wax buildup removed.

 

I discovered the first instance after experiencing some hearing loss after spending a night at a relative's who didn't have air conditioning. It seemed the crap literally melted and shifted to a point that when I woke up I couldn't hear out of one ear.

 

The second time, I visited a clinic inside a pharmacy. The physician's assistant had dealt with many ear wax cases and had some helpful insight she passed along to each of her patients. She gave me a syringe with a super-small, narrow (pencil lead sized?) 2" tubing connected to it to help rinse out my ears. The kicker? Be sure to do it after you got a haircut! The bits of hair that end up in your ear can accelerate the wax buildup. She said she'd been prescribing it for years, and had never had a patient return after providing them with the same style syringe setup.

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Definitely worth checking out.

 

I wasn't so lucky, I was hoping the loss of some high end from my left ear was ear wax. Nope :) On the good side, the doc said it wasn't bad for my age (50) so I didn't fret about it.

I do regret many, many band practices that were godawful loud. I still gig due to IEMs but I'm not willing to sit in a room with a caveman drummer and the rest of us turned up to be heard over him anymore.

 

I do have to remember it when I do any mixing as I tend to boost anything on the left too much in high end if not careful (I mostly have to use headphones).

 

My tinnitus is definitely from screeching rock band volume- esp distorted guitar on 11 thru a PA

 

You are wise to preserve what you have. I have been on a health push to solve all minor conditions- in order to have a quality life into my 80's.

 

Mixing is a big job for me. I have been struggling with it lately, and hopefully I will enjoy the process with improved hearing.

 

Why fit in, when you were born to stand out ?

My Soundcloud with many originals:

[70's Songwriter]

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I've visited a clinic on two separate occasions to get ear wax buildup removed.

 

I discovered the first instance after experiencing some hearing loss after spending a night at a relative's who didn't have air conditioning. It seemed the crap literally melted and shifted to a point that when I woke up I couldn't hear out of one ear.

 

The second time, I visited a clinic inside a pharmacy. The physician's assistant had dealt with many ear wax cases and had some helpful insight she passed along to each of her patients. She gave me a syringe with a super-small, narrow (pencil lead sized?) 2" tubing connected to it to help rinse out my ears. The kicker? Be sure to do it after you got a haircut! The bits of hair that end up in your ear can accelerate the wax buildup. She said she'd been prescribing it for years, and had never had a patient return after providing them with the same style syringe setup.

 

similar experience. For 3 days, I used a product called Dabrox- which loosens the waxy buildup- it actually expands the gunk to make to it pliable.

It made a dent but didn't solve my problem

 

But when I had the ear wash treatment today, the nurse hit it with the heat gun and aggressive irrigation. It was amazing to finally hear out of my 1 ear.

I gradually lost hearing over years and blamed tinnitus. Or that was the diagnosis.

 

In hindsight, I recommend ear wash for anyone with a similar hearing problem- ear wash is a simple procedure. In any case, you can't even take a formal hearing test when the ear

is blocked.

Why fit in, when you were born to stand out ?

My Soundcloud with many originals:

[70's Songwriter]

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There's no cure for tinnitus. Of course many things can aggravate it.

 Find 660 of my jazz piano arrangements of standards for educational purposes and tutorials at www.Patreon.com/HarryLikas Harry was the Technical Editor of Mark Levine's "The Jazz Theory Book" and helped develop "The Jazz Piano Book."

 

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There's no cure for tinnitus. Of course many things can aggravate it.

 

unfortunately , this is true. Modern medicine has not solved this condition.

 

In my case I had both- the blockage which aggravated the tinnitus or compounded it

Why fit in, when you were born to stand out ?

My Soundcloud with many originals:

[70's Songwriter]

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I used a product called Dabrox- which loosens the waxy buildup- it actually expands the gunk to make to it pliable.

It made a dent but didn't solve my problem

Debrox, right?

"I'm so crazy, I don't know this is impossible! Hoo hoo!" - Daffy Duck

 

"The good news is that once you start piano you never have to worry about getting laid again. More time to practice!" - MOI

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Can ear wax guard against ear damage from loud music?

 

 

there you are, making a negative into a positive ;)

 

I could answer " yes'. but accumulated wax will prevent or mute all sounds.

