Ear Wax - deafness

I also have very narrow ear canals which I had syringed since I was a teenager with no ill effects. Now our surgery recommends Otex even though I'm sure the nurse years ago actually warned me not to use it. The doctor wrote me a prescription for it last week. Now my ears are so blocked and sore it is making me feel ill.
My throat is hurting as well which I was told last time is caused by the blockage in my ears.

I have just returned from the doctors. I spoke to the practise nurse about having my ears syringed........her advice was use olive oil in each ear for 1 week and return to have them syringed. She does NOT recommend OTEX.

My ears regularly get blocked with wax which has to be syringed out. I have never found anything that works apart from this. Some NHSWalk In Centres will syringe your ears. You have to soften it with olive oil drops for about a week or so beforehand. I don't know why some GP surgeries have stopped doing this. The feeling of having your ears blocked is unbearable.

Are posters saying that GP Surgery won't syringe ears at all?

I went deaf in one ear whilst having a shower. For two weeks I put ordinary olive oil into the ear. Put the oil onto a hot spoon and let it sit, the spoon will cool and the oil will be body heat. There was no point in going to the doctor first as he'd say I'd need it softened.

After two weeks I went to the doctor who sent me round to the treatment nurse who removed it

Earol is the stuff to use. It is olive oil in a form that you can spray into your ear. My OH was a GP and still has his kit, so he does my ears after a few days of Earol.

Whitewave - I guess your OH's problem will become more common if GP practices do not syringe any more. Where are you meant to go to get this done I wonder?

My DH had to practically get down in his knees to get our doctor to syringe his ears, as he was struggling to hear any normal levels of conversation. He used to get them done every six months or so, but they don't offer the service now. I agree that Otex is not very effective, and it's all very well putting oil in your ears to soften the wax, but getting it to come out is often a different matter. I like the look of your little device, hilda. Where did you get it?

Our surgery won't syringe ears now either. I have narrow ear canals which don't drain very well. I've been having my ears syringed, without any problems, since I was thirteen years old. I did some research and found this, and did them myself. It's very effective. One thing I will say, don't use Otex or anything similar, it just makes the wax sticky. Soften it for a few days with plain old olive oil.

Well funnily enough a week ago DH was told to go to A&E as he had totally lost his balance and was being sick. A&E because he has heart problems and as a result they checked for heart and stroke. Nothing found, so he was referred to ENT as Menierres was one of the suspects and worse case scenario a brain tumour!!
He was seen within 2 days. The doctor then advised us that wax had got so far into his ear that it was affecting his inner ear and its ability to work properly. A very deep and extremely painful clear out was carried out. It worked!!!!

So advise is to get your ears syringed before it gets to that stage.

P.S. Ear syringing does not seem to be on offer at our surgery now, so I guess we will have to make a case if necessary.

I'll be watching this thread as H has the same problem.
I told the pharmasist he had been using Otex to no avail and could he recommend any thing. He said if that's not working see your GP H has a horrible chesty cough too so has made an appointment

I recently overheard a conversation at the doctors. A lady had come in to make an appointment with the nurse for both ears waxing as the local pharmacy had been unable to do her a hearing test. She was told by the receptionist that she had to use oil for fourteen days first to see if that worked before an appointment could be made. Not sure what type of oil, years ago it used to be olive oil from the chemist.