AudioNervosa
Systemic Development => Bipolar System Disorders => Topic started by: richidoo on December 16, 2009, 03:43:14 PM
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I cleaned out my ears this morning. I normally do it couple times a year when I find myself in the bathtub. So I thought they were pretty clean. Didn't get much out the last few times. But this morning while showering they were a little itchy, so when I got out I stuck a Qtip in there and was surprised to see it come out pretty dirty. Aw shit, now I can't hear, all the highs are gone. It's blocked by wax that was moved around by the Qtip. No problem! I know what to do...
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21dZOnIDx-L._SL500_AA280_.jpg)
http://www.amazon.com/AMSINO-INTERNATIONAL-INC-BULB-SYRINGE/dp/B001B9SJX4
I filled up the sink with moderately hot soapy water, about 105F. Used a snot sucker to gently squirt it in there. After a couple shots to get the water in then I grab the ear lobe and wiggle it around, pulling and stretching the ear canal to the water can penetrate and loosen the stuff from the canal wall. Then I gently rinse it out with the syringe again. Repeat until I get the big stuff out, and then until no more comes. Usually I hear a big roar when it finally lifts out the mother lode. I think the hotter water in the sink does a better job than the warm water in the tub. I can't handle a 105+ hottub. I might have a different wife now if I could, but that's another story. After 2 minutes a big chunk of black wax comes out of each ear. Sorry no pictures this time. Try it yourself and post the results!
My mother in law said that when she was a young girl in 30s the doc would clean out their ears on every checkup visit. That doesn't happen anymore, so I wonder just how much shit is building up inside peoples' ears. Do the ear docs leave it in there so they can prescribe hearing aids? Is the pile of gunk hidden from view in normal otoscope exam, or do they just ignore it? I think if they can't fix something with a pill or knife then you're on your own.
Anyway, my hearing is so much improved after the cleaning. The stereo sounds so much richer, cleaner, more realistic, louder. My wife asked me half serious, "So now you can play the stereo softer?" hardihardihar :rofl:
Another easy way to do it is to lie down in the bathtub full of hot water with your head underwater, let the ears fill up. Use the snot sucker to gently blast out any air with a water stream. Then just let it soak and do the earlobe pulling and massage the outer ear to jiggle loose the crud. Keep hot water in the ear by frequent rinsing. Keep it soapy to cut the stickiness and lubricate the chunk from the skin. Blast it out with the syringe. Expect large black pills to come out, not just brown flakes, especially if you haven't done it in a couple years, or ever. Do it twice a year or anytime your ear canal itches. I think the hotter water of the sink works better.
I have never tried the drugstore ear cleaning kit. It uses special drops to loosen the wax before you rinse it out with the little blue bulb. The drops are glycerin, the same thing in plain soap, sometimes with foaming action to penetrate better. This way probably works well but you still have to rinse it out with a syringe anyway. The ear bulb syringe (snot sucker) holds a couple ounces of water.
It's gross, but true. Listening to music requires a physical body and it can be optimized for max listening performance. Try it! You'll be glad you did.
Anybody ever hear of ear candling? Back in the 80s you could buy ear candles from any god new age freak shop, but too many people caught their hair on fire, so no more ear candles. I bought some, but too afraid to try it with my wife as helper. It sends hot air down into the ear canal and sucks out the melted ear wax at the same time.
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"Snot Sucker" :rofl:
I have not taken a bath in 20 yeras! :oops:
OK, lets clarify that. Q tips every day.
D
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Rich,
Some folks are sensitive to the hot water treatment and it can cause an imbalance in the ear for many days. I'm not sure how one finds out without trying, but my Dad had a nasty time of it with water that was too hot. When I did a little research, I found that moderate temperatures are best.
Just thought I'd mention for some who might want to try this themselves.
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Am I using this correctly?
When I stuck it up my ass and squeezed the warm water shot out both my ears.
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Q-tips regularly, bulb syringe occasionally (yes warm not hot water recommended, repeat several times if needed). Tried the drug store solution once (with this you must keep it in for several minutes), but the warm/soapy water flushing works just as well.
Ear protection is a great way to prevent permanent damage. Now when I get off the mower I can still hear (before everything was muted for several minutes, that scared me).