 

Including wives and squawky children, for example.

Which can be another positive.

 

So ear wax does not have a volume control, at least not yet

 

FWIW, if a person [ like my example] accumulates the wax, it can't be DIY removed.

Wax builds up layers and gets hard deep into the ear. Q tips no bueno.- jams the wax further

to the brain ;)

Why fit in, when you were born to stand out ?

My Soundcloud with many originals:

[70's Songwriter]

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I think it was 25 years ago that I had an ENT remove ear wax from me. I remember that it was a pretty weird sensation.

 

A year ago, I had a check up (after years of skipping) and was told there was a lot of ear wax once more. I purchased some commercial product to try to deal with it myself, but never used the product because it seemed like kind of a hassle. Now my plan is just to ask the doctor to take care of it during the next checkup.

 

Anyone have any luck with the over-the-counter products for removing ear wax at home? In other words, did the product get the results comparable to the results from a doctor doing the cleaning? And am I right that the process is sort of a hassle? I remember when I looked at the directions I had the sense that it would be easy to do incorrectly. But if the products work well, maybe I'll give it a shot.

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Debrox (OTC) worked well for me. Lay on your side, put a few drops of the medicine in your ear. In a couple minutes you feel bubbles (kind of a ticklish sensation) as the wax is broken down and dissolved. In about 5 minutes the bubbling subsides. Go to the sink and with the supplied rubber bulb quirt warm water up into your ear to let the dislodged wax drain out. Works good.
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Can ear wax guard against ear damage from loud music?

 

 

there you are, making a negative into a positive ;)

 

Yaaaa I apologize for doing that, I will stick to my regularly scheduled program of pessimism and hopeless foolhardiness. Actually it is procrastination that actuated my question.. I am a lazy puter offer. A cheap sob too.

You don't have ideas, ideas have you

We see the world, not as it is, but as we are. "One mans food is another mans poison". I defend your right to speak hate. Tolerance to a point, not agreement

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My left ear, which was my phone, bluetooth, and cymbal-side ear, was the one that got the wax buildup as a natural defence. My doctor advised a few drops of olive oil, which softens the existing wax allows it to drain out on its own like nature intends. If it's beyond that though, syringe irrigation, but olive oil has kept me from unnecessary intervention.

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Can ear wax guard against ear damage from loud music?

 

 

there you are, making a negative into a positive ;)

 

Yaaaa I apologize for doing that, I will stick to my regularly scheduled program of pessimism and hopeless foolhardiness. Actually it is procrastination that actuated my question.. I am a lazy puter offer. A cheap sob too.

 

All your posts are welcome in my goofy topics.

 

I am aces with sarcasm, though :)

 

Why fit in, when you were born to stand out ?

My Soundcloud with many originals:

[70's Songwriter]

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I think it was 25 years ago that I had an ENT remove ear wax from me. I remember that it was a pretty weird sensation.

 

 

Anyone have any luck with the over-the-counter products for removing ear wax at home? In other words, did the product get the results comparable to the results from a doctor doing the cleaning? And am I right that the process is sort of a hassle? I remember when I looked at the directions I had the sense that it would be easy to do incorrectly. But if the products work well, maybe I'll give it a shot.

 

I doubt there is a magic product that ' does it all '.

No magic, pills. No magic app.

 

The wax travels deep into the ear canal and has to be extricated.

 

The wax removal process can be a hassle if ignored , or undiagnosed, as mine was.

 

After 3 days of Debrox, See your doc for the irrigation, melting, extraction, etc. Thats a 20-30 minute procedure.

 

Well worth getting it done properly.

 

Why fit in, when you were born to stand out ?

My Soundcloud with many originals:

[70's Songwriter]

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Does an ENT (or even a regular doc) know what to look for in your ear? What I mean is, I have tinnitus and I saw my ENT about that, he did hearing tests, we tried some drugs, but the symptoms didn't subside. I don't remember how much he visually inspected my ear canals. If it's worth having him check and clean them, I'll do it, but if we think he has looked, I won't bother.

