Getting the wax plunged out of your ears by the doc...

So I know I've mangled my ears over the years and that ear wax buildup is a bodily defense mechanism to avoid damage. I also know that I must have a crazy amount of build up (due to the fact I occasionally yank out some pretty epic orange ear boogers out of my sideholes and particularly because my left ear seems to seal up for a while after I take a shower... it's pretty annoying actually).
 
Ear candling is of course debunked as ineffective (and kind of crazy dangerous AAAAGH EAR FIRE!!!) and plunging is kind of considered a drastic move in many circles but I would very much like to get the proverbial potatoes out of my ears so I can recalibrate them for my hopefully long(ish) life of mixing now that I kind of sort of know how I like things to sound.
 
Anyone had this done and/or have any thoughts on the subject? I also want to see if I can get sent to an audiologist (there is one in town) to check for any dead freqs in my hearing spectrum that I can account or as I muck about with my nerdlinging.
 
And now for a classic (ultra old school edition) Beepster CSB.
 
When I was maybe 8 or so I went to the docs with my dad and was in the room when he got an ear plunging. The things that came out were about half the length of a cigarette. Freaky deaky man.
 
I kind of figure it would feel like taking a big healthy poop out of your earballs.
 
And I think I need that.
 
Discuss.

I've always been weary of getting my ears syringed by the doctor. Too much pressure and they can rupture your eardrum. So what I've found instead is a special syringe which has a nozzle on the end that squirts the water out in 3 angled jets, so it still flushes your ears out but doesn't spray directly on your eardrum. I forget the brand of it but you can probably find it with a Google search. 
 
But that's the easiest part of getting rid of an earwax plug. First of all you have to soften it. A syringe on its own is not going to do much good. There are many earwax softeners available in the drugstore, but honestly, I don't think any of them are better than good old olive oil. That's how I got rid of my last plug. 
 
I'd been cleaning the outside of my ear with a Q-tip and in a moment of madness decided to shove it in at an angle because I had this idea that there was a plug of wax in there that I might be able to dislodge. Big mistake - I ended up compressing it up against my eardrum and went totally deaf in that ear. It took me 2 or 3 days of softening with olive oil before a good squirt with the 3-jet syringe got it out. The best way to do it is to tip your head, pour a few drops of oil in the ear, then plug it up with cotton wool and leave it 10-20 minutes. Or in the absence of cotton wool, just lie on your side to make sure it doesn't drip out. 
 
There are some circumstances in which a plug will come out without softening however. Many years ago I was swimming in the local pool and felt something in my ear. An enormous dark brown/red plug had come loose, and I think it might have had something to do with the forces of the churning water around my ears as I swam freestyle. 

sharke
 
I'd been cleaning the outside of my ear with a Q-tip and in a moment of madness decided to shove it in at an angle because I had this idea that there was a plug of wax in there that I might be able to dislodge. Big mistake - I ended up compressing it up against my eardrum and went totally deaf in that ear. It took me 2 or 3 days of softening with olive oil before a good squirt with the 3-jet syringe got it out.

I've always since remembered a bit of advice the doc once said "never stick anything in your ear smaller than your elbow' I had the old Q-tip compaction a couple of times.

Pardon?

bapu
 
Plugs Eventually Negate Intensive Sonics.

Bapu Answers Latest Lame Subject.

jamesg1213
Paulo Enters..No-one Is Safe.

What's a Penois?

Swift editing, by the way.

jamesg1213

paulo

jamesg1213
Paulo Enters..No-one Is Safe.

What's a Penois?

 
What's a WAP?

A COC violation.

jamesg1213

paulo

jamesg1213

paulo

jamesg1213
Paulo Enters..No-one Is Safe.

What's a Penois?

 
What's a WAP?

A COC violation.

I don't want one of those, at my age.

I wouldn't want one at any age.

You'm ent rong, moi babber.

Guys,
 
Humble pharmacist perspective on this.
 
As we age or due to over production of the bitter wax, clots happen, things get blocked. Ear wax a natural secretion. Antibiotic. Anti moisture. Tries to protect the ear canal from ear to the ear drum from fungus and bacteria. Good stuff.
 
Q-Tips not a good idea. Can impact deeper. Go with the elbow in the ear advice.
 
Melt the clot with one of the standard or not so standard methods. The carbomide peroxide over the counter stuff is marginally effective.
 
Have to lie down on your side with the impacted ear up for 10 minutes or so. Dump in the chemical and let it soak the clot
 
Can use hydrogen peroxide drops (not my favorite but some claim success)
 
Docusate stool softener works. Break open a few of the nice red jewels and drip the liquid into the plugged ear. Let is soak and marinate for a couple hours or more.
 
Then have to flush it out. Recommend hot water in an ear syringe. Messy operation. Stretch the ear to straighten the biological kink in the canal. Head over the sink with the affected ear down. Fire away with pressurized hot water until the ugly plug is dislodged. Lay down for awhile on your side to let the ear drain the water.
 
My opinion only, the wax candles are useless.
 
John

Check out Mythbusters 'Ear Wax Candle' episode.

I've had my ears suctioned out. You don't want to know...