Public service warnings:
Extended exposure to 107 degrees or higher will cause burns.
Extended exposure to (constant) 85 dB or higher will result in permanent hearing loss and possible permanent pain.
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I use the ocean. When I go surfing/playing in the ocean during the summer every year, I tend to get whacked up side the head by a wave at least a few times on both sides. That is also when I get a thorough sinus cleaning.. as the water gets up my nose and into my sinuses while I'm upside down in the water.
I learned of this cleaning ability one year when I was walking back to the house after surfing with my wife. It looked like I had a big corkscrew coming out of my ear.. My wife is forever grossed out about this. ;) Since then I've made sure I get my ear-cleaning ocean time in.. ha.
The hot water treatment sounds much gentler... I may give that a try for the 'off season'. ;)
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Of course hot means different things to different people. I did not measure the temperature. It was probably 98.6 and since I'm cold blooded, it felt hot to me...
Good to know you guys are aware of good ear hygiene!
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Rich's comments on ear candles brought back some memories and got me googling...
Check this out... http://www.kombucha2000.com/earcone.html
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(http://cellar.org/2002/earhair.jpg)
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Wow Mike, you don't look anything like what I was picturing in my mind. A little gel for spikes and it would make a great new look for da'yoots.
I know you have good ear hygiene because ear wax is almost as fun to play with as boogers.
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lol
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(http://eimages.ecost.com/prod/5365000/5365450_lg.jpg)
My doctor uses a waterpik. works wonders....seriously
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Wow, that is cool. How exactly does he do it?
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The "drugstore" ear cleaning solution is likely glycerin mixed with hydrogen peroxide or similar (for the foaming action).
I use that and the blue rubber bulb syringe rinse with warm - not hot! - water at home at least every couple months or so.
I have heard (yes, pun intended) that around 10% of individuals have genetic predisposition to more and different type of earwax that leads to more clogs. My mother has this type of ear wax and got the warm/hot water rinse from a "giant metal syringe" at nearly every doctor appointment in years past.
Perhaps the genetic predisposition is passed on via the maternal DNA (as Rich indicates his mother apparently had problems with ear wax accumulation...)?
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Wow, that is cool. How exactly does he do it?
No different than using it in your mouth
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Roger, it was my mother in law remembering her childhood doctor visits with routine ear cleaning, but she never had accumulation later in life and had good hearing until she died. But the genetic proclivity to more wax in some people and not others makes sense. I'm sure there are some environments or circumstance when more is better. I like to think it is just extra brains being excreted because I already have too much. haha
Thanks Emil. I found this (http://www.ehow.com/how_4464778_dissolve-ear-wax.html) with some additional tips for the waterpik.
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You can remove stubborn earwax buildup by lying with your ear on a warm hot-water bottle. The heat will soften the wax and allow it to flow out, making it easier to wipe away, says David Marty, M.D., a Jefferson, Missouri, otolaryngologist and author of The Ear Book. Don't feel like you have to get all of it out, however.
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Rich,
Tried this tonight and the results were shocking! :thumb:
My doctor has always commented on how little ear wax I had so I never really gave this much thought, but WOW. If I bought a new component or cable for $1K and got this much improvement I would have thought I was getting a bargin. Detail, clarity, air, I was just shocked. I don't think there are many of us that wouldn't pay $50 for one once of a cleaner for our cable contacts, but we never think of maintaining our ears, the most important "component" of the whole system
I went down to my local CVS and found out that they have a new high tech version of the snot sucker.
(http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/images/fs/large/5042811873.jpg)
The new version has a flared insert that fits into the ear canal, nut does not allow the tip to be inserted far enough in to contact or damage the ear drum. the tip also has a nozzle on the end of it that diects the fluid in 3 directions onto the ear canal walls, which also protects the ear drum from damage. Finally the tip also had drainage slots in it so the fluid can be sprayed in and flow out without removing the device.
Info at:
www.cvs.com/CVSApp/catalog/shop_product_detail.jsp?filterBy=&skuId=440621&productId=440621&navAction=jump&navCount=3
I know that other folks have mentioned other cleaning alternative, but I think this (at least for me) worked really well, and what the heck, it was only $6, which is much less than the sales tax we are usually charged on an audio purchase. Like Nike says - Just do it!
