I'm no doctor, either. Having a boyfriend from the UK, who was diagnosed with a 1.7 cm AN last February, and all he has gone through since has compelled me to learn as much about it as I can, so that I can understand his situation and give him a lot of support from my end. So, this condition has made me more aware and curious about issues involving the ear, more than ever before.
I've never used a Q-tip to try and remove the ear wax. I know it's not good to use those for wax removal. I have occasionally used something caused Debrox, but only when I couldn't shake all the water out of my left ear after swimming or showering. Oddly, that ear is not the one that was completely blocked with the wax.
Over 20 years ago, I was diagnosed with TMJ and I'd had the tinnitus a while prior to that time. The TMJ specialist who diagnosed me said the ringing in my ears is caused by that. I'm 62 now, so I have put up with the tinnitus for at least half my life. Maybe longer, I don't remember when the tinnitus started.
Thanks for what you said about the pulse matter. I was surprised, though, to hear it was only 56. The last time it was that low was after major surgery in 1995. It went much lower than that, too, on some days after that surgery. I have controlled high blood pressure and my pulse is usually in the low-to-mid 70's to 80.