"I'm so crazy, I don't know this is impossible! Hoo hoo!" - Daffy Duck

 

"The good news is that once you start piano you never have to worry about getting laid again. More time to practice!" - MOI

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I have heard, tincture of lamb urine, judiciously put in your morning cereal can be a wonderful aid. Not too much, just a little bit.

You don't have ideas, ideas have you

We see the world, not as it is, but as we are. "One mans food is another mans poison". I defend your right to speak hate. Tolerance to a point, not agreement

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I have heard, tincture of lamb urine, judiciously put in your morning cereal can be a wonderful aid. Not too much, just a little bit.

 

Thats good knowledge

 

As long as no lambs were harmed, and the urine was holistically captured, it sounds like a good idea ;)

Why fit in, when you were born to stand out ?

My Soundcloud with many originals:

[70's Songwriter]

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My Tinnitus started to decline when I stopped playing in loud bands. I went solo some years ago and learned how to play SOFT. Only loud enough for me to hear in my music room. I could hear the radio and my telephone ring in the other room. THEN I knew I was practicing soft enough. I retired from active playing 9 years ago and my tinnitus gradually went away. I ALWAYS carry hearing protection and insert them in my ears at the first sign of any loud noise. Like sirens from police and fire engines. In addition, I cup my hands over my ears after I insert my ear plugs until the fire engine goes by. No more loud rock bands in clubs for me. I need to be able to hear to carry on with whatever time is left on this planet.

 

Mike T.

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Hearing impaired 60% loss both ears due to birth defect but it never stopped me from being a musician.

 

I am very conscious of my hearing impairment and have refused to play in a band with a loud guitar player. Always had periodic hearing examinations and never had any degradation.

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For the last at least 20 years I go every 6 months to the same ENT and have him extract the wax with his special instrument.. Every time I've tried to have my primary care Doc do it with flushing or debrox, it's made matters worse.

 

All the regular Docs don't have the skill to use that sharp instrument and get near the drum, so they don't want to mess with it. Thus they try the flush route. Only a skilled ENT is qualified in my experience with my chronic wax buildup, which I've had my entire life.

 

.

 

I agree with having a specialist. Even so, 2 nurses did their nuking under my docs supervision. it was 10 steps or more. I looked at the result each time, as if they were ploughing weeds.

 

my wife [ who could be a nurse ] ordered an ear wax extraction pump/syringe from Amazon. she is going to monitor my ears going forward. she is like that, I am lucky in many ways

Why fit in, when you were born to stand out ?

My Soundcloud with many originals:

[70's Songwriter]

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Myt. I need to be able to hear to carry on with whatever time is left on this planet.

 

Mike T.

 

I think we are on the same page , brother. I am determined to preserve what I have for the next 20 years.

I am banging on my health care every which way.

Why fit in, when you were born to stand out ?

My Soundcloud with many originals:

[70's Songwriter]

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I posted early last year about my hearing problems due to my pterygoid muscle/TMJ - HERE.

 

Heres an article that also discusses the pterygoid and its relationship to hearing. The photos show what I have to endure to get my hearing back, albeit temporarily.

 

https://www.treatingtmj.com/tmd/ring-in-the-new-ear/

 

 

The fact there's a Highway To Hell and only a Stairway To Heaven says a lot about anticipated traffic numbers

 

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Hydrogen peroxide.

Syringe.

 

+ very warm water - as warm as you can stand.

 

how can anyone ' see inside your own ear' to determine if your ear passage is clear of wax ?

 

this is where a doctor and/or a nurse is needed

 

 

 

 

Why fit in, when you were born to stand out ?

My Soundcloud with many originals:

[70's Songwriter]

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Hydrogen peroxide.

Syringe.

 

+ very warm water - as warm as you can stand.

 

how can anyone ' see inside your own ear' to determine if your ear passage is clear of wax ?

 

this is where a doctor and/or a nurse is needed

 

 

 

 

Nah. See a doctor if your ear is impacted and sore. If your hearing has gotten worse and you suspect it may be clogged (or water starts getting stuck in your ear when showering or swimming), use the above treatment yourself first. It doesn't hurt anything, and if you use pretty warm water, completely fill your syringe/bulb for max rinsing pressure, and repeat several times, I'll bet you find some nice chunks of wax floating in your sink. If that doesn't help, indeed it's time to seek medical help.

 

Moe

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