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Awesome! Thanks for the tip (pun) Tom
Big improvement right? Worthy 100 words of the finest audio prose Robert Harley can muster.
I think heat helps a lot, as evidenced by Lin's hot water bottle tip, Mike's ear candles and my own experience with hot vs warm water lavage. Of course not hot enough to injure skin. Diverting the direct flow of water toward the sides makes sense, especially with a softening agent. I think part of the success of the pointier nozzle of the ear bulb and also the doctors professional tool metal syringe is to get high velocity and high volume in there. Turbulence from the velocity will create mild pressure which will flex the walls to allow water behind the wax. Pulling on the earlobe and vigorously massaging the outer ear serves the same purpose by stretching the ear canal to separate it from the hardened wax.
I had that big metal gun clean out some huge plugs once when I had double ear infection. I don't think anything else could have worked. But for healthy ears that's overkill. Maybe the snot sucker is too? Next time I'll try some of the gentler methods suggested.
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Great tips. Here is mine . A Polynesian steam bath, like the one in Emanuel will clean out ones :rofl: ears and then some. My vote. :rofl:
charles
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We want pictures!
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No we don't. :shock:
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That all depends on who is sharing the bath with him!!! :yay2:
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We want pictures!
While channel surfing I came across that movie and I have to tell ya one of the most erotic scenes I have seen. Not xxx or anything like that. Quite something
charles
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Tmazz great suggestion. IT WORKS ! my left ear was the problem. Told I needed a hearing aide, now clear as a bell. I still cannot believe what came out of my ear. Thanks Tom.
charles
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Good work charles!! If you can't believe what came out, don't you think the doc must have seen it in there? Good to fix it yourself, regular maintenance... :thumb:
I'm gonna try the CVS kit next time too. A little scared of the waterpik.
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Good work charles!! If you can't believe what came out, don't you think the doc must have seen it in there? Good to fix it yourself, regular maintenance... :thumb:
I'm gonna try the CVS kit next time too. A little scared of the waterpik.
My point exactly we no longer use that Doctor. A hearing aide at over $3500 or a cleaning instead, the rat bastard.
charles
charles
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Maybe the water pic type device might work in the hands of a doctor, who can see where it is squirting, but I have used one of those devices on my teeth and I wouldn't wast it pointed at my eardrum. I got nothing visible coming out of my ear and I still experienced a huge increase in sound quality. I can't imagine how much better it must be for someone who has a bunch of junk impacted in there.
It is important to remind people that a small number of users of these ear washing systems have had temp balance problems as a side effect. The effect has been temporary and rare but the first time you try this you should be at home with nothing to do that involves driving for the next few hours, just in case, Audio is fun, but it is not worth risking a car wreck over.
Rich,
Let me know if you get any different results with the CVS device (They do sell a kit which consists of the syringe plus a bottle of ear wax remover - I just bought the standalone syringe and used warm water) as opposed to the snot sucker. Just curious. (Sorry, but my engineering genes have an insatiable need to quantify results. :lol: )
Charles,
I am so glad you got such good results. No nee3d for a hearing aid, you system will sound better, and I will only send you a bill for $1500. Where else can you get a deal like this??? ;)
Happy listening to all,
and to all a good night.
Tom
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I bought and used the CVS syringe and am reporting an opposite effect. No junk or goo coming out and today I feel like I've been swimming in the ocean all day. I'm not dizzy, but I feel like there is water in my ears and sound is slightly muffled. There is a slight pressure in my ears as well.
I guess I've just got to be different....
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It sounds like the water did not drain from the ear. I get that a lot but it usually drains out within a few seconds of holding my head with the affected ear pointing at the ground. I had a friend back in high school that used to get the same thing every time we went in a pool. Sometimes it lasted for hours. He used to be able to get relief with a Q-Tip. Didn't need to pree dowm on anything like he was rying to cean the ear, just lighttly stuck iy in and wiggled it around. My guess it that the Q-Tip either absorbed the trapped water itself or by brushing across it simple broke the surface tension and allowed it to flow out on its own. Hopefully by the time you read this the problem would have resolved itself naturally, but if not you might want to give this a try. (as always be very careful with the Q-Tip not to poke or put pressure on anythting inside the ear, just gently wipe trough and past things.)
