Wax on, wax off...which one are you?

[Gennysmom]

OK, so Lorenzo and I were having a somewhat interesting discussion about ear wax.  I no longer get wax in my AN ear.  He gets an overabundance.  I had translab and he had CK.  So just for curiosity sake, what kind of treatment did you have, do you have any hearing,  and what are your wax results?   And if you got a TransEar, did that change it yet again?  I'm assuming wax is produced when something in the ear is stimulated with sound, which makes me think Translabbers don't get any, but what about the others?

[1wareagle]

I had Translab surgery and I stil have ear wax. I clean out my ears about everyday and I always have some in the AN ear. I have a BAHA if that makes a difference...

Ellis

[Joef]

I had a trans-lab .. and for a few months had more wax in the AN ear .. but now 2+ years later.. its more or less the same amount of wax in both ..

[nancyann]

I had retrosigmoid - I don't think there's a difference in ear wax, but I feel like I can go in deeper on the AN side.

[Brendalu]

No wax in my AN ear.....................translab.  Never thought about it before though, plenty in my hearing ear

Brenda

[Static]

Suboccipital, no wax in AN ear, never was a waxy person anyway!  Boy that Qtip feels good going in that AN side tho, it seems like it gets itchy and nothing feels better than a good Qtip massage. 

[Gennysmom]

Aha!  Finally some no waxers...was beginning to think it's just me!  Yes, a properly spun Q-tip really does the trick to scratch!  No worries folks, no deep dipping here, just on the outside part!  I use them every day and am very careful! 

[lori67]

Wax free here to.  And I agree about the carefully placed q-tip scratcher.

I did find out at my very first ENT appointment that they cringe when you tell them you use q-tips in your ears.  I'm guessing ENT's have very waxy and dirty ears.  Geez, you can't do much else with a q-tip!

Lori

[Lorenzo]

the thing with q-tips is, not only can one damage something by going in too far accident, but they can also leave all sorts of debris in the ears, like fluff and tiny cotton fragments, I think. Anyway, that's what I was told. Use them carefully. I do. What else can one use??

Ciao, Lorenzo   

[Static]

Well, what do they then suggest you do to clean the inside of your ears?  Schedule monthly visits for ear cleaning?  Didn't their mothers teach them properly to swirl the qtip around between two fingers first so that there is no loose cotton before you insert it ever so gently into your ear never putting it in too far or you can poke a hole in your brain?      


When I read this later I realized that it sound it like it was directed at someone in particular.  Lorenzo, hon, this wasn't directed at you my dear, I just get frustrated at Dr's statements like that because, yes, they do have a point, but how stupid do they think people are?   Sometimes I get a little crackers and don't think before I type.  Sorry 'bout that.  I use them mostly to get the water from a shower out of my ears though.  Can't stand for no wet ears, except for when the dogs lick 'em 

[Cheryl R]

I have had mid fossa done and then last year the trans lab with no loss of ear wax.  I then had the CSF leak surgery and the ear drum was removed and replaced by muscle.   I was told I would continue to have ear wax which I do but not as much as before or as in the other ear.
I think the deal with the q-tips is how some people use them and push the wax in deeper and harder up against the ear drum.       I use them too but try to just in the outer area.  
                                             Cheryl R

[Cheryl R]

I have read that the ear wax will just come out on it's own which I dispute. We occ have to put special stuff in old peoples ears at work to soften it and then try to flush it out.   
A good question.        I wonder what we would find if we Google ear wax.     The answer might be somewhere on the internet.   Everything else is!      LOL!
                                          Cheryl R

[Joef]

Yep.. .I asked Dr. Brackmann more than once about this issue ... he told me to NOT to clean it out with anything! .. it will come out on its own ....

ps.. I still clean it out (q-tip) .. just not as much now.... (once a week)

[Gennysmom]

More than anything I'm getting the droplets of water out from the shower.  I hate feeling like I have even a drop of water in my ear!!!  Getting the wax out is just an extra. 

I did google ear wax yesterday.  I didn't have much time to peruse, but the production of wax doesn't have much to do with sound or anything.  but trauma to the ear can make more ear wax produced, so I'm guessing it's in the nerves somehow.   I'll let you know if I find anything more. 

[Marie in CA]

Funny, I was just noticing a decrease in wax on the AN side.  Not a complete loss of but a definite decrease.

I had CK 2 weeks ago.