Yesterday I felt like my left ear was a bit waxy so I thought I'd clean the outside of it with a Q-Tip. Yes I know you're not supposed to put them in your lug but I figured if I just kept it around the entrance area I'd be OK. Problem was I accidentally went in a little too far (seriously, just a tiny tiny little bit) and immediately I felt this big plug of wax descend inwards and pack itself up against my eardrum as if I was loading a cannon. Instant deafness. Well all the high frequencies have gone anyway, and my ear has that horrible full feeling. Must have been a huge plug. I've never had a problem with ear wax before so it surprised me. Anyway day 2 and still no better, I figure I'm going to try softening it with olive oil for a few days to see if it shifts. But man what a pain to be suddenly deaf in one ear. I can imagine you get used to it but right now I feel kind of disoriented, unbalanced and trapped inside my own head. So there you have it kids - never put anything bigger than your elbow into your ear. It really is good advice 

You forgot to lean over to the side and put your ear above a cigarette lighter first.  That melts the wax so it's easy to get out. 
 
HTH.
 
(Just so you know, a Q-Tip is actually smaller than your elbow.)

What great advice! Or maybe I could use a hairdryer....

The professionals use some type of irrigation or an aural curette or suction under direct visualization. The principle of the Q-tip is pretty much the same as the ramrod used to push wadding and ball into a musket. So long as the cerumen is just coating the surface of the canal it may have some utility, but if a significant portion of the lumen is obstructed there is no way for the cotton ball to get behind the wax. Instead the wax is pushed ahead of the Q-tip until it obstructs the canal completely, as you have observed. Chemical treatment, olive oil for example, may soften the wax, but anything capable of  actually dissolving old cerumen is likely to be significantly damaging to the sensitive tympanic membrane. There are a few approved ceruminolytic agents, but they are of doubtful value. Carbamide peroxide is available OTC and purportedly works by foaming under the wax to loosen it, but again, it is likely to just foam on the external surface of the obstruction. In a serious case, professional (and typically expensive) assistance may be required.

or you could just use another Q-tip to push in a wick and light it..

I create so much ear wax that I am seriously thinking of marketing it, as soon as I can find a use for it...

synkrotron
as soon as I can find a use for it...

Pre-moulded ear plugs...

Karyn
Pre-moulded ear plugs...

Nah... I don't think I'd be wanting to put that stuff back into my ears, having put so much effort into getting it out...
 
It could probably be used for securing your favourite photographs into an album, except I don't think anyone uses those any more...
 
Or perhaps as a decorators filler. No need to rub down, nice and flexible, for a while, and then paint over.
 
Anyone interested?

I have used a bulb syringe and some warm water to help get these out.If the wax has hardened a bit, you can get some stuff in the drug store that will actually help soften it, allowing the bulb syringe to work its magic. It may take several tries with the bulb to get the stuff to come out.
 
From years of listening to a siren, my left ear would build up wax as a type of protection against the high frequencies. Still does it, but not a s bad now that I have been off the street for a few years.
 
Hope that helps!

I can't hear you.
 
 
I have Q-Tips in my ears.