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I cleaned mine using a combination of showering, the bulb, and ear cleaning solution.. I had that oceanic thing happening until I hopped with my head cocked.. then the water came right out.. So, try hopping with your head bent to the side with the ear that's messed up.. might work for you.
I also used a 'Netti Pot' for some sinus clearing.. weird stuff.. but it was time to try some of these things. ;)
-C
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OK boys, enough fun on this topic. Thanks to everyone for the info and laughs.
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Additional facts learned since last post:
Using too hot water for flushing can cause dizziness. This happened to me using about 100F water, but I did not know why at the time. Stick to lukewarm water.
Earwax is mostly cholesterol. It can be dissolved in numerous ways.
Many ENTs recommend putting a few drops of olive oil (extra virgin of course..) into the ear, which is a solvent to solid cholesterol and literally dissolves it into liquid. The main monosaturated fatty acid in olive oil is oleic acid. This is the main fatty acid emitted by sebaceous glands in the skin. Olive oil is skin oil with some extra anti-oxidant goodies thrown in. So there is little risk to using good OO in ear. Rinse with lukewarm water, or a little glycerin soapy water.
Hydrogen peroxide is also recommended by ENTs to liquify it by oxidation, conversion to water and CO2. H2O2 is not as safe and natural to the body's ecology as EVOO, so I'm less excited by that method. It will oxidize any organic molecule, even living tissue. External skin has dead skin on top, so no damage is done. Internal use for H2O2 is very bad. 5 minutes per day for 5 days per month should keep them very clean, according to some internet ENT. :roll: ymmv This might be part of the foaming solution from CVS.
I have not tried either of these yet, but figured it was valuable info to pass along.
I am unlocking for continued polite and responsible discussion about this important topic. Please reserve earwax humor for the joke thread. Thank you!!
Rich
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Before you do any ear cleaning, you may also want to have your ear canals inspected by someone knowledgeable about ears. (ENT, family Dr., Osteopath, etc.)
I learned I have exceptionally dry ear canals and low wax. So, there wasn't much there to begin with.. My ENT's recommendation was to use a drop of baby oil (or OO) in the ear every day to keep them moist... sort of the opposite of cleaning and such.
-C
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arrrg! I thought you locked and threw away the key Rich :(
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I found the key! :D
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Before you do any ear cleaning, you may also want to have your ear canals inspected by someone knowledgeable about ears. (ENT, family Dr., Osteopath, etc.)
I learned I have exceptionally dry ear canals and low wax. So, there wasn't much there to begin with.. My ENT's recommendation was to use a drop of baby oil (or OO) in the ear every day to keep them moist... sort of the opposite of cleaning and such.
On another home remedy note, I've had good success with using a netti pot. It doesn't really cure anything but makes it a little easier to breathe sometimes.
-C
I have been seeing an ENT on a regular basis for many years (allergies and such) and he has always commented on how clean a wax free my ears were. But when I read this thread I thought, what the heck, let me give it a try. The difference in the level of detail I could hear from my system (and dam near anything else) was nothing short of astounding. It’s kind of like it is with a better power card, I don’t really understand why it sounds better, but I certainly know that it does. While other people’s results may vary, for $6 you just can’t afford not to try it. The difference was bigger than I have ever heard from a cable upgrade, and we all know what we can pay for one of those…..
That said, like anything else, I’m sure that overdoing it could possibly cause problems. I’m due for a visit to my ENT at the beginning of the summer. I plan to get this thoughts on the benefit and possible negative side effects of ear cleaning and will get back to you guys with his thoughts. The last thing I would want to do is cause damage to my hearing while in the process of trying to improve it (or while doing anything else for that matter.) I am fanatical about using ear protection whenever using any kind of loud power tool (electric saws, gas powered lawn equipment etc.) – All the equipment upgrades in the world won’t help you if your hearing goes bad.
Tom
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Carl,
You know I would think that using the Netti Pot would help your hearing a bit as well. I don't know about anybody else, but as soon as I start getting a cold or an allergy attack the nasal congestion causes pressure in my ears, which causes my HF hearing to go to hell. While using the Netti Pot may not improve your hearing per se, it sounds like it could increase the amount of time that your hearing is functioning at 100%. (Although I do almost look forward to getting a cold and clogging my ears once in a while. I use the opportunity to revisit some old records that contain great music, but dreadfully recorded. With my ears clogged I can enjoy the music without getting a headache from the lousy sound. I guess this is the audiophile equivalent of getting lemons and making lemonade.)
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I do use a NP.. and it helps sort of... just not a lot. And it's temporary.
When your sinuses are inflamed there is a negative impact on hearing but I'm not completely sure why.
The ear is almost entirely surrounded by bone in your skull, it's like a big full range speaker in there. ;)
A possible reason you're not hearing so well during a cold is the inflammation in the sinuses closes in around the eustacian tube (between middle ear and back of throat to regulate air pressure)... and then maybe the inflammation causes pressure on the cochlear nerve, distorting the shape of the cochlea (more specifically, its parts like Space of Nuel or Tunnel of Corti), because things sound 'pinched off' to me when I have badly blocked sinuses... no bass and smeared or distorted highs. That would also explain the slight dizziness feeling you get because the vestibular nerve is right next to it which tells your brain where your head is and which way it's moving. This is my theory, though.. I haven't read up on it yet.
I'm looking hard into inflammation this summer. I have chronic inflammation in my sinuses and want to know why. Then I don't need to know what inflammation does if I can get rid of it! :)
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Inflamation is controlled by eicosanoid hormones. These are the local hormones that cells use to talk to their neighbors, not endocrine hormones which talk to every cell of the body. 3 types of eicosanoids, A, B, and C. A and C inhibit inflamation. Type B encourages inflamation. Control the amounts of each with dietary fat. Omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids can only become type C. Saturated fats can only become Type B. Omega 6 polyunsaturated fats should become type A, but with high insulin or high cortisol it can be diverted to type B. Prevent the diversion with low carbs, stress relief activities (water, sleep,) or using raw sesame oil. The metabolic pathway of each of these eicosanoids is complex. But basically you keep the animal foods at moderate levels, then supplement with Carlsons fish oil for Omega 3s, and Borage Oil (GLA) for omega 6.
Drink enough water and eat enough salt to hold the water, then get at least 8 hours of sleep each night. Your chronic inflammation will go away soon, from any part of the body.
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The ear is almost entirely surrounded by bone in your skull, it's like a big full range speaker in there. ;)
If the ear is a full rabge speaker would that make your brain like an organic single-ended amp?
Cool!!! 8)
A possible reason you're not hearing so well during a cold is the inflammation in the sinuses closes in around the eustacian tube (between middle ear and back of throat to regulate air pressure)...
I have discussed this with my ENT and he said that this is exactly the case. Sinus congestion causes a blockage in the eustachian tubes which in turn cause an increase in middle ear pressure, thereby reducing the sensitivity of your hearing. My congestion is usually cause by allergies as opposed to acute infection or inflammation so I can’t speak to other than the effects of a plain old stuffy nose.
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Inflamation is controlled by eicosanoid hormones. These are the local hormones that cells use to talk to their neighbors, not endocrine hormones which talk to every cell of the body. 3 types of eicosanoids, A, B, and C. A and C inhibit inflamation. Type B encourages inflamation. Control the amounts of each with dietary fat. Omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids can only become type C. Saturated fats can only become Type B. Omega 6 polyunsaturated fats should become type A, but with high insulin or high cortisol it can be diverted to type B. Prevent the diversion with low carbs, stress relief activities (water, sleep,) or using raw sesame oil. The metabolic pathway of each of these eicosanoids is complex. But basically you keep the animal foods at moderate levels, then supplement with Carlsons fish oil for Omega 3s, and Borage Oil (GLA) for omega 6.
Drink enough water and eat enough salt to hold the water, then get at least 8 hours of sleep each night. Your chronic inflammation will go away soon, from any part of the body.
Rich, you never cease to amaze me. You are just a never ending fountain of knowledge. No matter what topic comes up you pull out full detailed explanation of it. Have you ever thought about going to a Jeopardy tryout. :thumb:
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20 year veteran Oprah's book club :thumb: j/k